Trump’s tariffs forced U.S. factories to close down or lay off workers, and longtime GOP voters are revolting—’It was like taking a knife to the back’
“So much for bringing jobs back,” Vandermeer said. Next month, he plans to vote straight Democrat in the midterms.
President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports have led to the closure of U.S. factories and layoffs of workers, according to Nelson Vandermeer, a longtime Republican voter. The 62-year-old clock designer lost his job at Howard Miller, a Michigan-based company that closed its factory, sold its inventory and brand name, and laid off nearly 200 workers due to the tariffs.
This outcome was predicted by Vandermeer, who now plans to vote Democrat in the upcoming midterms. The backlash over Trump's tariffs is causing concern among Republicans, who are facing a potential loss of support from constituents who lost their jobs due to the policies. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers maintains that a factory boom is underway, citing increases in manufacturing output and more work in nonresidential construction trades.
Despite this claim, manufacturing employment remains lower than when Trump took office in January 2025. The tariffs, which Trump promised would spur a factory renaissance, have not materialized. Local Republicans in Michigan, Iowa, and Kansas are confronting the backlash from constituents who have lost jobs due to the tariffs.
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