VIDEO: As Elections Loom, Workers In Trump Country Reckon With Tariffs Fallout

Published October 30, 2018 at 4:03 AM CDT

America's largest nail manufacturer is feeling pretty small these days.

Many of the factory machines at Mid Continent Nail have fallen silent, and more than a quarter of its workforce has been laid off. The company fears it may soon be a casualty of President Trump's trade wars.

The Missouri-based company used to get most of its steel from Mexico, so Trump's 25 percent tariff hit it hard. To stay afloat, Mid Continent Nail raised prices and consequently lost a lot of customers.

Despite facing an uncertain future brought on by Trump's tariffs, many of the remaining workers at Mid Continent Nail who voted for him in 2016 still support him. NPR sat down with several of the plant workers to talk about their faith in the president.

Politics is Personal is a three-part video project that explores how some of the biggest stories from President Trump's first years in office have impacted voters — who will decide whether to reward or reject the president and his party in the midterm elections.

You can watch part 2 here.

You can watch part 3 here.

Hear Morning Edition's story by clicking the audio button above.