Episode 25: Through Their Eyes – How Trump Loyalists See the First 100 Days

Episode Summary:
In the first of a four-part series examining Donald Trump’s second-term first 100 days, Episode 25 of Surviving Trumptakes us into the minds of the Wealth Protectors — the high-income donors, corporate executives, and conservative insiders who see Trump as a powerful tool to protect their interests and expand their influence. This episode unpacks how these elites view Trump as a strategic asset, a bulldozer clearing a path for profit and deregulation. We examine why they’re thrilled with Trump’s aggressive moves, how they justify the harm caused to democracy and working-class Americans, and why, despite his chaos, they remain loyal to a leader who serves their bottom line.

In This Episode:

• How Wealth Protectors view the first 100 days: A once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape government for profit
• The reasons they remain loyal to Trump, despite his chaos — and why it’s all about the returns
• How they justify the harm caused to the economy and democracy as “necessary disruption”
• Their perspective on Trump’s authoritarian moves: not a threat, but a long-overdue power correction
• How they define democracy: a system designed to protect capital, not people

Why It Matters:
Understanding how Trump’s Wealth Protectors view his presidency is crucial to grasping why they’re willing to overlook — or even encourage — authoritarian moves and democratic backsliding. For them, Trump isn’t just a politician; he’s a means to an end, a bulldozer clearing the way for profits and power consolidation. As Trump solidifies his control, their influence grows — and democracy erodes. This episode provides essential context for anyone trying to understand the forces behind Trump’s continued dominance and the high-stakes consequences for American governance.

Next Episode – Episode 26: “The MAGA Base – Trump’s Devoted Followers”
In the next episode, we shift from the boardrooms to the bleachers. If the Wealth Protectors are driven by strategy and profit, the MAGA base is driven by identity, emotion, and a sense of belonging. We’ll explore why Trump’s working-class supporters feel seen and heard under his rule — and why they’re more loyal than ever, even as they bear the brunt of his economic policies.

Transcript

Bella Goode 00:04

Hi, everyone. Welcome to Surviving Trump. I'm your host, Bella Goode.

Now, wouldn't you know it, I'm in the midst of writing a couple of episodes on Project 2025, which is an incredibly important topic. Project 2025 typically has superficial awareness and understanding by most people, myself included. So I was really looking forward to sinking my teeth into it. But then, of course, another topic of equal importance came along. That is Trump's first 100-day milestone. And there's been no shortage of opinions on his performance, mostly along the party spectrum.

So I made an executive decision and changed up my schedule. And then what began as a two-part series on Donald Trump's first 100 days in office quickly expanded into four episodes. There was just too much ground to cover. And to make sense of it all, I decided to examine the story from multiple angles, comparing the viewpoints of Trump loyalists with those of Trump resistors, like myself. Understanding what's happening requires looking through both lenses.

Bella Goode 01:14

So Episode 25 focuses on the Trump loyalists in the power class. These are wealthy donors, corporate executives, and conservative insiders who see Trump as a tool to protect their interests and to expand their influence.

Episode 26, the next one, considers the viewpoints of the MAGA base. Many of the Trump voters who feel forgotten, disrespected, and they are finally seen. For them, Trump isn't just a politician. He's someone they feel personally connected to. Dare I say the king?  

Episode 27 shifts to the anti-Trump perspective, the millions who view these 100 days as a disaster for democracy, justice, and the rule of law.
This episode is a reality check.

And then there's Episode 28, the final in this four series. It lays out the Democratic battle plan. We are the opposition and we need a plan. We're in dire need of a plan.

Bella Goode 02:20

Now it's not like I picked up the phone and called Chuck Schumer or Hakeem Jeffries and they magically shared a game-changing master plan for winning back the House and the Senate. I wish. To the best of my knowledge, there is no master plan. Instead, I'm sharing what actions that are being taken and by whom. Who's starting to rise to the surface? In the meantime, I feel an incredible urgency that someone should be doing something to leverage the chaos and the sewage that's defined Trump's first three months. I have one crazy idea that I'll share in Episode 28.

Taken together, these four episodes provide a comprehensive look at a presidency that's not only reshaping policy, it's redefining power.
And that's what we're all freaking out about. These episodes might be exasperating to listen to, and you can only imagine what it was like to write and record them, but I do think we should try to better understand Trump's base, to try to see if there's any common ground. Huh, really? Did I just say that?

