When Trump’s Policies Hurt His Base: Wind Power Clash Exposes Republican Party Divisions

TradingKey - Despite the fact that America’s top four wind energy-producing states — Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, and Kansas — are all solidly red and staunchly supportive of Donald Trump, his repeated attacks on wind power are sparking political backlash in these crucial swing and base states.

Since taking office, Trump has immediately suspended federal approvals for both onshore and offshore wind projects and centralized permitting authority within the Department of the Interior, significantly increasing regulatory uncertainty. The move is aimed at dismantling Biden-era green energy policies.

In Iowa, wind power accounted for 59% of net electricity generation in 2023, bringing tens of millions of dollars in income to farmers and helping maintain one of the lowest electricity rates in the nation. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has emphasized that wind energy is central to the state’s strategy of “making energy work for us.”

Yet Trump has repeatedly disparaged wind turbines, falsely claiming they drive up energy costs — a stance that directly contradicts the economic interests of his own political base.

This contradiction has escalated into open intra-party conflict. Longtime Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, a longstanding champion of wind energy, temporarily blocked the confirmation of three Treasury Secretary nominees in protest against Trump’s executive order restricting wind energy tax credits. Meanwhile, wind turbine manufacturer TPI Composites has filed for bankruptcy in Iowa, highlighting the real-world impact of policy pressure on the industry.

The dilemma facing Republicans is stark: they must now choose between loyalty to Trump and defending their states’ economic interests.

Louisiana Republican Congressman Garret Graves faced ridicule from fellow party members when he recently tried to defend offshore wind in Washington, with one colleague reportedly asking, “Are you really going to talk about the ‘W’ word?” — a telling sign of the political constraints imposed by Trump’s stance.

As Trump’s anti-wind agenda increasingly harms core Republican constituencies — from rural landowners to energy producers — the sustainability of this policy faces growing scrutiny, both within the party and across the broader electorate.