The US presidential election will be held on the 5th of this month. Ohio, sandwiched between two battleground states, Michigan and Pennsylvania, was once such a symbolic battleground state that it was said that "whoever wins Ohio wins the presidential election," but it has now changed completely and become the "Kingdom of Trump." Why are the number of ardent Trump supporters continuing to increase? Caster Okoshi Kensuke delves into the true feelings of supporters. ■ The transformed "battleground state" Ohio, which flourished as one of America's leading "industrial regions" since the early 19th century, has completely changed from the battleground state it was once. Anchorman Okoshi Kensuke: "Right now, I'm in America, a car-oriented society, and I'm at a diner, a restaurant that caters to drivers and neighbors. There's a big banner showing support for Trump, and there are pro-Trump flags everywhere. When you go inside, the portrait of Trump stands out. If you ask the customers, you'll see that there are a lot of white customers. And the most eye-catching place is a photo of Trump standing up right after he was shot at a speech rally." Anchorman Okoshi Kensuke: "This is also amazing. There are Halloween dolls of both Trump and Harris. There is only one person in front of Harris, and in front of Trump, there are so many Republican supporters wearing red clothes, and they are making a big effort to show how amazing Trump is." Anchorman Okoshi Kensuke: "This place is also fervently pro-Trump. People are expressing their support with yard signs. This house is also pro-Trump. There is a Trump yard sign here too. It feels like there are a lot of Trump supporters. There are banners here too." ■ The "true feelings" of white supporters What is it that attracts the people of Ohio? We asked Tim Franco (49), an ardent Trump supporter and owner of a classic car dealership. Tim Franco: "(Q: Why do you support Trump as a candidate?) What's good about him is that he doesn't do things for his own convenience. He's not doing it for money. I think he's doing it simply because he loves his country. His supporters acknowledge that he's a bit of a narcissist, but it doesn't bother me at all." Franco was originally a police officer. After retiring, he made a big decision and started his long-awaited company. Tim Franco: "(Q. Why can't you trust the Democratic Party, especially Harris?) It's not that I don't trust the Democratic Party, it's that we have different values. I've worked more than 60 hours a week. I paid a lot of taxes, paid my bills on time, and saved up to buy a house. But Harris is offering $25,000 (about 3.8 million yen) to first-time home buyers. It makes me mad to think that the money is coming from my taxes. This country needs business leaders right now. We need to rebuild the economy. We're all suffering from rampant inflation." Franco wants Trump to rebuild the economy. I've heard similar stories elsewhere. Ohio is a key transportation hub connecting the north and south of the United States, and drivers from all over the country gather here. Many of them were expressing dissatisfaction with the economy. Trump supporter truck driver: "(Q: What policies are important to truck drivers?) Inflation control. It's the most important thing. Expenses are the biggest obstacle. Biodiesel and fuel costs." ■Anxiety spreading in "immigrant towns" It's not just economic issues. Another issue that supporters place importance on is immigration. Trump supporter truck driver: "If they're here legally, we have no complaints about them. They have a permit to enter the country. Illegal is a problem, and no one tries to crack down on them." Ohio is a place that has been singled out for criticism regarding the immigration issue. Republican candidate Trump (presidential debate, September) "Immigrants are eating dogs and cats in Springfield" This statement made the Ohio town of Springfield famous. Despite local authorities denying that such a statement was true, rumors spread among Trump supporters. These kinds of rumors are not only spread on social media, but also through other media. One of them is radio. Bob Franz's radio (broadcast on September 16th) "It was an exaggeration, but Trump said, 'Animals are being caught and killed. "I was just pointing out that I had received such reports." In America, where people live in a car-oriented society, radio is an important information platform. The content broadcast on local radio stations can have a big impact on local people. ■ Local radio influencer interview We were able to speak directly to Bob Franz, a local radio personality in Cleveland. Conservative radio personality Bob Frantz: (Q: What do people want from listening to your radio?) Listeners who are interested in politics and news listen to you to hear a different perspective from major TV stations like ABC, NBC, and CBS, and to learn the other side of the story. (Q: You say the mainstream media can't be trusted?) I can't trust them anymore. They don't report the