Hank Hill Wouldn’t Support Trump I Tell You What, As That Man Ain’t Right

When King of the Hill premiered in January 1997, Bill Clinton was about to be sworn in for a second time as President of the United States. The show made some jokes about Clinton, with Hank Hill locking his truck doors, when he sees he’s entered Hope, Ark., the former President’s birthplace. However, I don’t think Hank would’ve been supportive of Donald Trump even though he has mostly conservative values.

The answer is very easy. Hank believes a President should have integrity. That is something he wouldn’t be able to see in Trump. In 2000, he was at a campaign event where George W. Bush was in attendance. He went met Bush and shook his hand, but got upset because he said Bush had a limp handshake. While the Bush campaign ran with the notion that the former governor of Texas is someone you would like to have a beer with, for people like Hank, a limp handshake means something. It meant Bush was just going through the motions and didn’t have any real desire to be at this event.

The history of the handshake dates back many centuries. It’s been believed to be a custom people did to show they weren’t carrying any weapons and it was a peace offering. Now it’s considered a very common gesture when you meet someone for the first time or that you’re seeing someone you’ve known for a long time. Either way, when men shake hands, they do it firm because it’s a non-verbal way of conveying to someone that you’re pleased to meet and/or see them.

So, when Hank notices Bush has a limp handshake, it makes him question the man’s true intents. Hank loves Texas and he loves everything to do with Texas. He named his dog “Ladybird” after Claudia Alta Johnson, who was the First Lady married to Lyndon B. Johnson and her nickname was “Lady Bird.” In his youth, I would say Hank probably recognized himself as a Southern Democrat just like LBJ. However, he didn’t share in the racist ideology of the Southern Democrats such as Strom Thurmond and Lester Maddox.

He was an admirer of both Ann Richards, who was governor of Texas from 1991-1995 prior to Bush. He also was excited to meet Jimmy Carter, a Democrat just like Richards. I’d say as the 1980s started, Hank became a Reagan Republican and was excited to vote for George H.W. Bush who had connections to Texas. He would’ve voted for Bob Dole in 1996 solely because Dole was a World War II veteran just like his father, Cotton. And since Dole had been wounded and spent hours before he could receive real help would be something Hank would’ve found a sign of endurance and strength.

He probably did vote for Bush in 2000. But might have been critical in 2004 since John Kerry was also a Vietnam vet. He would’ve voted most definitely for John McCain in 2008 because the man again was a Vietnam vet and also a Prisoner of War with a permanent injury. However, Hank would have considered Mitt Romney too phony and too out of touch to be President. So, he would’ve probably supported Barack Obama as he had seen how well the Obama Administration helped the nation recover from the Great Recession.

This brings me to 2016. Obviously, Hank would’ve never supported Trump. Nor do I think he could’ve supported Ted Cruz. It’s likely he would’ve initially supporting Jeb Bush. Then, he probably would’ve supported Hillary Clinton as opposed to Bernie Sanders whose policies he couldn’t get behind. But he would never support Trump. Not only would he feel Trump has no integrity, he’s not a good businessman which is something Hank also values. Even though Buck Strickland was a shady character, he still provided a service.

Hank would be offended by Trump’s sheer choice to eat his steaks well done with ketchup. He would also find it offensive that Trump tried to con people by selling them overpriced steaks. Hank is serious about how meat and how it’s cooked. He would also be mad at how Trump treats his customers. Remember when Bobby stole Hank’s credit card and charged a lot to it? He was angry as Bobby’s thoughtless spending. But he was also upset over the way the son of the man who had considered buying the personal watercraft Bobby had bought. The man’s son acting snobby and stuck up, which Hank didn’t like. Therefore, he felt it was inappropriate to sell it to them.

Hank may not fully comprehend nor agree how Bobby and the other youth behave. But he can see the difference between bad behavior that’s learned and basic ignorance of the young people. He thought he was teaching Bobby a lesson but he learned it was wrong to take his small allowance and force him to do a lot of work for little money because people will take advantage of him as Bobby needs to know his worth. Also, Bobby needs to know that sometimes people need to have fun and enjoy life.

It’s the same when Bobby worked at the racetrack selling concessions. At first, Hank felt Bobby’s concerns about his supervisor, Jimmy Witchard, were nothing. But when it begins to put Bobby’s safety at a risk, he learns how foolish he was. Hank believes people should do an honest job but it should also be safe for everyone. That’s why he would never support Trump who has a history of mistreating his workers, even refusing to pay them.

Lately, it’s been revealed that Bobby would be working as a chef at a fusion restaurant in Dallas. Bobby had originally said he wants to be a prop comic, something Hank doesn’t like. But he would find pride in that Bobby is working a regular job and serving the public. As a grill master himself, it’s like a passing of the tongs. Even though Hank was initially critical of Bobby taking home economics, he learned that Bobby had a knack for fixing his blue jeans and cooking. Bobby having skills in doing something like this would impress Hank.

