MARION, Iowa – Inside the snow-covered Grace Baptist Church on a chilly day last week, various Hawkeye State Donald Trump stalwarts gathered to hear from former HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson.
“I have spoken to [Trump] many times and he’s a strong believer,” Carson assured the faithful at one point, before adding: “Now sometimes that might not show in his speech.”
A signal of laughter from the bench.
It’s been eight and a half years since Trump famously descended the escalator at the famous Manhattan tower to announce his candidacy for the presidency in 2016.
Despite the national political soap opera that has taken place — the Russia investigation! Stormy Daniels! COVID 19! Kim Jong Un shakes hands! ISIS! Riot the Capitol! — four pending felony cases on 91 charges, and the desire of more than a few voters for Trump to just go away, it was clear heading into Monday night’s caucuses that grassroots support for the 77-year-old would be too much. to be surpassed by any of its competitors, at least in the preliminary state.
Donald Trump defeated his 2024 Republican rival in Iowa on Monday. AFP via Getty Images Some of Donald Trump’s supporters never considered his GOP foe. AP
For many Republicans, Trump is still one — a cross between a demon-slaying champion, a lib owner and their favorite child — and they accept no replacement.
Anxious with his antics
Trump is known for his slash-and-dash approach to politics, where he will rhetorically bombard his rivals at will, and with glee. His Iowa supporters’ views of this trait ranged from affection to mild fear.
“At some point, I would personally be offended by President Trump’s behavior,” Linda of Cedar Rapids told The Post at an event, declining to give her last name.
A truck belonging to a supporter of President Donald Trump in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, on caucus day. ZUMAPRESS.com
“I had a young friend who went to live in New York … a very soft-hearted young lady, but she became tough as nails living in New York,” he explained.
Krystal Hedrick, of Kansas, argued that as much as Trump sowed chaos and anger among his rivals, he did it out of necessity.
“People are always attacking him because he must be doing something right,” he said. “I fully support him because our country, our government has been broken for a long time.”
Donald Trump had a big night on Monday. AP
“Who cares what he tweets or says, or cares about his personality?” Paula Smith, of Waukee, told The Post at a different Trump campaign event in Urbandale, adding that she is more concerned about the economy and national security.
Best hope against the left
Despite the skepticism some Trump supporters feel about his lack of wisdom, there is a palpable sense of awe and wonder at the years of sustained political exuberance.
One thing about Trump’s campaign hasn’t changed in eight and a half years: His rallies remain high-energy spectacles where attendees often don’t know what’s coming next.
Some of the former president’s supporters traveled from all over the country to see him. Getty Images
However, they know that they are angry.
“I’m sick and tired of all the lying and stealing and cheating by the Democrats over the last four years,” said Jill Rowell, 60, of Springfield.
Turning to Trump’s legal challenge, Rowell raged: “It’s all fake. Everything the Democrats do, they turn it around and turn it around and say, ‘Trump did it.’
“All the attacks they put on him just made me like him more because he kept fighting.”
Donald Trump seems to have a stranglehold on the Republican Party. AP
Trump’s policy
When asked why they support Trump in 2024, many of his supporters will check off a laundry list of policy concerns.
“The borders are in chaos, the economy is not thriving, and America is ranked last. We’re seeing firsthand — we’ll be on the brink of WWIII if Joe Biden is given four more years,” said Gage West, 23, a Lynn County caucus captain.
“The economy is very good when he [Trump] were inside and we felt safe,” said Paula Smith. “You want your president to appear strong and powerful to other countries because we don’t have wars.”
The former president drew more people than his rival in Iowa. Getty Images
“He has proven himself. He has done this. He’s done what he said he was going to do,” agreed Kim Marsh, 68, a Trump caucus captain from Grimes. “I don’t know of any president who has ever had more of a following than what President Trump has.”
There is a Republican primary contest underway right now where many candidates have vowed to deliver policies very similar to those Trump has put forth.
But those pledges largely fell on deaf ears.
“I just ignored them,” Marsh said.
Deficit and Dr. Fauci
Under Trump’s watch, conservatives took issue with Dr. Anthony Fauci took a leading role in the COVID-19 response, the monster $7.8 trillion deficit, and the Black Lives Matter riots in the summer of 2020.
But for his supporters, none of that represents a deal breaker.
“I mean, obviously, there are a lot of mistakes. He had something to do with it,” said Alex Thompson, 23, of Des Moines about the former president’s handling of the outbreak.
However, Thompson added that much is also out of Trump’s control and that he still represents the GOP group’s best choice.
Most Donald Trump supporters are willing to look past concerns about his record on the deficit and the pandemic. AP
“President Trump was under pressure at that time to make a decision,” said Denise Nelson, 71, of Norwalk. “And it’s hard to make smart decisions when you’re under pressure.”
Nelson, who donated Trump memorabilia during his rally in Indianola on Sunday, believed that Trump was just “trying to listen to different people” when he retained Fauci, whom he criticized for championing burdensome pandemic suppression measures.
“Trump has been handcuffed. If he gets rid of Dr. Fauci at that time, it would be a lose-lose situation,” argued Jesse Stumbaugh, a small business owner from Des Moines.
Memorabilia for the 45th president at his various campaign events in Iowa. Getty Images
Trump’s Republican rivals, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, are all trying to remind voters about these issues, including the deficit.
“Who controls the deficit?” asked Gail Kirst, 73, of Des Moines, referring to Congress.
“He’s a businessman and he understands the debt-to-income ratio,” Stumbaugh said of the deficit, which he blamed on the epidemic. “He made a decision that he would be able to fix and keep the American in good standing.”
Allegation
Donald Trump is back in the courtroom a day after his monster victory in Iowa. Gabriella Bass
Perhaps the biggest political liability for Trump in the general election is the factor that most excites his supporters — his litany of legal problems.
Many of his GOP core supporters have faith that Trump will ultimately survive efforts to remove him from the ballot or throw him behind bars. None of them believe the legalese are legitimate.
“If we just roll over and say, ‘Oh, this is too much trouble,’ everyone’s done. We don’t have a country anymore. There will be no real voting,” said Cheryl Heffernan, 63, of Altoona.
“If Trump doesn’t pick, then they’ll pick Nikki or they’ll pick DeSantis or they’ll pick whoever,” he added. “It’s not like it’s going to end.”
This photo of Donald Trump was taken in August last year. FULTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE/AFP via Getty Images
Her husband, Dan, 64, described it as “the worst precedent you can have” to remove someone like Trump from the ballot in such circumstances.
“This is the real reason why I voted for Trump, basically,” Stumbaugh said.
“If he can have the justice system come to him for Russian collusion and all these allegations – and he’s a billionaire and a former president – then how am I going to be able to stand up to the government if I’m ever in a situation where I’ve been wronged?”
Trump’s landslide victory in Iowa on Monday evening was record-breaking. He managed to crack 50% support and more than double the next highest margin of victory in the modern Republican presidential caucus.
Now the 45th president heads to New Hampshire with strong political winds and momentum behind him ahead of the Jan. 23 primary. More of his supporters will be waiting.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
