Donald Trump: A journey beyond the worship of his rallies to understand his enduring appeal in US heartlands
It’s a week since Donald Trump stormed to victory in Iowa.
The polls predicted he would do well, but that didn’t make this first test of his re-electability any less remarkable.
The four-times indicted, twice impeached, election-denying, global agitator won in all but one of the state’s 99 counties.
It was unprecedented on many levels. He secured 51% of the vote, winning by a margin of 30 points.
For the former president’s many supporters, it represents the beginning of his second coming. His road back to the White House is clearer, they think.
But many in America and well beyond are baffled and alarmed. Why is a man so divisive, so polarising, so surrounded by chaos, so popular still?
As America’s media pundits packed up their glitzy pop-up Iowa studios and headed east back to their metropolitan bases, I headed west into the heart of the US.
I wanted to understand the enduring draw of Donald Trump.
Donald Trump at a rally before the New Hampshire presidential primary
Over the past few years, I’ve spent plenty of time at Mr Trump’s rallies.
They are more like rock concerts than political events and they are where you’ll find the diehards; the people who’ll seemingly do anything for Mr Trump.
They are the people for whom he is more than a political leader. He’s worshipped.
There is genuinely a strange gravity at the rallies. Conspiracies swirl. Truth and fiction blur. Reason is absent.
I wanted to get beyond that.
The people at the rallies represent his base of support but they alone didn’t win him the White House before and they won’t do it again.
He won the White House in 2016 by convincing a broader group that he was the answer.
In 2020, he failed to convince enough Americans that he deserved another four years, losing to Joe Biden.
But now he hopes Iowa is the indicator that he can turn it all around again this November.
Watch our new foreign affairs show, The World with Yalda Hakim, from Monday to Thursday between 9pm and 10pm on Sky News.
Donald Trump won comfortably in Iowa
Getting beyond the base
To the west of Iowa is Nebraska. It’s a conservative heartland. Farming is the main industry.
It’s the start of a journey to understand the broader and apparently enduring appeal of Mr Trump – beyond the rallies.
First stop is the small town of Prague and a meeting with farmer Mike Kubik.
His business is grain, his politics is conservative and his life is good.
“I’ve been here basically my whole life. Nebraska born and bred,” he tells me as we tour his snow-covered land on his all-American quad buggy.
“Life is excellent,” he adds. “I love my job – I’ve never had a bad day.”
Mike Kubik says it feels like the Biden government ‘doesn’t seem to care’
Mr Kubik’s experience is a reflection of Nebraska’s economy.
The midwestern state has among the nation’s largest gains in personal income, and unemployment is low.
He is happy with his son’s education at the local school. It’s the good life.
Economically his experience mirrors the national story, too. America is booming but it’s not trickling down; people aren’t feeling it.
“Our economy is going down,” Mr Kubik tells me from across his kitchen table.
“We’ve more than doubled our fuel costs. Our chemicals have gone up, our fertilizer has gone up, the cost of equipment has gone up. Food is terrible, and our government doesn’t seem to care.”
Mr Kubik’s story reflects the puzzle of American politics right now.
There is a disconnect between perception and reality in America.
Mr Kubik’s lot may be good, but it just felt better before. There is a lingering nostalgia compounded by stubborn inflation.
Read more:
How this year’s US election will shape the world
All you need to know about Trump’s legal cases
Trump hails ‘terrific’ DeSantis after rival ends campaign
Sky News launches new foreign affairs show
A sign promoting Donald Trump’s popular ‘Make America Great Again’ slogan in Nebraska
Nostalgia for Trump?
Mr Kubik adds: “Our government is not getting deals done, the export – our grain. It is hurting our bottom line, our prices are dropping.”
And then a view I will hear over and over on my journey ahead: “Trump put America first. There are some things that I didn’t agree with, but overall, he leads with leadership. He’s a businessman. He’ll get a deal done.”
As we talk, Mr Kubik conveys a multi-layered nervousness – about the economy, about the “woke” direction of the nation, and about global security – all of which seem far removed from his good Nebraskan life.
Mr Kubik points out that no wars began under Mr Trump.
President Biden is managing two and is exposing the limited worth of American leadership – with Israel-Gaza, Russia-Ukraine and China’s century-defining rise.
He presents an argument you hear over and over among supporters of the former president – that Russian President Vladimir Putin wouldn’t have dared invade Ukraine with Mr Trump in the White House – a point Mr Trump likes to run with, probably because it’s neatly unprovable.
“Donald Trump has power to say ‘don’t do it’. And the thing is, they believe that he’ll enforce it,” Mr Kubik says.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
From 16 Jan: ‘I’ll solve Ukraine and Israel situation’
Trump ‘not afraid’ of ‘chaos’
At one level or another, most here are in agriculture.
Deeper into Nebraska, my next conversation is with crop scientist Trey Stephens.
He helps the farmers to make a profit.
“I think now in these last four years, I haven’t felt a lot of attention to agriculture from this administration,” he tells me.
But quickly, Mr Stephens conveys that it’s about more than just business and the economy.
