Tennessee Missile Town Stays Loyal to Trump Despite Historic Low Ratings

In Kingsport, Tennessee — a working-class Appalachian city of 58,000 where Christianity and conservative values run deep — President Donald Trump's approval ratings may be sinking nationally, but local loyalty to the president shows few cracks.

A town built on munitions

At the heart of Kingsport's economy sits the Holston Army Ammunition Plant, the only domestic supplier of certain explosive and propellant components used in Patriot missiles and heavy warheads. The plant employs around 1,000 workers and has ramped up production since the United States launched a military campaign against Iran in February 2026.

That war, and its economic ripple effects, has pushed Trump's national approval rating to a historic low of 32% — down 14 percentage points since he took office in January 2025. Gas prices have climbed above $4 a gallon. Many Republicans now cite disillusionment with the president's policies.

Loyalty rooted in faith and identity

In Kingsport, residents largely rationalise these hardships or deflect blame from the White House. Pam Robinson, 65, a former chemical plant employee, backs the Iran campaign: "If he can stop anyone from having a nuclear bomb, then I'm for it." Veteran James Camper, 63, wearing a Trump lanyard, was blunter: "Honestly, I think we should turn them into a parking lot." Daniel Overstreet, 53, concedes that gas and food prices remain high but argues Trump's hands are tied by Congress.

Moral issues — particularly opposition to abortion — cement this loyalty. Of the county commission's 11 districts, seven featured only Republican candidates at last week's local elections, some running unopposed.

Minority voices

Adam Teague, 44, a gay Democrat and piercing artist, says he toned down his public persona since Trump returned to office: "I kind of toned it down, just to feel safer." His experience reflects a broader suppression of dissenting voices in communities where conservative identity is deeply embedded. Trump announced the Iran strikes in a February 2026 social-media video, declaring the objective was to "eliminate imminent threats from the Iranian regime."