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Saturday, November 29, 2025

North Carolina man who voted for Trump forced to shut family lumber mill, cut 50 jobs due to tariffs. What's next for rural America?

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Last year, the owner of a sawmill in North Carolina voted for Trump. This year, he's closed down his mill and blames the squeeze from Trump's tariffs. On the Big Take podcast, Bloomberg economics reporter Shawn Donnan visits the "Old North State" to understand the ripple effect of tariffs

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-- Bloomberg News (@bloomberg.com) Nov 15, 2025 at 11:00 AM

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snip

Wilson Jones stands in what used to be the heart of his family's lumber empire " the Mackeys Ferry Sawmill in North Carolina.

But instead of the familiar roar of saws cutting through Southern pine, there's only silence.

"I've grown all my life in the lumber business," the 60-something mill owner tells Bloomberg (1), his voice heavy with emotion. "And to hear nature at a sawmill, I think for any lumberman is not natural. I don't wanna be overly dramatic, but in a way it's as unnerving as watching a loved one take their final breath."

#1 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-11-27 03:30 PM | Reply

snip

Jones is the fifth generation in his family to run a lumber business " and the first to close a mill. The culprit? President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, announced April 2, 2025, which promised to bring manufacturing jobs roaring back to America.

"When I say Liberation Day, I cannot put enough snark and sarcasm in my voice because we weren't liberated," Wilson says. "Liberation Day, it did, at the time, it had damn near liberated me from our business."

#2 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-11-27 03:32 PM | Reply

I suppose Major DEI Boaz will come along and tell us that this fifth-generation North Carolinian is wrong and knows nothing about North Carolina the way he knows everything about the Tar Heel State.

Just like JD Vance telling soldiers, who indicated that like turkey, that they're liars - on the day before Thanksgiving.

#3 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-11-27 03:36 PM | Reply

Small businesses have been hurt more than the mega-chain stores by the Trump tariffs for the sole reason that they did not have the resources to fill warehouses with their needed supplies before the tariffs took effect.

Effectively, the manner in which Pres Trump instituted his tariffs seemed to target small businesses, apparently trying to cause them to fail.



#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-11-27 08:08 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

#4 Spot-on observation.

Farmers, small business owners, and independent entrepreneurs, are all examples of old-time, rock-ribbed Republicans who voted for the Trump because, well, reasons ...

And those farmers, small business owners, and independent entrepreneurs all are getting f*cked by the Trump and his circus of fools, incompetents and clowns.

Without foreplay.

The ----- of consequence rarely arrives lubed.

#5 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-11-27 08:25 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Economic weakness is Good for the Environment.

This helps make up for all the damage done in other places.

Sorry about the Lost jobs.

Nature isn't.

#6 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-11-28 09:17 AM | Reply

Don't ever feel sorry for these people.
What they have done to Ukraine, by voting for Trump, will have terrible consequences for decades to come.
These are evil, evil people. At least, them and their families can be miserable for the rest of their pitiful lives
It won't help the damage they have done here and around the world, though.

One quote from the article:
"Even after losing his business to Trump's policies, he stands by his vote."

#7 | Posted by eightfifteenpm at 2025-11-29 07:49 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

#7 My Funny flag was based solely on the very absurdity you highlighted.

Bravo ...

.... and Thank you.

#8 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-11-29 07:53 PM | Reply

I hear ICE is hiring. Rural failures do well in that organization, many are saying ...

#9 | Posted by catdog at 2025-11-29 09:43 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Not to worry, limber mill man, Mexico will pick up the slack.

#10 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-11-30 06:11 AM | Reply

FA, FO

#11 | Posted by kmtahir2023 at 2025-11-30 07:03 AM | Reply

Pro-Trump CEO shocked as his dream e-bike company files for bankruptcy

wtfdetective.blog

Womp Womp

#12 | Posted by Reinheitsgebot at 2025-11-30 09:52 AM | Reply

There was no mystery to anyone on the planet that Dummkopf Trumpf ran his 2020 and 2024 campaigns on platforms of white supremacy and xenophobia.

"Argh! Let's take the country back! Gargh! MAGA! Blargh!"

Has anyone seen entrepreneurs of color file for bankruptcy or shutter their businesses since Dummkopf Trumpf seized power on 20 Jan 2025?

If these two privileged slices of white bread going bankrupt or closing their business voted for a racist oligarch and now suffering the consequences of their decision within less than one year, they are making my morning coffee taste even better.

Hmm, good! Thanks, jerks!


#13 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-11-30 10:56 AM | Reply

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