Agrarian populists made three demands in the 1890s: increased regulation of the railroads; a larger money supply; and free trade. This platform was perfectly sensible and was completely consistent with the economic needs of the farmers. Most of it became law in the long run.
Today, the descendants of the 1890s populists are among Trump’s biggest supporters, because he assures them that they, the hardworking white Christians, are true Americans, and we are not. But Trump’s agenda includes the deportation of illegal immigrants, business deregulation, and tariffs, more or less the polar opposite of what the 1890s populists required. The former will deplete the agricultural workforce; the latter will invite retaliation against American farm products and thus dry up export markets. If the Trump agenda is implemented, therefore, it will be an economic disaster for his strongest constituents.
But we know how this story ends. Trump will reward them for their loyalty. Huge sums of our money bearing his name will be sent to them as compensation. The formerly self-reliant farmers will become wards of the state at our expense, while continuing to lecture us about how anyone who supports a robust welfare state isn’t a real American.