This was written by Adam Seessel, a former journalist turned money manager and author of the book Where the Money Is.
As an anti-trump voter, I would say the upcoming elections as a pivotal moment for American democracy. However, those trump voters are boiled down to simple economics.
I planned to travel to know about what is more on Trump’s side. Therefore, I traveled from my home to New York to speak with different working-class people across the South, Midwest and West. My main perspective was to understand and listen to them. I interviewed many different people who belong to different professions just as casino card dealers, truck drivers, hairdressers, retired mill workers and even a former rodeo rider.
What I came to know was something that I did not expect but they told me, they say, the economy was often described as horrible or in ruins, by whoever I spoke to. Why they say this, there is a reason behind it. Whether they were black, white, Latino, Asian, or Native Americans. There is also one thing that many people are fear and avoided to talk about politics they want to stay alienated and have no interest in such things. However, out of those who spoke, trump was considered to be among the favored candidates.
In this era where the economy is destroyed and genocide is increasing due to support from the U.S., economic pain hits hard because inflation and rising interest rates are just headlines to wealthier people, they represent daily challenges for working-class people. In recent years, fuel and gas prices have increased skyrocketing and caused hardships for middle-class or salary-based people. It has concerned more about the payday, not the political chaos.
However, why turn to Trump, a controversial billionaire, to solve these problems? Their answer is simple: things were better when Trump was in office. Groceries were cheaper, interest rates lower, and jobs more secure. They believe that Trump’s policies can bring back those better days.
These views are not surprising. From Alexis de Tocqueville to James Carville, thinkers have recognized the central role of money in American politics. In addition, in this election, that same focus on the economy may once again drive voters’ decisions.
Take George Lemley from South Bend, Indiana. A factory worker, George supplements his income by selling plasma twice a week. He feels the pinch of rising prices and remembers when things were more affordable under Trump. Similarly, Danielle Williams, a dollar store employee, felt more financially stable during Trump’s presidency, despite her reluctance to support him politically.
In Oregon, Liz Guzman, a small business owner, has also felt the burden of inflation and rising interest rates. Her mortgage payments jumped by $800, making it harder to stay afloat. Although she does not personally like Trump, she believes his financial policies could turn things around.
Even in places like Lumberton, North Carolina, where people pawn their belongings just to make ends meet, there is a sense that Trump might be the answer to their economic woes. For many working-class Americans, it’s not about Trump the man, it’s about Trump the problem solver, especially when it comes to their wallets.