'If you're not conservative, don't come here': The town making missiles for Trump

What the report says

BBC World News reports from Kingsport, Tennessee, a working-class Appalachian town that sits near the Holston Army Ammunition Plant, a major producer of explosive and propellant components used in Patriot missiles and other weaponry. The piece says the plant is an important employer and part of the town’s economy, while also placing Kingsport in the middle of national debate over the Trump administration’s war with Iran.

According to the BBC, support for President Donald Trump remains especially strong in the area even as his approval has fallen nationally. Many residents interviewed by the broadcaster said they back the Iran strikes or view them as necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Others accepted that the war and rising costs, including higher gas prices and grocery bills, are painful but did not blame Trump directly. The town’s deep Republican leanings, strong evangelical presence and emphasis on conservative social issues were presented as key reasons for that loyalty.

The report also highlights a divide within Kingsport, noting that more liberal residents and some younger people are less supportive and in some cases feel less comfortable expressing their views openly. In that sense, the town is portrayed as a case study in how Trump’s core base can remain firm even as broader public support weakens. The BBC frames this as politically relevant ahead of the 2026 midterms and as an example of how local economics, faith and culture shape attitudes toward war and national leadership.