Bella Goode 03:26

Well, in the unlikely event that you find yourself deep in conversation with a MAGA individual, you'll be in a much better position to respond with clarity, with insight, and a grounded sense of what's really driving their support.

In today's episode, we're focused on the Republican perspective, specifically the segment of Trump voters who are the high-income donors. They're the corporate leaders and the conservative power brokers. I call them the wealth protectors. Their goal in life is to protect their money at all costs. You're not going to find them at a rally. They're looking for a return on their investments. To them, Trump holds power and he provides protection. And despite all the noise and the chaos, they are thrilled with his performance.

In their eyes, Trump's second term isn't a liability, it's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape government around their interests. So how exactly do they view his first 100 days?

Bella Goode 04:29

Trump's most powerful supporters, again, they're not standing in line at the rallies in red hats. They're not shouting into Facebook comment threads or posting flag emojis on Truth Social. They're attending donor dinners in Palm Beach. They're dialing into boardrooms. They're watching interest rates, regulatory memos, and corporate earnings projections. They see a president doing exactly what he promised: cutting regulations, slashing oversight, dismantling climate and labor protections, and defending capital accumulation. And for this group, the numbers aren't just symbolic. They're improving their bottom line. This is Trump's version of stimulus. Cut the rules, free the profits, and let the winners win.

The biggest deregulatory move so far, for example, the rollback of EPA tailpipe emission rules and new fuel standards, are expected to save the automobile industry about $755 billion dollars alone. Now that's not ideology. That's about margin, liquidity, and long-term gains. Then there's Trump's signature 10 to 1 deregulatory policy. Kill 10 rules for every new one. This gives you a picture of a government that's being reshaped, not just ideologically, but operationally. In ways that protects capital and constrains oversight.

Bella Goode 05:59

The wealth protectors also see other wins. Trump's early judicial appointments, his cabinet and agency heads, and his executive orders are sending out one loud clear message to the investor class. The nanny state is closing down. No more government that's overprotective or butts in on people's lives. The profit pipeline is opening up.

Even Trump's protectionist tariffs, while controversial, are viewed by this group as part of the strategy. Tariffs make imports more expensive, yes, but they also tilt the field in favor of U.S.-based industries, especially in defense, fossil fuels, and manufacturing. To them, the phrase bring the factories home isn't only about patriotism, it's a way to protect and grow their investments. They know these shifts won't happen overnight. That factories, they take time to build, that supply chains can't be untangled in a single quarter. But they don't need overnight returns. Their capital is patient. Their risk is hedged.

Yes, trade volatility and economic unpredictability makes business harder to manage.
Forecasting is trickier. Global retaliation is real. But these wealth protectors—I'm going to say that they are not fragile operators. They're adaptable, they're well counseled, and they are financially insulated. In fact, a lot of them see the chaos as a competitive edge. It weeds out weaker players and concentrates influence.

So much for small business. They're built to survive financial turbulence. Yes, there is noise, and yes, there is chaos. But in the words of one longtime GOP donor, interviewed by Politico, he delivers for the balance sheet.And that's what matters. 

The praise for Trump isn't confined to private conversations. It's being openly broadcasted in public as well. In The Daily Signal, a conservative columnist, Jarrett Stepman, called Trump 2.0 one of the most successful early presidencies since FDR. Others like Blaze Media's Christopher Bedford have described it as one long overdue conservative revolution. And in the New York Post, Michael Goodwin argued that Trump is pushing the envelope far beyond even his first term—a sign that his boldness is not a liability, it's a feature of his presidency.

For these wealth protectors, Trump doesn't have to be likable. He just has to be useful. And so far, he's doing that. In short, the Trump presidency is delivering exactly what this group hoped for: Fewer rules on business, government shields for their industries, influence over policy decisions, and most importantly, the ability to protect and expand their power. What do you think? Can Trump maintain this conditional loyalty? Let's talk about what it's going to take.

