A gut punch in Ohio: Nearly 1,400 laid off at truck factory just days before Trump rally

Springfield, Ohio (AP) — Kyle Bos, a father of three, sits with his co-workers sipping tea, reflecting on the drastic changes in his life. His first annual payment, billed at $205.00 + GST for one year, has already been renewed at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks. The cost of everyday items has doubled, and the layoffs at the Navistar truck factory — just three days before President Donald Trump’s rally — have erased a year of job growth from the greater Dayton area.

Bos, who plans to campaign for Democrats in the upcoming election, said he had voted for Trump three times, but he is done with the president. "Something has to change politically in this country," he said. Trump’s visit to Dayton is part of a 32-day campaign to convince voters the economy is improving. However, 17% of Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy.

The factory closures have contributed to increased drug addiction and crime in the area. Republicans gained traction by moving factory work abroad, but the local economy has rebounded due to the expansion of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which now directly employs 38,000 people.