A friend of mine was texting recently lamenting the dire consequences for rural America inside Trump’s Awful Horrible Bill and his ill-advised tariff temper tantrums. My first reaction was that rural America is getting exactly what they deserve. You vote for this guy, you reap what he sows (particularly apt, considering we’re talking farms here). From every angle, my position seems unduly harsh, so let’s see.

First, let’s take a look at who makes up rural America. According to the Census Bureau, 66.3 million Americans (20%) live in rural areas, 75% of whom are non-Hispanic white. The rural American population is more poor than the urban population with 85% of “persistently poor” people residing in rural counties. The fastest growing group in rural areas are Hispanics with their numbers more than doubling since 1990 at a time when numbers of the white rural population are dwindling. Although it may seem incongruous given rural voters conservative bent, 99% of wind farms and 75% of solar instillations are found in rural counties, along with all of those industries’ opportunities for employment.

Although a true evaluation is more nuanced, a simple assessment of 2024 voting patterns could easily come to the conclusion the rural America put Trump back in the White House. An overwhelming majority of the rural population voted for Trump over Harris, 69% to 29%. Trump won 93% of the rural counties, even better than he did in 2016 and 2020. The 7% rural Harris vote represents only about a third of the rural counties that Obama won in 2008. Amazingly, Trump won 65% of the Hispanic-majority rural counties. Without doubt, rural America loved them some Trump.

Trump’s bill will gut Medicaid. That’s a given and, no, it is not going to cut waste and fraud. The Medicaid “fraud” that Republicans constantly refer to is committed by large health care companies and physician’s offices, not by the poor mother or grandmother taking her 3 year old to be examined for a fever and abdominal pain. Rural America is extremely reliant on Medicaid. For example, in Wyoming nearly 60% of Medicaid recipients lived in rural areas and over 50% in Alaska. Nearly 200 of the 300 counties with the largest increases in Medicaid enrollment over the last 15 years voted overwhelming for Trump. Over 3 out of 4 (76%) of the rural hospitals at immediate risk of closure are in counties that voted for Trump. This bill will close those 239 hospitals.

Trump’s bill provides no funding nor incentives for alternative energy. In fact, Trump directed his administration to “claw back” previous funding from the Biden administration for alternative energy projects. There will be no new employment growth in financially stressed rural communities for energy products and current projects will wither on the vine. Estimates are that 530,000 jobs will be lost in Trump-won states alone. Trump’s tariffs are already causing widespread chaos for America’s agricultural products and potential markets. For example, before Trump, China was America’s largest customer for soybeans and now buys no American soybeans. That market will not be replaced. Farmers are now in dire straits and the future looks even more bleak.

So, my friend was right. Trump is just ripping through the heart of rural America. They will either entirely lose health care or have health care availability greatly diminished. Jobs associated with wind and solar power are gone for the foreseeable future. Farm workers will be deported and tariffs will destroy America’s rural farm communities. The nutrition for rural poor will also be devastated by the draconian cuts to SNAP and school lunch programs.

I was right, too. In a way. Rural America asked for this. Certainly more than the rest of us asked for this. You voted for him. You liked the guy who made fun of a man with cerebral palsy, who shot vile names at anyone who disagreed with him, who disparaged military sacrifice and heroism, who was overtly racist and misogynist, and who called for a revolt against our Capitol when he clearly lost an election. Rural America, you said this is our guy. I mean, who could resist a leader of such obvious character and strength? Well, you got him and he is savaging you. You and the entire country. You gave him to us. May be harsh, but it is true.

Post Notes

There is something so inherently satisfying about having your dog live the life that you wanted for her. Lucy came into the study a little while ago, got schritched behind the ears, and then laid down on her bed for her third nap of the day. Good for her. The only thing on her mind is to make sure she’s up in time for dinner.

Bad Bunny is really driving them nuts, If only we had Lee Greenwood for the halftime show. That would really be some show. That’s who they come up with? Lee Greenwood? Good God. These people.