This was published 7 years ago

What it's like to visit the US states that love Donald Trump

By Ben Groundwater

Updated November 2, 2016 — 11.44am

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah.Credit: iStock

It seems, frankly, bonkers. With the clarity provided by distance, the idea of Donald Trump as president of the United States of America surely appears, to much of the rest of the world, completely insane.

It's the American culture of celebrity writ at its largest; the fascination with car-crash reality TV taken to the point of ridiculousness. That a man with no political experience, no sense of diplomacy, and no respect for anyone but his white male voter base could feasibly be chosen to inhabit the White House by next Thursday is frightening.

Though you might not know it from looking at your Facebook feed, there are people in the US who support Donald Trump – plenty of people. And not all of them are the crazed neo-anarchists you see waving their "Lock Her Up" placards at the Trump rallies that are covered on news bulletins. Some of them are normal people. Some of them are extremely friendly, hospitable people.

And the glory of travel is that you can visit the places inhabited by those seeking to make America great again, and see what they're like. You can see where these people come from. You can try to understand.

You probably won't – but the great thing about travels in the Trump heartland is that it's nothing like you'd expect.

Tennessee

This is one of the strongest Republican states, with a double-digit advantage over the Democrats. That's going to come as something of a surprise to most visitors, however, whose first impression of the state will probably be either Nashville or Memphis, two buzzing, cosmopolitan cities with great musical and artistic scenes. It's in the rural areas, however, where Trump is most popular – though that's also where Tennessee bourbon is made, so they're worth exploring.

Montana

If this is what conservatism looks like, then it's even more attractive than a Miss Universe pageant. Montana is one of the most naturally beautiful states in a nation, with no shortage of competition. It's big-sky country, a place of horse ranches in rugged mountain ranges and herds of bison on wide golden plains. It's also deeply conservative with a strong evangelical presence, so while its looks are spectacular, cultural variety isn't a strength.

Utah

When your state is made up of 67 per cent Mormons, you can expect a certain level of conservatism. And so you'll find in Utah, which makes it a surprise to discover just how much fun this state is to visit. From the rock-climbing and mountain-biking hub of Moab to the ski slopes of Park City and the national parks of Zion and Bryce Canyon, you'll enjoy it so much here that you'll completely forget that everyone is rooting for The Donald.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire is a funny one – it's not exactly a Republican stronghold, but it is far more conservative than any of its neighbouring New England states, and it's also where Trump gained plenty of momentum in the primaries. New Hampshire is also, however, stunningly beautiful in the way that much of New England is, with a small-town friendliness that papers over a few xenophobic cracks.

Illinois

Again, this is not exactly a Trumpian wonderland – however, The Donald blitzed the field in the Illinois primaries, and retains a lot of support in "downstate" rural areas. Of course, many travellers will never realise this because they'll end up in Chicago, a cosmopolitan "blue" city that's one of the most enjoyable places in the US to visit, offering great music and food, and in Wrigley Field, one of the world's best sports stadiums.

Alaska

It's no surprise to find that the home of Sarah Palin is a Republican stronghold. After all, they can see Russia from here. For tourists, however, the importance of the geopolitical landscape in Alaska pales in comparison to the importance of the actual landscape, which is a vast and amazingly beautiful series of snow-covered peaks, glaciers, rivers and spotless plains that just go on, and on, and on. Much like a certain politician.

Alabama

Alabama is one of the most conservative states in the US, a place where guns are cherished, abortions are heavily restricted, and immigrants are not exactly warmly welcomed. In Blount County, 93 per cent of its citizens are white – 86 per cent voted for Mitt Romney in 2012. This is also, however, a bastion of southern hospitality, as well as being a state with a rich history as part of the civil rights movement (it's the home of Rosa Parks), and an extremely interesting place to visit if you want to understand the American political scene.

North Dakota

It's unlikely you've been to North Dakota, given its complete lack of attractions and the fact one of its tourism slogans is "Best for Last", an acknowledgement that most Americans hoping to visit every US state will usually leave North Dakota to their final destination. This is a rural state that is probably most interesting to visit purely for its lack of remarkability – as a foreign tourist in North Dakota, you'll be something of an attraction yourself.