// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
'If you're not conservative, don't come here': The town making missiles for Trump
‘Justified’ or 'no business being there’? Tennessee munitions town loyal to Trump but divided on Iran
As one local puts it, there's a "church on every street" of the Appalachian community of Kingsport, in the US state of Tennessee.
Christianity reigns supreme in this working-class area. Above downtown's historic Lamplight Theatre, a sign proclaims "Jesus first in all things".
And while more than 300 area churches may be providing spiritual sustenance to this town of 58,000 people, there's another institution that supplies it with economic nourishment.
The Holston Army Ammunition Plant churns out explosives used in Patriot missiles, warheads and other heavy weaponry in the midst of the country's costly and prolonged war with Iran.
The war, and its knock-on effects on everything from gas to groceries, has led to a steep decline in President Donald Trump's approval ratings. Recent polling has placed his approval at an historic low of 32% - down 14% from when he first took office in January 2025 - with many Republican respondents citing disillusionment with the president's policies.
Veteran David Carter, 66, is an outspoken Christian who supports US action in Iran
The two big drags on the president's popularity are the cost of living and the Iran War, with one bleeding into the other. The conflict has caused gas prices in the US to spike to above $4 a gallon, a painful hike to any US business that relies on transport.
But in Kingsport, support for the president approaches an almost-religious fervor. The city voted overwhelmingly for Trump in all three of his elections. So did wider Tennessee, a Republican state for more than 25 years.
When it comes to the Iran conflict, most residents either outright support the military action or rationalise the war's necessity - despite Trump's repeated campaign promise of "no more wars".