Who are the people who support Trump? The Trump coalition consists primarily of six groups, among which there are many overlaps.
The first consists of highly partisan and “yellow dog” Republicans. Their faith in the GOP is largely based on family political tradition, regional political preferences, the ideals of individualism and free enterprise, and vested interests. They include Republicans who remain enamored with Ronald Reagan and adhere to the conservative principles of Robert Taft and Barry Goldwater. They generally fear and loathe Democrats, who threaten them through government regulations, taxes, and social reforms. Many Republicans continue to hold great disdain for Bill Clinton and his unseemly personal conduct as President; they also greatly distrust Bill Clinton’s wife, or “crooked Hillary” as Trump calls her.
The second group is the American déclassé that I discussed in my blog posting of June 1, 2017. These include people from the middle and working classes who suffered from the Great Recession of 2008 and never fully recovered. Many lost their jobs, savings, homes, and their comfortable lifestyles and they want them back, now! They feel victimized by various evil-doers in a corrupt system (“drain the swamp”) and exploitive illegal immigrants (“build the wall.”). They are very angry, and in particular damn President Barack Obama. Anything connected to him (such as Obamacare, environmental restrictions, global climate change, trade agreements, and post-2008 banking and financial regulations) must be reversed.
The third group is Baby Boomers who are now approaching retirement and who still have vivid memories of the 1960s. They recall the violence of the Civil Rights movement (especially the urban race riots) and the war in Vietnam, both in the jungles of Southeast Asia and in the streets of the U.S. They resent the perceived shunning of Vietnam veterans as though they were war criminals. They want a strong military that will be allowed to win foreign engagements. They in particular want to “make American great again,” or a return to a world order in which countries defer to the U.S.
Americans who have a persistent fear of criminals and terrorists make the fourth group. They abhor street shootings and random acts of violence. They remain traumatized by the Al Qaeda attacks upon New York City and Washington, DC, on 9/11 of 2001. They generally supported American retaliation in Afghanistan and the unilateral, preemptive invasion of Iraq. In contrast, they bemoaned the seemingly irresolute policies of the Obama administration in the Middle East. They defend domestic gun rights and distrust Muslims (“the travel ban”). They cheer a strong leader who will end criminal violence and foreign-generated acts of terrorism one way or another.
The fifth group are members of the social conservative movement, especially those who embrace traditionalist social and religious views. They are defenders of their own religious freedoms. They may not always condone Trump’s language, but they support him as a national leader who will curtail abortions, gay marriages, and the mandated coverage of contraceptives in Obamacare. Most importantly, they support Trump’s appointment of conservatives to federal courts, like Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Finally, the sixth
group consists of Trump’s fans who love his books, reality TV shows, speeches, and
tweets. They are awed by his great
wealth and CEO style. They see Trump as
spectacular political entertainment.
Will these groups find satisfaction? And will they be better off in the long run?
Will these groups find satisfaction? And will they be better off in the long run?
© 2017 Stephen M. Millett (All rights reserved)
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