Reuters (May 16, 2026): "Trump says Iran war is worth the economic pain. These rural voters agree." | "[A three-time Trump voter said gas prices were hurting his industry, but] he preferred the status quo to Democrats, whom he saw as moving towards "full-blown socialism.""

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Excerpts from the article:

[I]n two dozen recent interviews along Colorado’s Highway 52 ... Trump voters echoed the president's logic.

...

Some begrudgingly stood by Trump because of their distaste for Democrats; others expressed faith the president had a plan to bring costs down. It was a testament to the durable, personal bond Trump has built with his base, allowing him to weather multiple crises across his two terms.

"It feels like he hears us," said [one woman who spoke about gas prices], "that he is fighting for us."

...

[A retired commodities broker] said enduring the momentary pain of high gas prices was worth preventing Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon.

[He] recalled stories of American resilience during World War II, when goods were rationed and households lived with less.

"I struggle, like everybody else does, but I'm willing to sacrifice a little," Miller said. "That's been totally lost in this country, people's willingness to sacrifice."

...

[A] 66-year-old trader with multiple college degrees whose farming cooperative moves 150 truckloads of grain each day... voted three times for Trump, but like many interviewed by Reuters, he considers himself a political independent, saying he distrusts the Republican Party nearly as much as their ⁠Democratic foes.

Gas prices were hurting his industry, he said, and Trump was “naive” to think he could quickly solve the issue. He expected prices would remain high into the fall, even if there was a breakthrough in stalled U.S.-Iran peace talks.

But he preferred the status quo to Democrats, whom he saw as moving towards "full-blown socialism."

"I voted for Trump because the alternative is so bad," he said.

...

[One woman] saw war with Iran as inevitable. "Something was going to happen eventually, whether ⁠it was Iran doing something to us or us doing it to them."

...

[Another woman] said she hated high gas prices, but feared the prospect of a nuclear-armed Tehran even more. “It's just where we are with this war," she said. "People just have to give it time."

Did she have any red lines? Anything that might shake her faith in Trump's handling of the war or the economy?

"No," she said. "I'm all on board."

The link to the article: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/trump-says-iran-war-is-worth-economic-pain-these-rural-voters-agree-2026-05-16/