So why do they—those being the wealth protectors—why do they stay with Trump? Why stayed loyal to someone who is so often unpredictable, legally embattled, and politically volatile? The answer, in one word, is: returns. For this group, loyalty isn't about charisma, culture wars, or crowd energy. It's not about January 6th pardons or transgender athletes. It's not about Trump the icon. It's about Trump the instrument. Their loyalty is transactional, just like his is. Trump cuts taxes, kills regulations, and stacks the court with judges who protect capital. That's the deal. And from where they sit, he's keeping his word.

Bella Goode 09:54

Now, that doesn't mean that they love the drama. Many privately wince at the chaos, the social media meltdowns, the international blunders, the legal stunts. If they had their way, Trump would just keep signing executive orders and keep his mouth shut. That would be perfect. But the logic is simple. How to explain their loyalty? He delivers. And right now, no one else in the Republican Party comes close to offering the same mix of power, policy, and raw leverage over government agencies. He's not managing the system. He's bulldozing it. And that's just what his wealthy backers want.

They are also thrilled by another factor: Trump's second term appears to be more organized than his first. He's not winging it as much. Behind him is Project 2025. That's the coordinated blueprint backed by powerful think tanks and donors aimed at reshaping the federal government to reflect conservative priorities. So for corporate America, that means looser oversight, fewer worker protections, and advantages that set them up for success well into the future.

Loyalty in this world does not mean affection. It means being on the same page—and payback. They don't even care if Trump is politically radioactive. What they care about is that he keeps the capital gains tax low. They don't need a president who inspires the nation.

They need one who won't empower the SEC or the IRS. And yes, he's reckless, but he's also useful. And in a political environment where institutional control is everything, Trump is their bulldozer. They don't mind the noise if he clears a path for their agenda. But loyalty does have its cost. And it raises a harder question. How do they—the wealth protectors—justify the damage, the harm that's been done to  the economy, to the democracy, to the people who don't share their privilege? How do they justify the harm?

Well, they know that there are risks. They know that there's market volatility, global backlash, and uncertainty over tariffs or foreign retaliation. It's all real. But the truth is, these loyalists are insulated. They can wait out the turbulence. They can hedge against risk. They don't feel the pain the way the working-class voters do.

When stock markets dip, they don't panic. They diversify. When supply chains buckle under tariffs, they adjust contracts or raise prices. And when interest rates wobble, they refinance.

Bella Goode 12:40

Trumps chaos isn't a crisis to them. It's a little background noise. And when critics raise alarms about economic fallout or global instability, many in this camp respond with something like, yes, but the fundamentals are shifting in our favor. To them, short-term pain is worth it if it leads to lasting change. They see deregulation and tax cuts as long-term wins that will reshape the economy for decades to come. If that means enduring a few shaky quarters, so be it.

If foreign leaders are angry, that's often seen as proof that Trump is putting America first. Some even argue that volatility is good. It separates the disciplined investors from the emotional ones. Trump, in this view, is shaking the tree—and they're the ones holding on to the strongest branches. Blaze Media's Christopher Bedford praises this exact mindset, writing that Trump's aggressive use of executive power, especially in dismantling agencies, reasserting control over the border, and taking on DEI, proves that he's willing to do what others only promised. And Michael Goodwin adds that Trump is pushing the envelope far beyond even his first term, which for these loyalists isn’t reckless—it's essential. Bold action is part of the value proposition. There’s another layer, too.

For many of these donors and corporate types, Trump is a disruptor who’s clearing space for more stable, long-term conservative power. If he gets knocked out politically or legally, their hope is that the machinery that he built—courts, agencies, regulatory frameworks—will keep producing favorable outcomes for years to come. So the harm?
Well, it’s manageable. The risk? It’s acceptable. The cost? Definitely worth it. Because in boardrooms and private equity circles where Trump still commands loyalty, the metric isn’t approval ratings—it’s return on investment.

Now I ask you: what about empathy? What about the sense of shared humanity? For the wealth protectors, it seems that those values have been traded for power and profit. They watch from their insulated towers, comfortably distanced from the economic shockwaves that ripple through middle-class and working-class lives. When families can’t make rent because of rising prices, they shrug it off as market correction. When workers lose jobs to tariff-driven closures, they chalk it up to economic realignment. Empathy doesn’t enter the equation—not when they can hedge, refinance, or cash out.
For them, suffering is an abstract concept, not a lived reality. Think The Wolf of Wall Street.

So that brings us to another elephant in the room: that is called authoritarianism. Do they see it? Do they care? Do they worry about it? Mostly, no. Amongst the wealth-driven Trump loyalists, concerns about democratic erosion are either downplayed, reframed, or ignored entirely. When Trump takes control, sidesteps government agencies, or goes after the media, they don’t view it as authoritarian. They see it as getting things done faster and with less interference. Finally, someone is cutting through the gridlock. To this group, Trump’s boldness isn’t dangerous—it’s overdue.

Bella Goode 16:15

They’ve spent decades viewing the federal bureaucracy as the real source of unaccountable power. There are many entities—like the EPA, the IRS, the SEC—that impose rules, fees, and restrictions without even facing voters. So when Trump moves to gut these institutions, he it feels like it’s a correction, not a coup.

Charles Benoit writing in The American Conservative, frames Trump’s early moves, especially his Tariffs are seen as the first steps toward the golden age of America. That kind of framing reinforces the idea that Trump’s authority isn’t tyranny—it’s restoration. They’re also realists. Executive overreach might be troubling in theory, but if it weakens labor protections, dismantles DEI, or shields capital from new taxes, they’ll live with it—or basically, they’ll profit from it. And for those who still identify as small-government conservatives, many tell themselves: This is a temporary disruption—an aggressive push to reset the system after years of what they see as unchecked liberal expansion. Some even hope Trump is paving the way for a calmer, more refined successor who can carry the same agenda without the theatrics.

But here’s the bottom line: For this group, the threat isn’t Trump’s power. It’s a government that tilts toward fairness, equity, or redistribution. That’s what they want to dismantle. And if Trump bends the system to do it, that’s fine with them. They see that as liberation, not authoritarianism.

Bella Goode 17:53

Now, it’s not that this group ignores public opinion entirely.
They do watch the numbers—but they read polls, for example,  like market signals. So, what do the polls say? Poll numbers aren’t everything to the wealth protectors, but they do watch. They’re not MAGA diehards cheering at rallies, but they are politically savvy. They track approval ratings the way they track markets—not for emotional validation, but as a tool for risk assessment.

And right now, they see a mixed picture. Trump’s approval has softened since Inauguration Day, with notable slippage among independents and college-educated suburban voters, even as his base remains energized. Among high-income Republicans and business-aligned conservatives, support remains steady. He is still seen as the best vehicle for keeping Democrats out of power and government out of the private sector.

But here’s the key: What matters more than popularity is positioning. Trump is doing what others only hinted at. The avalanche of orders and actions and proposals—as The New York Post’s Michael Goodwin put it—is proof to them that he’s maximizing the power of his presidency and showing how little resistance that Washington can actually mount. Deregulatory action is underway. The courts are being reshaped. DEI programs are being dismantled. Immigration enforcement is ramping up. This group isn’t concerned with public opinion. They’re focused on controlling the systems and the institutions that shape how power is distributed.

Still, some quiet concern has surfaced—especially around Trump’s volatility and the economic unpredictability tied to his tariffs.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board warned that he needs a major reset to avoid deeper economic shocks.
And yes, the donor class is aware of that risk. If the bond markets wobble too much, if capital becomes scarce, or if legal drama becomes instability—they will take notice. But so far, no mass defections, no strategic pivots, no Republican alternative rising with enough credibility to offer the same gains.

He, Trump remains the market leader in this political space. And unless or until he is no longer profitable, they are staying put. Well, just as we have an opinion of them—“we” being maybe the Trump resistors—and “them” being the Trump supporters… just as we have an opinion of them, they also have an opinion of us. The wealth protectors definitely have a view of left voters, and why they think progressives keep getting it wrong. If you ask the wealth-aligned Trump loyalists what frustrates them about-most about progressives, they say: “You just don’t get us—and you just don’t care to.”

They see themselves as the engines of the economy—the builders, the job creators, the investors—the ones who make things move.
To them, the left is obsessed with redistribution of wealth instead of growth.
They’re obsessed with regulating risk instead of rewarding initiative. They believe that progressive ideals romanticize struggle—but they punish success. In their view, the left wants a world run by bureaucrats, not innovators. They see Trump as the first national figure in decades to stand up to that, to call it what it is, and to fight it without apology.

