As Donald Trump readies to take the Oath of Office, voters are beginning to see how his policies will affect them. And it’s not good.
Trump was elected because he said he was for the “little guy." His actions say something else altogether – the “little guy” really doesn't matter. In a time of economic uncertainty and shifting political allegiances, will Trump 2.0 will force the “little guy” to weigh their loyalty to him against their livelihoods?
Trump recently announced his opposition to a deal to sell U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel, a move industry insiders believe would have revitalized struggling plants and preserved jobs in key swing states. For steelworkers, many of whom backed Trump, the blocked deal feels like a betrayal.
Another cornerstone of Trump’s campaign was the repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA delivered tangible benefits for seniors on Medicare by capping insulin prices at $35 per month (no, Trump did not do this), limiting out-of-pocket drug expenses at $2,000 per year, and negotiating drug prices that will save seniors billions of dollars a year. All of which will disappear when the IRA is repealed.
His renewed calls to repeal the Affordable Care Act (i.e., Obamacare), would eliminate healthcare protection for those with pre-existing conditions. Voters who want Obamacare eliminated but like the Affordable Care Act have yet sort out how Trump scammed them. But when their claims are denied and premiums skyrocket, they finally will.
Farmers communities are also reeling. Trump’s pending cuts to federal farm subsidies come at a time when rising fuel and fertilizer costs are already squeezing their margins. These cuts, compounded by higher food prices at the grocery store, make this an especially bitter pill to swallow for lower income rural communities.
Trump voters are baffled, befuddled and confused about his plans to be president. But they shouldn’t be surprised. He has never seen the “little guy” as anything more than a tool to get back into the White House.
With the election behind him, the “little gut” is now expendable, they served their purpose. Come the Inauguration they will discovery how little they actually matter to Trump and his cadre of billionaire elites.
But what is done cannot be undone and every “little guy” will feel the full weight of Trump’s betrayal.
Comments