Trump voters in Iowa satisfied with how he's done so far, frustrated by divided country

As President Donald Trump returns to visit Cedar Rapids Wednesday, we wanted to catch up with some of the people who voted for him to see how they felt he's done so far.

Tim Gull: 'I think he's worked hard to do what he said he was going to do'

The response from them was fairly positive, with a few caveats.

By Mitchell Schmidt, The Gazette

MARION — Tim Gull, 54, admits Donald Trump wasn't his first choice for a Republican presidential candidate, but said he doesn't regret voting for him last November.

Gull, who has owned Metro Transmission in Marion for 26 years, said he has mostly been satisfied with Trump's first five months as president.

'He hasn't been in office very long, but I think he's worked hard to do what he said he was going to do,' Gull said.

For example, Gull said he agrees with Trump's decision earlier this month to back out of the Paris climate accord.

Austen Giles: Praise for Trump, but 'just really discouraging' to still see lawmaking gridlock

'I think we were smart to pull out of it. We're spending a billion dollars and emerging markets like China or India, they don't have to abide by it,' Gull said. 'I'm glad, as a taxpayer.'

Gull said that while he feels former President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act is unsustainable, he hopes to see a replacement that includes everyone.

'Once you give something to somebody and have to take it away, it's a bad deal,' he said. 'I think everybody needs to contribute to it. ... We take care of people no matter if they have insurance or not.'

Gull said he doesn't necessarily agree with a complete travel ban on come countries, such as Trump has proposed, but said border control should be a priority.

'We're going to need to find a path for people to gain citizenship and be a contributing member of society,' he said. But while Gull said he feels Trump is trying to meet the promises he made in last year's campaign, he added his biggest frustration is the divide among lawmakers, which he said makes change nearly impossible.

'I am so angry with our elected officials. Instead of moving this country forward, they seem to be the ones dividing it. I don't believe Trump is dividing things,' he said.

By Vanessa Miller, The Gazette

Citing recent improvement in the U.S. unemployment rate, including marked gains in the San Diego area where he's working this summer, Giles credited Trump. He patted the president's back for manufacturing job advances, business optimism and stock market gains.

AMES — Founding an 'ISU 4 Trump' student group — unofficially — in the fall, Austen Giles has been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, even on the Iowa State University campus where, he said, 'it's easier to come out as a gay person than to come out as a Republican.'

And five months into the new administration, ISU junior Giles, 21, has plenty of praise for the president — starting with Trump's effect on the economy.

'Oh my goodness, I cannot tell you how lucky I felt to even get an internship working at a media company in San Diego,' Giles said from southern California, where he's spending the summer interning for One America News, a conservative-oriented network featuring newscasts and political talk shows.

His quick hire for the summer mirrored experiences of fellow interns and student peers, according to Giles.

Bob Hemesath: 'We're just making sure ... (Trump) understands how important Canada and Mexico are as markets'

'As far as economic growth, it's definitely working,' he said. 'I'm definitely a big believer in that.'

Giles, originally from Chicago, also praised Trump for his attorney general selection and the ensuing promises to crack down on some specific crimes, including child exploitation and gang violence.

But he reserved some criticism in the category of legislative progress.

'As far as legislation, I would like to say that the GOP and Donald Trump are not doing too well right now,' Giles said. 'I want to see them work together.'

He encouraged cooperation from both sides and called the standstill 'a terrible thing.'

'It's just really discouraging to see that,' he said. 'If we have a majority — a House majority and the Senate — there's really no reason why we shouldn't be getting anything passed.'

By Alison Gowans, The Gazette

CALMAR — Asked how Donald Trump's presidency is impacting agriculture, Bob Hemesath said he still is in wait-and-see mode.

The chairman of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, he farms corn and hogs near Decorah. He voted for Trump, hoping for the loosening of farming regulations he sees as burdensome.

