I Talked to Trump Supporters About Cuts to the Train… on the Train

A split image containing text and a photograph. On the left, a vertical orange banner features black text rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise, reading "White House Budget Proposal for the Federal" above a partial table with column or row headers including "Program," "Amtrak Northeast Corridor," "Amtrak National Network," and "Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail." On the right, an Amtrak Midwest diesel locomotive numbered 4611 with its headlights on sits on a gravel track next to a concrete walkway with a metal guardrail. A silver passenger car is attached behind the locomotive, and another silver train and a blue Metra locomotive are visible on adjacent parallel tracks.

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If you want to understand U.S. politics, take the train.

The Trump administration’s federal budget request for the next fiscal year includes steep cuts to passenger rail. According to an analysis by the High Speed Rail Alliance, a pro-rail advocacy group, the budget proposal would slash Federal Railroad Administration funding by 81 percent. This includes a 69 percent funding cut to Amtrak.

But rural Republicans have historically relied on passenger rail. They also elected the same administration now cutting this service that they rely on. At this point, this paradox is nothing new: From cutting healthcare subsidies to immigration dragnets to costly and devastating wars, President Donald Trump’s assault on human rights and domestic programs has ensnared the very people whose support he has relied on.

So, how is this playing out with voters in real time, particularly ahead of the midterm elections?

I took the train to find out.

From Newark to D.C. to Pittsburgh, I met people across political lines. People who love Trump, and people who want to invoke the 25th Amendment. People who hope cuts to trains and other services will change conservative hearts and minds, and people who can imagine passenger rail funding going to things they view as more important.

Across these differences, one common theme emerged: Daily life in the U.S. right now costs way too much. To me, it underlined the way power has worked before Trump and will work after. If people who have been deprived of wealth and influence unite against the power players leveraging those things against us, then what could we achieve?