That backlash only deepened the bond. The harsher the coverage, the more personal the cause became. In Trump, they saw an imperfect but determined fighter willing to absorb every hit so long as he kept pushing “America First.” In themselves, they saw a movement bigger than any one election cycle, convinced that their loyalty is not to a man alone, but to a vision of national pride, sovereignty, and opportunity they believe the establishment is desperate to silence.
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