Six Supporters Detail Their Reasons for Backing Donald Trump in 2024

Donald Trump is poised for an unprecedented return to the presidency, marking the first time in over 130 years that a former president has been re-elected to the White House. Despite his divisive public image, a majority of voters in crucial swing states cast their ballots for him, frequently identifying the economy and immigration as their primary issues. Prior to the election, the BBC interviewed six individuals who support him, who articulated the reasons for his sustained popularity. Luiz Oliveira, a 65-year-old small business owner residing in Nevada, immigrated to the United States from Brazil in the 1980s. He expressed dissatisfaction with the volume of immigrants entering via the southern border. He questioned, “How is this happening in America?” adding, “All these people crossing, it’s an invasion.” Mr. Oliveira stated that the Biden administration “opened the border” and permitted this situation, referencing the increase in border crossings following Biden’s assumption of office. Data shows that encounters between migrants and US Customs and Border Patrol at the US-Mexico border reached an unprecedented peak in December 2023, but have subsequently decreased significantly to a four-year low. He recounted the extensive effort required to obtain his citizenship, which he ultimately “earned” in 2012. He commented, “For me to be a US citizen is a privilege, an honour. I love this country.” Mr. Oliveira expressed certainty that Trump would resolve what he termed a border crisis. He added, “You want to come to America? Earn it, like I did.” Trump has pledged to secure the border and to deport individuals residing in the U.S. without legal authorization. For Ben Maurer, a change in president will not be the most significant event in his life in the upcoming weeks. The 38-year-old truck driver from Pennsylvania is anticipating the birth of his second child merely weeks after the election. Mr. Maurer, a Republican throughout his life, expressed optimism that November would initiate a more prosperous period for his family, given Trump’s anticipated return to the White House. Last year, his wife resigned from her employment because childcare expenses exceeded her earnings. Since that time, Mr. Maurer has been the family’s only financial supporter, and his wife has remained at home with their eldest child while they await the new baby. Mr. Maurer believed this situation would be different if Trump were president. He stated, “I feel like [Trump] has a handle on making it about the American economy first and the American worker first.” He anticipated that Trump’s strategy to safeguard American jobs and address inflation would lead to a more affordable existence, as reduced business costs would translate to lower childcare expenses. Inflation significantly increased after the Covid-19 pandemic, a trend observed in numerous Western nations. Trump has indicated he would boost drilling operations to reduce energy prices. In her earlier career as an artist, June Carey found it necessary to supplement her earnings with welfare benefits due to the challenges of self-employment. The 70-year-old, a resident of Chico, California, managed to transition off welfare in under five years and believed Trump’s policies would offer a similar opportunity for others. She commented, “Being on welfare, I saw how it does not work,” adding, “It creates generations of people who never move on.” She emphasized the importance of Americans achieving self-sufficiency rather than relying on government programs. Currently, her income is $1,900 (£1,456) monthly from social security. However, with increasing food and gas prices during President Joe Biden’s term, she stated she struggles to meet basic expenses and might require assistance once more. She expressed a desire for politicians to foster an economy where Americans, including herself, could afford essential goods, rather than allocating funds to “liberal policies.” Ms. Carey believed Trump would provide assistance in this regard. She remarked, “The former president runs this country like a business and the more he talks the more I am impressed.” Brooke Riske did not consistently vote for Trump. In 2016, finding neither Trump nor Hillary Clinton compelling, she cast her vote for a third-party candidate. However, the Covid-19 pandemic altered her perspective. The 38-year-old educator from Virginia stated, “Our government has become too active in our lives.” Ms. Riske noted that during the unpredictability of Covid, Trump maintained a consistent presence. She added that he cared for the nation and sought to enhance it. Her admiration extended beyond his policies to his personal character. After observing him in Instagram videos and podcast interviews, she expressed approval of his demeanor and statements. She remarked, “The times where he’s interacting with his grandkids I see the softer side.” She asserted, “He kept our country very peaceful for several years, I don’t think a person is capable of that unless they have diplomacy, humanness and kindness in them.” Ms. Riske acknowledged that her perspective differed from how some others perceived Trump, but she distrusted media portrayals of him. She concluded, “I’ve just accepted him for who he is.” Jeremy Stevens had long been disillusioned by the American two-party political structure, but he reported feeling renewed hope following Trump’s entry into the political arena. He expressed surprise that Republicans, rather than opposing what he characterized as an unconventional, inexperienced political candidate, “allowed” Trump to assume control of the party. The 45-year-old small business owner was persuaded that Trump’s proposed America-first industrial policy would ensure economic security for Americans. He remarked, “The country is a giant business to be run.” Mr. Stevens, who stated he distinguishes Trump’s personality from his policies, operates his own car sales and service center in Maine, where he has resided his entire life. Elevated inflation has impacted his family and placed financial pressure on his customers, with some being compelled to postpone essential car repairs. Mr. Stevens observed, “They’re struggling because they have to choose between putting food on the table or putting new wheels on the ground.” He asserted that the Trump economy prioritized America and its citizens. He concluded, “That’s what we want to go back to.” Although the U.S. economy has demonstrated growth and employment statistics that are admired internationally, numerous Americans, including Mr. Stevens, perceived the nation as heading in the wrong direction following years of elevated inflation. However, public opinion was split, with a recent Ap-NORC poll indicating that 61% of Democrats and 13% of Republicans rated the economy as “good”. Amanda Sue Mathis served almost a decade in the US Navy prior to her medical retirement in 2018 due to chronic illnesses. The 34-year-old Michigan resident had not participated in voting until 2016. Trump’s emergence in politics altered this, as his candidacy motivated her to cast her inaugural vote for him. She explained that when considering presidential candidates, she evaluated who she would be willing to serve under and respect as commander-in-chief. Ms. Mathis stated, “He or she is not going to be just my president but will decide where we were going, who we were fighting [as a country].” For her, Trump represented the clear selection. Ms. Mathis commented, “[Trump] is strong, he is very steadfast and believe he invokes fear because nobody ever knows what he’s going to do.” She continued, “He invokes fear in the rest of the world, don’t mess with America, don’t mess with our allies.” Trump advocates for the U.S. to disengage from international conflicts. He has declared his intention to conclude the war in Ukraine within 24 hours via a negotiated agreement with Russia, an action that Democrats contend would empower Vladimir Putin. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. 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