Trump's North Dakota Payback: Less Than Zero
North Dakota's loyalty to President Donald Trump has not yielded the expected benefits for the state. Despite voting overwhelmingly for him, North Dakota's economy has taken a hit from trade disputes and federal policies.
The state's export-dependent farm economy has been particularly affected, with retaliatory levies devastating soybean exports and wheat shipments to China. Meanwhile, Canada's market disruptions have inflated the cost of critical inputs like potash and farm machinery.
Small-refinery exemptions undercut federal Renewable Fuel Standard volume mandates, depressing domestic demand for corn ethanol and soy biodiesel. This has pitted North Dakota's agriculture industry against its energy sector.
The state's leaders, including Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Sen. Kevin Cramer, have been loyal to Trump but have often found themselves running damage control for administration controversies. The voters are the source of North Dakota's loyalty to Trump, but it remains to be seen how much more pain they can take before realizing their mistake.