Trey Stephens says it always felt like Trump was ‘in control’
“It always felt like Trump was in control and, you know, right now, these last four years, it’s kind of like who is in control?” he asks.
“What about the chaos that seems to follow Trump?” I ask.
“Yeah. I think I mean, in order for change to happen, sometimes chaos ensues. And Trump is not afraid of that,” Mr Stephens says.
He returns to the same thought repeatedly in our conversation – that Mr Trump isn’t a politician. He was elected to shake things up and to return power to the American people.
And the divisiveness?
“I try to remove myself from a lot of the things he says and focus on the things that he does,” Mr Stephens adds. “If it was my wish, I would have a businessman that’s strong like Trump, but maybe he just doesn’t say as much.”
Mark Stone spoke to Trump supporters in snow-covered Nebraska
‘I miss the America I grew up in’
As the interstate cuts south, Nebraska becomes Kansas, but the politics doesn’t shift much.
The weekly auction in the town of Manhattan draws farmers and their cattle from across the state.
It’s an all-American scene – cowboys in their stetsons. Cliched? No. This is as real as it gets – a snapshot from the very middle of America.
Among the crowd, I meet rancher Jamie Grollmes.
She says: “When Trump was in office, it was a lot more steady. You didn’t see the highs and lows. It was a lot more consistent, you knew what to expect. With Mr Biden we’re on a rollercoaster in terms of our markets.”
Jamie Grollmes says things were more ‘steady’ under Trump
But what about Mr Trump the man, I ask. He’s pretty unique?
“He annoys me,” she replies. “I think he needs to learn to keep his mouth shut on some things. I think he’s very good on business, but I think he says some things he shouldn’t and sometimes I think he needs to keep his mouth shut.”
A few seats away is retired rancher Tom Massey. His baseball cap reflects his politics.
“I miss the America I grew up in,” it says.
Retired rancher Tom Massey is wearing a cap that echoes the feelings of many Americans
Who’s the answer, I ask. Who is going to make America better?
“Well, I think Trump will change things around if he gets back in, I really do,” he answers. “I think he’s going to get our border closed up, get things back to normal.
“I think he’s not a politician, I think he’s a businessman. When he came in the first time, he changed a lot.”
The man running the auction is something of a local celebrity. Andrew Sylvester is an award-winning auctioneer.
We sit for a coffee in the auction hall cafe where he reflects on two Americas, far apart.
He says: “We live here in the middle of the United States. I think that people on both the east and west coast, where there’s high populations, I think they probably forget where their food comes from.
“To them, their food comes from the grocery store, when in fact, we grow it right here in what they call flyover states.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Can Trump rival Nikki Haley take New Hampshire?
Like others, he sees flaws in Mr Trump. And he’s baffled at America’s inability to find fresh candidates.
“I don’t know why the Democrats and Republicans can’t come up with younger candidates or candidates that don’t have any baggage,” he says.
“Biden’s side obviously has baggage. And Donald Trump seems to be in and out of court and there’s issues there. But we’re going to vote with whoever the nominees are.”
“And for you, that means Trump’s the man if he’s the nominee?” I ask.
“Absolutely. Absolutely. I’ll vote for Donald Trump again.”
“Super high-IQ revolutionaries” who are willing to work 80+ hours a week are being urged to join Elon Musk’s new cost-cutting department in Donald Trump’s incoming US government.
The X and Tesla owner will co-lead the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
And in a post on X, the official DOGE account put out a call to arms for people to sign up and help “dismantle government bureaucracy”.
The post said: “We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE.
“We don’t need more part-time idea generators.
“We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.
“If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants.”
Read more:
Who is in Trump’s top team?
Trump’s cabinet signals tough stance on China
Elon Musk speaking at an event held at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Pic: AP Photo/Alex Brandon
In a reply to an interested party, Mr Musk suggested the lucky applicants would be working for free.
“Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lost of enemies & compensation is zero,” the world’s richest man wrote.
“What a great deal!”
When announcing the new department, President-elect Donald Trump said Mr Musk and Mr Ramaswamy “will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies”.
Mr Musk has previously made clear his desire to see cuts to “government waste” and in a post on his X platform suggested he could axe as many as three-quarters of the more than 400 federal departments in the US, writing: “99 is enough.”
US
RFK Jr chosen as Donald Trump’s health secretary – as president-elect says he will do ‘unbelievable things’
Donald Trump has chosen vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr as his new health secretary and said he will do “unbelievable things”.
The news was announced by Donald Trump Jr on X, before the president-elect confirmed the appointment just moments later.
Former Democrat RFK Jr, the nephew of former president John F Kennedy, had been running as an independent presidential candidate but dropped out of the race and endorsed Mr Trump in August.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
From August: Kennedy family criticises RFK Jr after Trump endorsement
In return for Mr Kennedy’s support during the election, president-elect Trump pledged to give him a “big role” – and RFK Jr’s preference for the health position was widely reported.
Mr Trump spoke on Thursday night at a gala, hosted at his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida, which included tech billionaire Elon Musk and actor Sylvester Stallone.
Directly addressing RFK Jr, who was in the audience, Mr Trump said: “We want you to come up with things… and ideas… and what you’ve been talking about for a long time. I think you’re going to do some unbelievable things. Nobody’s going to be able to do it like you.”
The health and human services (HHS) department includes the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Medicare, Medicaid and the National Institutes of Health.
RFK Jr will “restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again,” the president-elect wrote on X.
Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr in October during the presidential campaign. Pic: Reuters
Mr Trump added: “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health.
“The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration.”
Mr Kennedy is a known vaccine sceptic who has repeated misinformation on multiple occasions, including the discredited theory that childhood immunisations cause autism.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The RFK Jr-led health department will “play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country,” the president-elect added.
Earlier, his son Donald Trump Jr was the first to confirm the appointment, writing on X: “Robert F Kennedy Jr will be The Secretary of Health and Human Services! Promises Made Promises Kept.”
Read more:
Who’s in and who’s out of Trump’s top team?
Who is Robert F Kennedy Jr?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
When Trump met Obama and Biden
RFK Jr’s position will need to be confirmed with a Senate vote – but even with the chamber under Republican control, his appointment may face opposition because of his views on health issues.
Before Mr Trump announced his choice, Mr Kennedy had already claimed the new president would push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day in office. The addition of the compound has been cited as helping to improve dental health.
The department RKF Jr is hoping to oversee has more than 80,000 employees across the United States.
Donald Trump has picked fiery Florida congressman Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general – a man who was under investigation over sex trafficking just days ago.
Democrats have described the MAGA loyalist as “a gonzo agent of chaos” and his appointment a “red alert moment for our democracy”, while some Republican senators have also raised doubts about his suitability for the role.
It comes as Mr Trump won control of the House of Representatives, giving him full control of the government, and continues to fill out his top team.
Mr Gaetz, 42, has been under investigation by the House of Representatives’ ethics committee over allegations he was part of a scheme that led to the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl.
But after he resigned from Congress on Wednesday following being named as Mr Trump’s pick for attorney general, that probe has ended – without the publication of any findings.
Despite the cloud over his character – Mr Gaetz denies all allegations – he has repeatedly shown his loyalty to the president-elect, attending his hush money trial in Manhattan and vociferously calling out prosecutors.
The MAGA firebrand in the past has spread the conspiracy theory that the January 6 riots were actually orchestrated by the left-leaning group Antifa.
If he’s going to lead the Department of Justice, the Florida politician needs to be confirmed by a Senate vote like other cabinet positions. That’s where it could get difficult for him.
The nomination is seen by some as a reward for his loyalty to Donald Trump. Pic: AP
What have Republicans said?
“I don’t think it’s a serious nomination for the attorney general,” Republican senator Lisa Murkowski said. “This one was not on my bingo card.”
Senator Susan Collins said she was “shocked” by the pick and said there would be “an awful lot of questions being asked in this case”.
Both Ms Murkowski and Ms Collins have been vocal Trump critics (the latter vowed to write fellow Republican Nikki Haley’s name on her ballot) and will be under the spotlight next year as their party retakes control of the Senate.
“I think it’s a little bit of a test,” said Republican senator Kevin Cramer.
He said he sees Mr Gaetz as a disruptive force in the House and has concerns about the “serious allegations” against him – but stopped short of saying he would not vote for him.
“It will take a lot of political capital to get him across,” he added.
Mr Gaetz will need to be confirmed by a Senate vote. Pic: AP
Read more:
Who is Marco Rubio, the next US Secretary of State?
How will Trump 2.0 be different to first presidency?
“I’ve known Matt for a very long time, we’re friends,” said Florida senator Marco Rubio, who was nominated for secretary of state on Wednesday. “I think he would do a very good job for the president.”
Some Republican senators were reluctant to publicly criticise the incoming president’s pick to lead the justice department but did not endorse him either.
Senator John Cornyn, a member of the judiciary panel, said he did not know Mr Gaetz “other than his public persona”, and said he will not “prejudge any of these” nominations.
“I’ve got nothing for you,” said senator Katie Britt when asked by reporters. “We’ll see,” said senator Ron Johnson, when asked if he is voting for Mr Gaetz.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Difference between Trump meeting Obama and Biden
What have Democrats said?
Unsurprisingly, Democrats in Congress have been less restrained with their reactions to Mr Gaetz’s nomination.
Veteran senator Chris Murphy declared the announcement to be “a red alert moment for our democracy”.
Representative Jim Himes meanwhile, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, told CNN the role of attorney general requires “care, prudency, a deep respect for the rule of law… Matt Gaetz is the opposite of all of those things, he is a gonzo agent of chaos”.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Senator Richard Blumenthal, who sits on the Senate’s judiciary panel, said the nomination was the “first test of whether Republicans are willing to stand up to Donald Trump and go with conscience and conviction as opposed to just politics”.
New Mexico senator Martin Heinrich was even more blunt, posting on X: “People voted for cheaper eggs, not whatever the f@#€ this is.”
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports7 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Environment1 year agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway