A Year of Trump’s America
It’s been a year since the US put Donald Trump back in the White House, and I spent this anniversary week in Florida and Pennsylvania – two worlds in one country where I found two such contrasting snapshots of Trump’s America.
Reflections on the Past Year
There are many ways to reflect on the successes and failures of the past year. Different topics are important to different people. But the thing that all Americans care about is money. The cost of living was a deciding factor in Donald Trump’s victory. He promised to make the country more affordable again.
Trump’s Anniversary Speech
On Wednesday, exactly one year after Americans voted, the president was present in Miami. He chose this city and a special audience for his anniversary speech. I was in the audience at the America Business Forum when he told wealthy entrepreneurs and investors how great life is now. “A year ago we were a dead country, now we are considered the hottest country in the world,” he told them to cheers.
A Tale of Two Americas
The atmosphere was glittering and prosperous. These days, those are his voters; his quantity. But there was only one hint in his speech that seemed to acknowledge the reality that should trouble him. “We have the largest economy right now,” he said, adding: “A lot of people don’t see that.” That’s the crux of the matter: A lot of people who aren’t that wealthy here don’t feel the "greatest economy" he’s talking about.
Steelton, Pennsylvania: A Different America
A thousand miles north of Miami lies a different America – a different world. Steelton, Pennsylvania sits in one of Donald Trump’s core areas. But it is not feeling the hit of its largest economy. Not at all. The steel mill is closing and the men listened as their union representative explained what happens next. The conversation was interrupted by all the words no one wanted to hear: layoff, severance pay, layoff.
The Human Impact
The steel mill’s closure is a life-changing moment for the men. “My family has worked here for over 100 years. And I had planned for my son to join me one day, but I don’t know if that’s a possibility now,” former employee David Myers said. The owners claim the closure is due to weak demand, but the share price has risen sharply since then. This is the irony between the two Americas.
The Struggle is Real
Down in the closed factory, it is empty, eerie, and depressing. It is certainly not the image or vision that Donald Trump envisioned for his America. The conversations further up the street in front of the city’s state-subsidized houses made the challenges here so clear. “How much help does the community need?” I asked a man who runs the local food bank. "As much as they can get. I mean, help is a four-letter word, but it has a big meaning. So help!" said ward organizer Elder Melvin Watts.
The Human Cost
I met a woman named Sandra nearby. “It was harder and I’m a hard-working woman,” she told me. "I don’t get food stamps, I don’t get anything from it. You have to take care of the bills, eat a little bit or turn off the lights." Then, at Mr. Melvin’s food bank, a moment occurred that highlighted the need here. A woman named Geraldine Santiago arrived distressed, emotional, and then overwhelmed by the boxes of food available to her.
A Year Later
A year after his victory, Donald Trump continues to present himself as an “America First” president and now with a transformed economy. But parts of America seem far, far away. Geraldine is one of 40 million Americans who currently do not receive the full SNAP nutritional assistance program normally provided by the federal government. SNAP benefits have been cut off as the government remains closed due to the political stalemate. I watched Geraldine’s roller coaster emotions unfold – from despair to gratitude in this moment of calm. She left with a trunk full of groceries.
