Rio Grande Valley, Texas – Jesus Robles sells mechanical bulls.

Mainstays of bars and dance halls, once used to train rodeo riders, the bucking behemoths point to the Rio Grande Valley’s history, where Mexican and Texan Ranchero culture have long intertwined.

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But the business has also been a nagging reminder of Robles’s 2024 vote, when he cast his ballot for US President Donald Trump, expecting an economic boost that would allow the company to flourish.

“I have lost tonnes of business due to our president right now,” he said, blaming Trump’s tariffs and rising fuel prices . “I ship a lot. The price of freight has doubled….…