facts fairly, they angle and distort the news to achieve their own goals. Reporting can only be called "fair" if it conveys the whole context. However, the media reported what Trump said in that debate as if he had made it up. (Q: Trump said, "Immigrants eat pets." Springfield denied the claim immediately after, but do you think Trump was fair?) What Trump was emphasizing was the problem of illegal immigrants pouring into town in large numbers, and the media stuck to the trivial issue of "eating dogs and cats." Why does the immigration issue provoke such extreme emotions? I asked this question. Conservative radio personality Bob Franz: "(Q. The white population in the Midwest continues to decline. Do you think white people are afraid of being "replaced" by immigrants?) That's not an accurate way to put it, they're not afraid of "replacement." A large influx of immigrants takes away a lot of resources. Education, medical care, housing, and finances - all of these resources are not used by American citizens, but by immigrants who are not even allowed to enter the country. Trump is saying that he puts "America first," not illegal immigrants." While saying this, he also hinted at a sense of crisis. Harris' immigration reform proposal calls for strengthening crackdowns on illegal immigration while also creating a path to citizenship for those who are deserving. 、後にその作品を賞賛した。 English: Conservative radio personality Bob Franz: "If illegal immigrants think, 'The Democrats and Harris, Biden and Obama have accepted us and given us citizenship,' who will they vote for? You say it's the 'fear of replacement,' but this is not a replacement of white people. It is a 'replacement' of votes with people who have not forgotten the kindness that this country has shown to accept them." ■The "Trump Kingdom" as seen by Okoshi (Q: I was surprised to sense the gradations in the hearts of each Trump supporter. What did you think when you actually interviewed them?) Caster Okoshi Kensuke: "When we actually meet Trump supporters in their daily lives, they are all very kind, and many of them respond politely to our interviews. Long-distance truck drivers all complain that the high fuel costs mean they can't make money. Dissatisfaction with the economy tends to be directed at the current administration, but it was striking to see a certain number of ordinary Americans looking back with nostalgia and saying, 'It was good that prices were stable under the Trump administration.'" (Q: Does this mean that people who want to improve their lives are turning to Trump?) Kensuke Okoshi, anchor: "I think that's a big part of it. And there's one more thing I felt. Trust in Trump is taking root even among traditional Republican supporters. When Trump first rose to prominence eight years ago, his unconventional words and actions caused many well-behaved Republican supporters to frown. However, for example, Franco, a car dealer who I interviewed this time, said, "At first, I thought Trump was a strange actor, but I don't think that way anymore. For someone like me who has taken risks in business, worked hard to earn money, become independent and pay taxes, Trump is someone who shares my values. At least as a Republican candidate, I think Trump is the best person." (Q: Regarding the information that Haitian immigrants eat pets, even though city authorities have denied it, if such information spreads unilaterally, isn't there a danger that voters' consciousness will be stained with one thing?) Newscaster Okoshi Kensuke: "I think one big factor is where you get your information. In interviews with truck drivers, perhaps due to the nature of their job, the majority of them get their information from social media or the radio, rather than from national television. Regarding the story about illegal immigrants eating pets, Franco, who has been a long-time supporter of the Republican Party, seemed unconcerned, saying, "I don't care because what politicians say tends to be a bit of an exaggeration," but I think there are certainly many people who are influenced to some extent. Franz, a radio personality popular with conservatives, was very knowledgeable and fit the image of a gentleman. However, I was surprised when we talked to each other when the topic turned to so-called "conspiracy theories." He repeatedly emphasized that the incident in which Trump was attacked at a speech venue "must have been an attempt by some huge international organization to assassinate him in order to prevent him from becoming president." There seemed to be no basis for this, but it is true that such conspiracy theories have a certain influence in American society. People choose only the information they like from their favorite sources and are saturated with one color. People are turning a blind eye to different opinions, and as a result, social divisions deepen. I feel that this phenomenon is becoming more evident here in the United States." [TV Asahi News] https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp