Teresa Sasse and her husband, Scott, spent the night of November 5 watching the election results unfold. They stayed up well past midnight, waiting for confirmation that Donald Trump had secured a second term as president.
While they didn’t celebrate or have dessert, Sasse, the 64-year-old owner of Puddin’ River Chocolates, felt a sense of relief and optimism. Despite briefly contemplating leaving the country if Kamala Harris had won, she and her husband decided to stick it out, believing they could adapt to whatever came their way.
For Sasse, the prospect of Trump returning to the White House brought hope for her small business. As a chocolatier in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, she was eager to see policies that could lower her tax burden, make healthcare more affordable, and combat inflation, all of which had been affecting her business.
She had struggled with rising costs for ingredients like cacao, eggs, and dairy, and the prospect of a more favorable economic environment under Trump made her feel cautiously optimistic about the future of Puddin’ River Chocolates.
Beyond politics, Sasse’s passion for chocolate brought out her most joyful and expressive side. Talking about her craft, she described it as magical and full of creative possibilities.
Teresa Sasse Hopes for Trump’s Economic Policies to Revitalize Her Small Business Amid Struggles
Unlike her more reserved feelings about Trump’s rhetoric, she couldn’t hide her excitement when discussing chocolate, which she saw as an art form in its own right. She relished the ability to create anything with chocolate, from elegant confections to more whimsical designs, emphasizing the joy it brought her and the potential it offered for her business.
Although she did not always appreciate Trump’s personal behavior, Sasse admired him for his business savvy and felt that he had done a good job in his first term. She believed he was dedicated to the country and had a genuine interest in helping it succeed.
Her decision to vote for Trump again in 2020 was a reflection of her belief that his economic policies were more favorable to small business owners like herself, and she felt that Harris, in contrast, did not offer solutions that would alleviate her struggles.
Sasse’s frustration with the political climate stemmed from what she perceived as a lack of support for established small businesses. She was particularly critical of Kamala Harris’ plan to expand tax incentives for startups, feeling it overlooked businesses like hers that had been struggling without aid. Sasse was also concerned about inflation, which had made it difficult to maintain her business.
Above all, she hoped that Trump’s second term would address issues like immigration reform, job outsourcing, and provide greater support for small businesses—issues she felt were vital for the survival of businesses like hers, which she believed were the backbone of the nation.
