Farmers Face Economic Pressure Amid Loyalty to Trump in Rural America

Tue Oct 21 2025 03:09:10 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Amid economic challenges driven by trade tensions and tariffs, many farmers in the U.S. maintain their support for President Trump. Despite facing increasing financial pressures, rural Americans remain steadfast, demonstrating a complex relationship with the administration’s policies.

This article explores the struggles of U.S. farmers under current economic pressures, primarily due to trade tensions with China that have hurt crop sales. While many farmers express concern about their future and financial stability, notably those in the Midwest, they continue to exhibit loyalty to President Trump, reflecting a deeper ideological commitment that surpasses current financial adversity. Experts weigh in on the implications of tariffs and ongoing support for Trump in rural communities.

On a scorchingly hot day in the American Midwest, Tim Maxwell is voicing his fears about the future of farming.

The 65-year-old has worked the fields since he was a teenager. He now owns a grain and hog farm near Moscow, Iowa - but he's unsure about its prospects.

I'm in a little bit of a worried place, says Mr. Maxwell, who wears a baseball cap bearing the logo of a corn company.

He is concerned that American farmers aren't able to sell their crops to international markets as they could in previous years, in part because of the fallout from President Trump's tariffs.

Our yields, crops and weather are pretty good - but our [interest from] markets right now is on a low, he says. It's going to put stress on some farmers.

His fears are not unique. US agricultural groups warn that American farmers are facing widespread difficulty this year, primarily due to economic tensions with China. Since April, the two countries have been engaged in a trade war, causing a significant drop in Chinese orders for American crops.

American farmers are feeling the impact. The number of small business bankruptcies filed by farmers has reached a five-year high, according to July data from Bloomberg.

While this economic pain could have driven rural areas to turn against Trump, that hasn’t been the case. Rural Americans were a solid voting bloc for Trump in the last election, where he won by a 40-point margin over Kamala Harris. According to polling experts, Trump remains broadly popular in the countryside.

Mr. Maxwell says he is sticking with Trump, despite his financial worries. Our president told us it was going to take time to get all these tariffs in place, he insists. I am going to be patient. I believe in our president.

The Iowa State Fair, with its deep-fried food and antique tractor shows, serves as a microcosm for rural America’s sentiments, where conversations often revolve around the ongoing tariffs. Participants like Gil Gullickson, a South Dakota farmer and ag magazine editor, highlight concerns that tariffs rarely produce good results.

As the trade war escalates, farmers like Maxwell continue to back Trump, reasoning that his tariffs will ultimately put American agriculture on a stronger footing. Yet experts warn that the long-term effects of current policies could disrupt supply chains and place further economic strain on farmers.

We're giving him a chance to follow through with the tariffs, but there had better be results, Maxwell cautions, emphasizing the need for tangible benefits soon.