He's glad the president ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to review and either rescind or revise the 'Waters of the United States' rules, which sought to include tributaries and bodies of water that connect to bigger waterways under federal Clean Water Act protections. But he'd like to see further action on regulations relevant to agriculture, specifically a loosening of rules limiting the sale of E15 ethanol-blend gasoline in the summer.

He said GOP Sen. Joni Ernst is crafting a bill to address the issue, and he hopes Trump supports it.

Jerry Chaffee: 'I can say I feel safer and the nation is safer'

'He talked a lot about taking away regulations for manufacturing or businesses. It will be interesting to see what those regulations are,' he said.

In other issues, including renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, he's waiting to see what the president does. He's worried about losing access to foreign markets for Iowa products.

'We're just making sure that the Trump administration understands how important Canada and Mexico are as markets,' he said.

By B.A. Morelli, The Gazette

MARION — Jerry Chaffee, 79, who supported Donald Trump in the election, said the president has had a positive impact on some fronts such as trade, but work remains in other areas including health care.

Chaffee, who is retired after a career in international marketing for manufacturing companies, said among Trump's biggest successes so far are his moves on trade, including backing away from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, efforts to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and ending U.S. involvement in the Paris climate agreement.

'I think these agreements have sent jobs overseas and to Mexico,' the Marion man said of trade deals. 'They've taken jobs away from our communities and shipped them to Mexico and they've given more advantage to the receiving party.'

Trump's moves have indirectly helped the economy and the stock market and 'our jobs are starting to come back.'

Chaffee also touted Trump's efforts to reach out to Muslim leaders and strengthen relations with Israel.

'Hopefully, it will reduce the threat of ISIS,' he said. 'I can say I feel safer and the nation is safer.'

Chaffee, who is on Medicare, said he's seen his health care cost rise some, although not as much as others he's read about. Chaffee attributes increases to the fact Trump has not been able to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which is more commonly known as Obamacare, due to opposition.

'Cancellation of Obamacare and creation of an alternative and building of the wall — not so much the physical wall — but something to stop illegal immigration' are on top of Chaffee's list of what he wants to see more of from Trump.

Chaffee said the alternative health care plan should allow insurance companies to sell across state borders, maintain the requirement of access for those with existing conditions and eliminate the penalty for not having insurance.

On immigration, Chaffee said he wants Trump to deliver on greater enforcement of laws and patrols at the border, while acknowledging a physical barrier spanning the Mexican border is not realistic in some places.

Still, Chaffee said, Trump has made strides through his stances and 'scared people off' who were considering immigrating illegally.

Tim Bickel: 'In terms of this Paris agreement ... it targeted us'

By Makayla Tendall, The Gazette

It's fine that some cities or states are making their own choices to honor parts of the Paris agreement, Bickel said. That's voluntary.

CEDAR RAPIDS — Tim Bickel said he believes Donald Trump, the candidate who aligned the most closely with his views, is doing a good job as president.

Bickel said he appreciates Trump's actions to not let international organizations dictate America's policies. Pulling out of the Paris climate agreement is a good example, he said.

Bickel, 72, of Cedar Rapids, said he would never advocate what he calls overregulation. Currently a substitute teacher with the Cedar Rapids school district, Bickel used to work in solar and water heating.

'We are already reducing our energy dependence. ... I applaud that,' he said. 'We ... are more ahead of the game than other countries. In terms of this Paris agreement ... it targeted us.'

Bickel said he doesn't think Trump is against renewable energy efforts. It's up to consumers to say which industries thrive through their dollar vote, he said.

'Much of our energy is derived from coal, oil and so forth,' he said. 'We're probably at least 30 to 40 years away from having any major impact on reducing that. We should respect all sources of energy and not penalize disproportionately any one or two of them.'

Bickel said he hopes Trump's promises to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act — or Obamacare — come true.

'The replacement of the 'unaffordable' health care act is very important,' he said. 'It shortchanges the doctors. The choice is limited. If we don't have health care or the choices that we want, we are under the scrutiny of the government but also the control.'