‘I fell for it’: Trump’s fiercest blue-collar backers face a reality check

Fans react as Mauricio Ruffy beats Michael Chandler in their lightweight bout during the UFC Freedom 250 on the Ellipse near the White House.

Ohio residents who voted for Trump are now questioning whether he cares to deliver on his promises to revive the manufacturing industry and prioritize blue-collar jobs/work. Many who voted for him based on his proposed commitments to a thriving economy wonder where his priorities currently stand.

Concerns are growing across the country with inflation in groceries, housing, and gas while the job opportunities and pay appear stagnant. One Ohio voter says Trump’s support of AI and data centers does not align with his previous commitments.

“I hate [AI and data centers] with a passion,” William Akel, a 26-year-old resident of Niles, Ohio, told The Washington Post. said. “AI is going to take the jobs, and then what jobs are we going to have? Probably fixing the AI?”

“I think he’s just lost in the sauce,” Akel added of Trump. “He sees [AI] as a way to make more money. … They’re putting billions and billions into all that. Where’s it all coming from? You’ve got people starving here.”

In Liberty, Ohio, Brian, a 54-year-old who voted for Trump in all three of his elections, echoed similar sentiments. “I’m extremely disappointed in him,” he said, preferring not to use his last name due to the heightened political landscape and out of fear to protect himself. “I fell for it.”

Trump remained committed when he visited Ohio earlier this month and spoke to a crowd at Butler High School in Vandalia, Ohio, telling potential voters it’ll be an economic boost to the area. “We want them,” Trump said. “Look, there’s so much money to be made for Ohio, you can’t just turn them off. They’ll go to China.”

Recently, a local nearby truck factory laid off nearly 1,400 workers, some of the same blue-collar workers Trump promised would have better opportunities under his administration. Kyle Bos, an employee with Navistar, the truck factory in question, told PBS he voted for Trump three times, but has lost faith in him.

"Something has to change politically in this country," said Bos, a member of the United Auto Workers who identifies as a centrist. "Seems like it just kept getting worse and worse and worse."

In 2024, over 3 million Ohio residents voted for Trump. That number may be significantly less as locals complain of continued rising costs for basic necessities.

Akel admits he voted for Trump in 2020, chose Kamala Harris in 2024, and is undecided about the upcoming midterm elections. Brian says he now plans to vote only in local races in the upcoming election, saying he is not moved by either party’s candidates for Senate or governor. Like Akel, Brian is concerned about data centers. “We’re going to pay for all of this,” Brian said. “We always do.”

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