John Ratzenberger: Why Working-Class Americans Support Trump - 'He Knows How to Build Things'

"Cheers" star John Ratzenberger shares his insights on why he believes Donald Trump has strong support among working-class Americans, particularly manufacturers and skilled labor workers.

"Cheers" icon John Ratzenberger, renowned for his voiceover work in the "Toy Story" franchise, recently spoke to Fox News Digital, expressing his steadfast support for former President Donald Trump. Ratzenberger asserts that Trump's prowess as a builder, coupled with his deep understanding of the significance of manufacturing and skilled labor jobs, resonates with American workers.

Having plied his trade as a carpenter alongside his acting endeavors, Ratzenberger extols Trump's familiarity with construction-related occupations. "He built buildings, so he was in charge of, ‘We need more glaziers or brick workers or carpenters, electricians.’ And that's what he dealt with all his life," Ratzenberger elucidates. This experiential knowledge, he believes, sets Trump apart from other politicians.

Ratzenberger further emphasizes the dire shortage of skilled laborers in America, a problem he has been actively addressing. "For the last 20 years, I've been going around the country giving speeches and talks to anybody that’ll listen...to say, 'Folks, we’ve got to wake up,'" he declares. This shortage, he warns, threatens the nation's future well-being.

A recent Deloitte and Manufacturing Institute (MI) report underscores the gravity of this crisis, projecting a need for 3.8 million additional employees in the manufacturing sector by 2033. However, a significant portion of these jobs could remain unfilled due to skills and applicant gaps. Such a shortfall would severely impact the industry's growth prospects and international competitiveness.

Ratzenberger attributes this predicament to a societal devaluation of manual labor. "But that, that's my fear, that the civilization will grind again, and can grind to a halt, because we've neglected to teach our children how to use tools," he laments. He cites instances where individuals lack basic home maintenance skills, such as hanging pictures on walls.

The actor decries the pejorative term "blue collar worker," preferring instead the more respectful "essential worker." He stresses their indispensable role in society. "They're essential… All the upper echelon elites couldn't function without the essential workers," he asserts.

Ratzenberger's support for Trump stems from his belief that the former president values skilled laborers and recognizes their importance to the nation's economy and infrastructure. He describes Trump as someone who "knows how to build things," an attribute he finds lacking in other political leaders.

As the 2024 presidential race looms, Ratzenberger's endorsement highlights the potential for Trump to regain support among working-class Americans, particularly those in manufacturing and skilled labor industries. The ongoing shortage of such workers and the societal devaluation of manual labor are issues that Ratzenberger and Trump have consistently addressed. It remains to be seen whether these concerns will resonate with voters as the election approaches.