MAGA Farmer Blames 'Very Bad' Trump Policies After Voting for Him: 'I Think We've Been Misled'

For 52-year-old North Carolina farmer Matt Bell, supporting Donald Trump has become a painful reckoning as soaring diesel, fertiliser and equipment costs threaten his livelihood.

Bell, who voted for Trump and remains a Republican, says he is now struggling to keep his farm running and believes policies under the president have contributed to the pressure.

Bell said, 'I think we've been misled', while warning that he and other farmers are 'fighting for survival'.

Bell Says Trump Policies Have Left Farmers Struggling

Bell has farmed for 34 years in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, where he grows soybeans, corn and wheat and raises beef cattle across more than 1,000 acres.

He said the past year has brought financial stress unlike anything he has experienced during his career. Bell has already changed how he operates, including extending the life of his equipment, producing some of his own fertiliser and shifting acreage to reduce costs.

'We've cut everything we can cut,' Bell told CBS News. 'You cannot run without fuel. You cannot run without fertilizer. You have to have that.'

His concerns extend beyond operating costs. Bell said he initially supported Trump's policies and accepted the possibility of higher prices in pursuit of the administration's foreign policy goals. However, he now believes the administration has made serious miscalculations.

'We're just being strung along as a country and that's not good,' Bell said. 'I think we've been misled.'

Diesel Costs Have Become a Major Burden

Fuel has emerged as one of Bell's biggest problems.

According to reports, diesel prices were averaging around $6.40 (£4.78) per gallon nationally, while North Carolina's average reached $6.19 (£4.62). Bell said his farm's diesel costs had roughly doubled compared with the previous year.

His combine alone now requires about $600 (£448) worth of diesel each day. Bell had already exhausted his annual fuel budget of $35,000 (£26,145) by August and expects his total fuel bill to reach between $50,000 (£37,355) and $60,000 (£44,826) this year.

For a farm that relies heavily on machinery, there is little room to simply stop spending.

'Every piece of equipment on this farm runs on diesel,' Bell said.

Farmer Says He Is Running Out of Options

Bell's warning has resonated online, with a podcast clip reacting to his interview taking a much harsher tone. The commentary questioned why a Trump voter was only confronting the administration's policies after the economic consequences reached his own farm.

Bell himself, however, focused less on political retaliation and more on the survival of farming businesses.

'I do not want any Americans to feel sorry for the American farmer,' he said. 'I want the Americans to be mad that we have been put in this situation. We are fighting for survival, and we're running out of options.'

He acknowledged that his own farm could eventually become unsustainable. Despite saying money was not his main concern, Bell admitted there may come a point when he cannot continue operating under current conditions.

Bell said he remains a Republican but plans to consider splitting his ticket in November, saying he wants candidates who listen to Americans' concerns. His comments underline a growing tension between political loyalty and the economic realities facing some farmers as production costs continue to climb.