Bella Goode 21:40

Trump isn’t an accident. He’s the counterrevolution— A necessary reaction to what they see as creeping statism, runaway cultural liberalism, and economic punishment for success. They roll their eyes at what they see as self-righteous attacks from the left—claims that Trump’s agenda is immoral or authoritarian. From their perspective, those same critics had no issue with sweeping executive power when it came to vaccine mandates, climate regulations, or student loan forgiveness. It’s only authoritarianism, they say, when power is wielded by someone they don’t like.

And then there’s the tone—the judgment. The idea that if you’re wealthy and support Trump, you must be greedy, you must be racist, or complicit in cruelty. But they don’t see themselves that way. They see themselves as clear-eyed, pragmatic, and tired of being villainized for wanting to keep what they’ve earned. To them, Trump isn’t a glitch in the system. He’s the one force willing to assert the primacy of private enterprise, national sovereignty, and cultural restraint.

Here’s another point that they make— The left doesn’t understand, maybe refuses to understand. What they don’t understand is that their support of Trump isn’t rooted in personality. It’s rooted in alignment—being on the same page. Trump might be chaotic, but he’s aligned with what they care about. And for this group, that’s more than enough.

That worldview leads us to a final insight—how they define democracy. Because for the wealth protectors, it’s not about participation, it’s about protection. For the wealth protectors, democracy isn’t a sacred ritual. It’s a framework. It’s a system designed to ensure order, stability, and limits—especially limits on how quickly things can change. That sounds very ironic, doesn’t it? They’re not rallying with flags or quoting the Founders. But they care deeply about rules— Rules that protect contracts, capital, markets, and the flow of money. In their ideal world, democracy moves slowly, guards against disruption, and stays out of the way of enterprise. They don’t want mass mobilization or sweeping legislative change driven by public pressure. They want predictability. They want courts that honor precedent. They want agencies that avoid big swings. And elected officials who speak the language of investment, not ideology.

Bella Goode 24:18

For them, the most trustworthy government is one that stays boring and reliable—especially when the public mood swings left. That’s why some of these wealth protectors were never really fully comfortable with Trump’s chaos. But they still backed his presidency. Because even if he disrupts the surface, he’s weakening the institutions they see as the real threat: Regulators, watchdogs, labor enforcers, and the entire bureaucratic state.

In their minds, democracy works best when it’s lean, disciplined, and hard to hijack.
If that means concentrating power in a single nutty president who delivers their agenda—so be it. And he’s making progress. They’re not defending Trump because he upholds the old rules. They’re defending him because he’s rewriting them in ways that protect their interests. And if democratic norms have to bend in the process— If oversight weakens or if agencies lose their independence— That’s not a crisis. It’s a necessary adjustment.

To this group, the real danger isn’t Trump’s power. It’s any version of democracy that aims to rebalance wealth, power, or opportunity. That, in their eyes, isn’t democracy. It’s theft by ballot box. So when they say they support democracy, what they mean is this: A system that guards capital, limits disruption, and keeps the government in service of prosperity, not fairness. That is their guiding light. And right now, they believe that Trump is the one willing to build it.

Bella Goode 26:00

So, in conclusion, what did the first 100 days look like through the eyes of wealth protectors? Well, it looks like a win, a plan executed, a system tilted further in their favor. Trump might be unpredictable. He might be the orange monster, but to them, he’s a strategic asset—someone who’s finally putting government to work. Not for the public good, but for private gain. They don’t need him to be decent. They need him to be useful. And right now, he is.

Coming up in our next episode, which is Episode 26, we shift to a very different set of Trump loyalists. Not the boardrooms, but the bleachers. The MAGA base. Because if the wealth protectors are driven by strategy, the base is driven by something else—identity, emotion, and the belief that this time they finally have someone in their corner.

So that’s it for today’s episode. And just a reminder, Surviving Trump is 100% reader and listener supported. It’s just me behind the desk and the mic researching, writing, and recording. I pay a professional to edit and produce every podcast episode. If you value the work, do consider becoming a paid subscriber to help this blog and this podcast going strong. Every contribution helps.

This is Bella Goode signing off, and have a great day.