‘I like him even better now’: Trump’s true believers keep the faith
Millions of Democrats and independents view Trump’s four years in office as a disaster but for supporters it is his biggest asset
Wearing a shirt festooned with countless images of Donald Trump, Leverne Martin was looking cheerful for a man who had set off from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, at 9pm and driven through the night, arriving in Dubuque, Iowa, at 5.30am. When did he intend to sleep?
“As soon as President Trump is back in the White House,” the 55-year-old handyman replied without missing a beat. “If we don’t get him back in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, where he belongs, we’re in a mess, man. That’s why I’m voting for President Trump. That’s why I drove nine hours.”
On a grey, rainy day, Martin was near the head of a long and winding queue outside a cavernous conference centre overlooking the Mississippi River. Like so many fans in so many towns and cities over nearly a decade, an overwhelmingly white crowd had come to cheer on Trump, elected US president in 2016, beaten by Joe Biden in 2020 and clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination in 2024.
"Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that."
George Carlin
The average American has a below 6th grade reading comprehension.
@Cabrio @mister_newbie I come from the EU. Can someone please explain why this is happening in the US?
A combination of a 'tradition' of anti-intrllectualism and an education systen that has depreciated the value of critical thinking skillls.
I can't emphasize enough how the proudly ignorant are shouting down anyone who speaks from a position of facts and evidence in small communities and cities. I know it's not the only factor, but it feels HUGE and the kids growing up around it see that. I have a 9yr old in one of those places who is acutely aware of it to the point of changing her interactions with her friends to stay off the radar.
America never got rid of their fascists after the civil war, and now they are seeing the effects on their society.
@Cabrio Thanks!