In Pennsylvania, after the first few weeks, Trumps voters cannot be lucky: « I feel safe »

With Diana Petrie, a sense of relief dominates and now rely on her Republican 'team' the polarized United States. « I simply feel better. I feel safer. I don't know if everything Trump does is good, but I trust the strong and intelligent people he has selected for his cabinet. The country moves in the right direction again.  »

Pennsylvania is one of the states that were crucial for Trumps election profit in November. Not because he appealed to new groups of voters here, but because the rise in the traditional Republican area was much higher than in the predominantly democratic cities. The opposite of the 2020 election results. They are loyal voters such as Wherry, Petrie and their surrounding network of farmers, factory workers, miners, nurses and sellers who helped him.

Does he help them now?

Three generations

Migration and the economy, specifically inflation, were Trumps dominant campaign themes and the main reason that three generations of this family voted for him. In the first weeks in the White House it is mainly about Ukraine,,  » transleat,,  » diversity policy,,  » impunity for like -minded people,,  » development aid and the dismantling the federal government – Topics that feel far away here in the rugged, snowy hills of the Appalachen. While the residents can suffer from Trumps par excellence import duties,,  » deportations of migrants and Cutbacks on healthcare who are still coming.

Father and daughter have a distinct opinion about 'that transgender stuff'. “If they keep quiet, I don't have so many problems with it, but it is true In Your FaceHe says. She appeals to him: “As far as I understand, their transition is funded with tax money. Who pays my care account if I want something special?  » They are not for discrimination, they say, but to an alleged preferred treatment.

The most delighted are they to close the southern border about Trumps's attempts and to expand immigrants. Whherry once tried to have a shepherd from Latin America come across. « Because our boys no longer want to do this work. The bureaucracy and the paperwork that I had to struggle through could not be foreseen. At the same time, people just cross the border.  » Diana Petrie fears that there are terrorists among the millions who came in in recent years.

The chaos on the border, plus the fact that some migrants were housed in hotels, made many Americans angry. Petrie sees financial gain in their removal, not the problems that cause labor shortages. « If we spend less tax money on accommodating those people, more remains. »

For the same reason, she is happy that the knife is now going in the federal government. « Controlling the amount of people who has a lice job and hardly works, with which we can reduce the national debt. » Furthermore, Trump's economic policy has few hands and feet, she admits, except for the threat of import rates. Inflation only increases. Petrie: “The economic chaos of the previous government cannot simply be adjusted. That may take a little longer than many people hoped. Give it for a year. ”

Whherry is more careful. Two of his daughters work for that national government: one as a meat inspector and the other for the Ministry of Energy. He is especially concerned about the latter. « Ordinary people suffer from those fired. But I don't want to judge it, they are probably busy tracing fraud and waste, « he says about Elon Musk and his people who have put the ax in government agencies in the name of Trump.

That conscious daughter, Jennifer Wherry (58), moved back to Pennsylvania a few years ago after a long career to be closer to her father, brother and sisters. On the bank in her tightly furnished house, for half an hour north, she says she can no longer pay her mortgage when she is fired. « Nobody is safe right now. »

Just like her father and the rest of her generation, Jennifer Wherry Republican is in heart and soul. « But I am not in favor of Trump, more a Nikki Haley fan, » the moderate former governor and UN ambassador who challenged Trump during the primaries.

She doesn't regret her voice last November. Trump remains 'the least of two evils' – the democratic alternative is worse. But she is shocked by the 'mess' that is now being caused. With the damping of the swamp in Washington, the disappearance of half departments at her office near Pittsburgh has little to do. « I am for a small government and the fight against fraud, but it must be well thought out. That is clearly not now. And I doubt that it yields a lot for the budget deficit.  » Jennifer Wherry voted against disorder on the border and received chaos in her own life.

Abuse

Back in Scenery Hill there is some criticism of Trump, when it comes to Russia and Ukraine. Whherry and Petrie find his rapprochement with Vladimir Putin bizarre. « They should (the Ukrainian President VolodyYyr) Zelensky more, no less, » says Wherry. Diana Petrie: « If you let Putin get away with what he does in Ukraine, Russia will only get stronger. » He: « Then it's Poland next. » She: « Perhaps a strategy is behind Trump, but you can't be so retarded that you don't realize that Putin will be a greater danger in this way. »

The three family members are against blowing up NATO, just like many Republicans of their generation. But that does not apply to younger Trump supporters. Austin Petrie (33) for example, Diana's oldest son, for example. « We are not the problem soles in the world, » he says on the phone, during a business trip for his work as a foreman in a packaging factory for dog and cat food. « I don't care what happens in Africa and I have finished spending money on it. Ukraine doesn't care for me. I don't care about Europe. Other countries only abuse us.  »

He is also not worried about the possible damage that Musk causes. « The whole thing is finally shaken. Where minced meat is fallen. « 

His mother Diana is more skeptical about Musk. « He is a brilliant businessman, but what is his goal? » She did not delve into the conflict of interest Between Musks companies and the federal government. « But I don't believe he does this (work) without anything in it. »

Diana Petrie can also touch upcoming cuts. Since her husband received three brain bloods, they live on a disability benefit. In addition to the collective health insurance for poor Americans, the Republicans are in danger of putting the knife in social security. Only with that could the budget deficit really be reduced. But Petrie thinks it will not go that fast.

The family is not worried about the proceeds of the farm. Migrants do not work here and they are not afraid of import tariffs. Can make the shale gas richer, after Trumps “drill, baby, drill« -promise that he would » unleash « fossil fuels?

« In the first years, the gas yielded a lot. I have all bought new equipment that I could not afford before. ” In addition to the struggling lamb in the garage, a new orange ride -on mower is shining. A strong contrast with the weathered furniture, the piano, embroidered plate of Jesus and a sheep, the old guns next to his overflowing desk since the death of Wherry's wife in 2009. He prefers to invest in the company.

But the income has been declining in recent years. « Not because there is less gas, or we were limited by rules, but because it yields less. We only get one tenth from earlier.  » He does not expect that there will be improvement under Trump. Whherry also worked for decades in the coal mines that the economy used to be on this. « We are still on a mountain of excellent coal, but nobody wants it anymore. No idea how long the gas remains profitable.  » Fracking in the soil here in Pennsylvania can hardly compete with cheaper gas to be pumped up on the market. And of which Trump wants to further lower the price.

In that respect, Wherry and Petrie did not vote for self -interest, they emphasize. « Where politics and the federal government meet us personally, is as a consumer. We are hit when we do your shopping or refuel, « she says. She expects Trump tangible results in that area. Not so much in lowering prices – deflation would not help the economy – but in increasing income and in burden lighting.

The Republicans will have to deliver before the interim elections of November next year, to retain the absolute power they now have in Washington. « Only leadership that provides concrete improvement in the quality of life is re -elected, it is that simple, » says Wherry.

These voices in Pennsylvania will not lose the Republicans. The enthusiasm of less bound voters is at stake, due to chaos, unpopular measures or the lack of changes that voters say they want. Trump was last chosen anyway, because US presidents get a maximum of two installments. « Maybe he is trying to fight that, because his reign did not follow each other immediately, » says Wherry with a shimmer in his eyes. This is an unconstitutional idea where Trump openly flirt And a fear of the Americans who are increasingly autocratic tendencies fear. It is also a suggestion about which Wherry would act heavily, if the other political party will ever get it in mind.

« Because of his age, Trump will stop. His useful years are running out, just like mine, « says the sheep farmer. But: « I would tolerate him another round. »

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