Trump Supporters Voice Regret Over Economic Policies

On Saturday, a three-time Trump voter from Hawaii, identified only as Thomas, called C-SPAN to say he now regrets his support and wishes he had known better. He labeled President Donald Trump “a con man, a liar” and “the worst and most corrupt president we’ve ever had.” In separate interviews, Iowa corn farmer Dave Peters, Georgia cotton and pecan farmer Preston Jimmerson, and Mississippi Delta corn grower Sledge Taylor also described how federal policies have strained their operations.

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The callers linked their hardships to the administration’s tariff regime and the ongoing war with Iran, which they say have lifted input costs for agriculture. The Economist reported that John Deere absorbed $600 million in tariff-related expenses in 2025 and expects those costs to double in the following year. To address rising farm-level pressures, the administration launched a $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, which critics argue falls short of covering losses. Peters estimates farmers now need four times as many acres to achieve previous profit levels.

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The Economist noted that despite expressed reservations, many rural Trump supporters continue to back the president, hoping for a future bailout. The $12 billion assistance package is presented by the administration as a measure to mitigate economic strain on farms, though detailed efficacy metrics have not been released.

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Callers emphasized that tariffs and soaring commodity prices have eroded farm profitability. Peters said the costs had risen to roughly half a million dollars per farm. Jimmerson warned that cutting fertilizer would be comparable to depriving a crop of oxygen. Taylor expressed that the modest rebate offered by the assistance program falls short of meeting farmers’ needs.

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Sources reveal a split: Thomas publicly repudiates Trump, whereas The Economist reports continued support among many rural constituents. Quantitative data on the proportion of supporters versus detractors is absent, as are comprehensive assessments of the assistance program’s impact.

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• “He’s the worst president we’ve ever had and he’s the most corrupt president we’ve ever had,” — Thomas, former Trump voter, Hawaii

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• “Now I regret my support for him and I should’ve known better,” — Thomas, Hawaii

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• “‘Taking the fertiliser away from a crop is like taking oxygen from a human,’ he says.” — Preston Jimmerson, cotton and pecan farmer, Georgia

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• “Dave Peters, a semi-retired corn farmer near Harlan, Iowa, reckons farmers now need four times as many acres to make the same profit. Watching his son and granddaughter ride a tractor across his field, he reflects on how much it takes to get a farm going: ‘It’s costing half a million just out the door.’” — Dave Peters, corn farmer, Iowa

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Rural voters anticipate that the administration may propose additional financial relief before the upcoming election cycle, though no concrete policy proposals have been announced in the cited reports.

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