Who on earth would vote for Trump?
By Ailis Brennan 10 October 2016
If last night's presidential debate is anything to go by, this election isn't going to get less farcical any time soon. So what are Donald Trump supporters really thinking? To get a taste of what Americans really think of this political playground squabble of a presidential election, we went to the city of Nashville in the Southern state of Tennessee and asked people on the street who they were voting for and why. With The Volunteer State predicted by the polls to be a Trump stronghold, you'd expect an enthusiastic Red Sea of voters, right? Actually, people are just a bit fed up.
Preston, Associate Integration Consultant
GQ: Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton?
Preston: It's kind of embarrassing that it's come down to this. I don't really think that either of one are really fit. It's just embarrassing. If I had to vote and it's one or other, I actually choose Donald Trump.
Why's that?
I think he stands for America in the sense that he says things that normal politicians won't say. He's not afraid to rub people the wrong way and sugar-coat things. It's kind of one of the better concerns I have for him as far as him being our president versus Hillary.
I mean, we, as the American people, are just sick of being promised things that never come true and if anybody has a greater chance it would be him.
So the reason why you're voting for Trump is more like an attitude thing rather than a policy thing? Or would you say it's a mixture of both?
I mean, it's kind of hard to... It's not even the fact that I've made my mind yet because I haven't. If the policy... I don't know really what he's going to accomplish with building a wall and all this other ridiculous stuff that Mexico is apparently going to pay for. But I'm not really sure how his policies really line up for the best of America. I guess we'll have to see.
Gloria, 50, Accountant, New York
GQ: Who are you going to be voting for?
Gloria: Probably Trump.
Okay, and why's that?
Why? I think the government's like a business and he's a business man, so he could probably run it the best.
Why do you think he would be good for the country now?
Because a lot of his businesses are successful.
What do you think about Hillary? Why are you not voting for her or do you not usually vote Democrat at all?
No, I don't make a choice. I don't vote in the primary because sometimes I don't care about the primary. But, Hillary, I don't know if she'll be the president because she was married to a president.
So you think that works against her rather than for her?
I think so, in my eyes. I mean, her husband was a good president but I think maybe he'll help in the decision making.
Joe, 21, student, bartender and Mobile Detailing Business Owner, from New York
GQ: Who will you be voting for?
Joe: I pretty much have to say the same thing as Gloria – Trump. He knows what he wants to do, he has his plan and he's going to do it. He doesn't care what people... He's going to do it, you know?
Okay, so you think it's like an attitude thing?
And with his policies as well?
I can't say everything he says is good. Same with Hillary: some things she says might be good, some might be bad. But I feel like he's less worse than Hillary.
Joseph, Traffic Controller
GQ: Who are you going to vote for?
Joseph: I don't really think we have great people running it either way. I'm not a Hillary fan: I am a Christian; I don't believe in a lot of her stuff that she puts out. I'm more of a Republican and there's a lot of stuff I don't agree with Donald Trump, like building walls and all that kind of stuff, but I'm going to lean to vote for Donald Trump because of my Christian beliefs.
I just don't think the world, or America, would be a good place with Hillary Clinton – she's a liar, she's scandalous and I just don't think that, we have Obama in there, which has done nothing, and we're going to have Hillary in there, which is going to do worse than what we've had before.
You think Trump is a change?
I think Trump will do better. I think it's one of them things: pick out the lesser evil. Go Hillary and have nothing change and it just get worse, or go Trump.
I think he is a money man; he knows money and I believe, with the people he's all surrounded with, I believe they will be able to corral him and tame him a little bit. That's what I believe.
Now read:
• This is what Hillary Clinton voters really think
• The people who hate both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton
US Election 2016Donald TrumpPolitics