A Mississippi shrimper is appealing directly to President Donald Trump, urging him to intervene to address skyrocketing diesel fuel prices that are threatening to dismantle the entire shrimping industry. Maynard Dubuisson, a longtime supporter of Trump, voiced his desperation at a time when high fuel costs are squeezing fishermen and related businesses to the brink of collapse.

“Whether he wins midterms or not, we need you,” Dubuisson declared, emphasizing the dependence his industry has on the Trump administration. “We voted for you. We put you in office and we depended on you. We have no other choice.”

The plight of shrimper families is becoming acute. Dubuisson explained that marine supply stores, crucial for maintaining fishing vessels, are also feeling the pinch. “The supplies for these boats cost a lot of money because of the high cost of shipping,” he said. “Everything’s very expensive, and they’re not selling anything. Those stores are just about to go out of business also.”

Struggling economic conditions extend beyond shrimping boats to processing plants and even local grocery stores. Dubuisson underscored the ripple effect of rising costs, stating, “In areas like Bayou La Batre in Alabama, which is the shrimp capital of the country, commercial fishing boats are grounded. They’re not out here. That means they’re not buying groceries.”

Every trip, a fishing vessel typically spends between $4,000 and $5,000 on groceries, which translates to significant losses for local supermarkets when operations are stifled.

He further highlighted that the usual maintenance costs for boats have surged, with supplies and tackle reaching around $3,000 per trip. “They have millions of dollars of stock that’s not moving. It’s just sitting there idle,” Dubuisson lamented. “People can’t buy it because they’re not working.”

Dubuisson pointed out that the issue isn’t limited to shrimping alone; larger industrial players like Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula are also feeling financial stress. “Everything’s going down,” he said, reflecting a wider economic downturn that has shackled local businesses.

Despite the grim circumstances, Dubuisson remains steadfast in his support for Trump. “We all still support him. We love him. We just — we’re all kind of disappointed,” he admitted. His hope rests on the notion that Trump will take action following the upcoming midterm elections, especially if Republicans emerge victorious.

“If they don’t, then we’re probably pretty much in trouble,” he cautioned. Dubuisson believes that if Democrats gain ground in Congress, it could jeopardize the relief efforts they hope to see from Trump. “Democrats will start trying to put him in prison if they take Congress,” he warned, referring to the political tension surrounding the administration.

The situation has become a test case for Trump’s administration, with supporters like Dubuisson grappling with the reality that their livelihoods are threatened while continuing to pin their hopes on the president.

In the coming weeks, as the political landscape unfolds with midterm elections approaching, local fishermen and business owners will be closely monitoring if their calls for action will be met with tangible support from the White House.

Dubuisson’s experience encapsulates the struggles of many in economically vulnerable industries, where support from government figures can mean the difference between survival and collapse.

As Trump pushes further into his presidential agenda, the cries of workers like Dubuisson bring to light the often hidden pressures faced by traditional industries in America.

With the clock ticking to the midterms, fishermen and their families brace themselves for the potential fallout from both economic struggles and political shifts that could define their futures.

In Mississippi’s coastal communities, the stakes are high—not just for the shrimping industry, but for the entire economic fabric that binds the local community.

The question remains: will the administration heed the warnings from its steadfast supporters before it’s too late, or will the ripple effects of rising fuel prices continue to wreak havoc on essential industries?

Only time, and the upcoming political contests, will reveal the answers to these pressing concerns.