Readers React: Trump’s tariffs endanger these workers’ jobs, yet they love him. Why?

To the editor: The Missouri nail factory workers in danger of losing not just their jobs but possibly everything, yet who still back their beloved president, confound me.

I have never lived in the American “heartland,” nor have I ever been unemployed except by choice, so I may be the wrong person to opine on these matters. But something does not make sense. These economically endangered citizens blame “others” besides President Trump, including immigrants, foreign business executives and the media. Never does their “Make America Great Again” standard bearer, the one who instituted the foreign steel tariffs that threaten their jobs, deserve accountability.

Do they not recognize that the 1%, of which Trump is a proud member, is getting more powerful and more uncaring under this president? The man they defend and admire is no more on their side than the man in the moon.

Bette Mason, Corona del Mar

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To the editor: While reading about these people who are suffering because of Trump’s trade war, I cannot help but think they suffer from some version of the Stockholm syndrome. In the desperate hope they will be spared, they adore their captors instead of blame them.

I find myself pitying these people, who are only beginning to feel the negative effects of his presidency. There is more to come.

It will be interesting to see what it actually takes for them to realize that Trump and his minions put their own self-serving agendas before the good of the country, let alone the little person in Missouri without a job, healthcare or clean drinking water.

Barbara Brighton, Woodland Hills

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To the editor: Mid Continent Nail Corp.’s parent company is DeAcero US Inc., a business that is part of a large Mexican steel conglomerate.

DeAcero bought Mid Continent in 2012, invested $5 million in new manufacturing lines, and increased the job count from 300 to 500. It did this to compete with finished product from China, and Mid Continent today is the largest nail manufacturer in the United States.

What took the company six years to build up could be out of business in months.The impact at Mid Continent, its suppliers, and the local economy supporting the employees has been made clear by this article.

What frightens me is that the nails made by Mid Continent are only 1 of 20,000 product requests for steel tariff exclusion, and the Commerce Department has cleared only 42 so far.

Tricia Bregman, Santa Ana

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