A big store in Tennessee that was all about Donald Trump is closing down, and the owner isn’t saying it’s because of retirement, moving, or some normal business issue.It’s because there aren’t enough customers.
The Trump Superstore, which is a big place near Knoxville on Interstate 40, is full of Trump signs and banners.
There’s even a brick outhouse that’s labeled the “Democrat Superstore.” Now, they’re selling everything at half price as the store gets ready to shut for good.
Bill Hays, the 80-year-old owner, was clear when a reporter from Slate asked him about rumors he was retiring and moving to the South.
“I’m not retiring, not moving down,” he said.
One employee, named Dan, was even more direct.
“We’re not busy anymore.”
It’s a big change for a place that once had lots of people coming because of the strong support for Trump’s MAGA movement.
Hays remembers the rush after the July 2024 shooting attempt on Trump, when people filled the store.”People were waiting to walk in the door,” he said.”Everybody was going ‘Choo Choo Trump train,’ and this whole building was moving.I mean, it was just, it was unbelievable.”
These days, that Trump train doesn’t seem to have enough people on board.
Dan said he notices Trump’s support is “dwindling,” but he also thinks there’s a bigger problem for Republicans: people don’t have as much money as they used to.
“People really are saying, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to do a full load of groceries or I’m going to put my electric bill on a credit card this month,'” he said, blaming Trump’s tariffs and high gas prices since he started the war with Iran.
A single struggling Trump store in Tennessee isn’t a poll, but it shows a lot about where Trump’s political situation stands.
A store that once had crowds cheering “Trump train” is now selling everything at half price because the customers stopped coming.
About the Author