That being said, he would see through Trump’s publicity stunt at a McDonald’s. He would see it the same as when Trump said he is bringing coal jobs back by pretending to shovel. Trump wearing a hard hat, an apron or a safety vest while riding in a trash truck is the type of thing that would make Hank very upset like how Buckley wrongfully carried the propane tanks. Also, Hank was critical of Luanne’s roommates and how they were moochers and sponges. This would make Hank very critical of both Trump and his sons, Eric and Donald Jr.

However, he would be admired of Joe Biden and his love for his sons, especially after he lost Beau to cancer, who was a military vet. It’s very likely this would be the contributing factor that would make Hank choose Biden over Trump. He would also agree with Biden’s statement that he wouldn’t pardon Hunter. Hank made Bobby smoke a whole carton of cigarettes as punishment. He believes in discipline, but he also believes in fair discipline.

While it is possible that Dale Gribble would’ve initially supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr., he wouldn’t continue to support him after Kennedy threw his support to Trump. Dale might have issues with reality, but he knows a con job when he sees one. I also think Bill Dauterive would be upset with Trump’s comments about the military especially while also wanting a military parade. Bill seems to be amazed by a lot of things easily and he would’ve supported Trump initially in 2016, but maybe not in 2020. And Bill definitely wouldn’t support him now.

As for Boomhauer, I think he remains a Southern Democrat. There’s been suspicion that Boomhauer is a Texas Ranger which might explain why some of the others’ antics are so easily covered up and forgotten about. Despite his womanizing ways, Boomhauer seems to be the most willing to accept change as he apparently was the only one who had a computer in the late 1990s as Hank comments he’s going to meet a woman he met online. Of the four friends, Boomhauer seems to be the most progressive one despite his ways, but he’s respectable enough not to sleep with Luanne when she crashes at his place.

But mostly the reason Hank wouldn’t support Trump is there’s no way Peggy would’ve supported him. They both may have agreed Reagan and the Bush family were good for the country. However they’re quick to admit their ignorance and adjust to changing times. Peggy is fluent in Spanish and she’s aware that Mexico and the Spanish-speaking people of central America aren’t the criminals Trump claims they are.

Peggy is also a teacher and she knows the importance ready to go at 6 a.m. any day of the week if she’s needed as a substitute. Trump wants to do away with the Department of Education. He put Betty DeVos as the secretary during his administration. Peggy would find this very offensive. She may be a narcissist at times but she knows when she’s gone to far. The bullying and intimidating ways of the Tea Party after Obama was first elected and throughout the 2010s would’ve turned her off.

Even though they may not talk much about God and religion, the Hills are a family that attends church regularly and they believe in living a life of as much purity as they can. Both Hank and Peggy are afraid to discuss matters, pertaining to the human anatomy, to each other, even though they had to have sex in order to have Bobby. They rarely use profanity. Even though it’s a network show, there are guidelines yet I feel the Hill house is mostly PG-rated. Hank is upset when Peggy uses clinical words as “penis” and “vagina” too loud. They’re modest about these things.

They definitely wouldn’t like to see the MAGAt crowd with signs reading “Fuck Your Feelings” or calling Hillary Clinton or Harris a “bitch.” Also, Trump’s swearing would be the type of thing that would immediately turn them off anyway. Hank may use curse words like “damn,” “hell” and “ass.” But neither he nor Peggy would ever say “fuck.” They are also would never refer to anyone who is black-skinned or brown-skinned as a “son of a bitch” in an offensive matter.

As parents, they know their goal is to set a good example for Bobby. Both Hank and Peggy grew up in homes that weren’t idyllic. Cotton wasn’t the most loving father and is seen one time destroying the dishes in the sink while Tilly, Hank’s mother, is having a mental breakdown blocking it out while Hank looks worried. Peggy’s mother, Maddy, has been both shown to be as gullible as her but also tougher as she had to take over the family ranch in Montana. It’s obvious something happen that made her turn bitter toward everyone including Peggy. This is why Peggy keeps wanting to bring Bobby his birthday cake as he gets older. She feels she needs to give him more attention, not only that her mother was distant, but also it’s their own child.

Even though they were shocked to see their new Laotian family, the Souphanousinphones, move into the neighborhood, they welcomed them to a friendly dinner. Bobby became attracted to Connie and they became a couple because it made Bobby happy. One of Bobby’s greatest friends is Joseph Gribble, who is half Indigenous Native American on account of his mother, Nancy, having a long affair with John Redcorn, a full-blood. The Hills aren’t racists or bigots. They may argue with Kahn and Minh from time to time but it’s about stuff any neighbors would argue about.

Even though they are proud to be Texans, they try to dispel the stereotypes others have of them. Hank gains an appreciation for people from other states when he learns people killed at The Alamo were from all over the country at the time as they died protecting Texas. That’s another thing Hank values very much and it’s unity.

Therefore, he would never support Trump and J.D. Vance who want to deport American citizens based on their skin color. He doesn’t like that some people want to use violence against each other. When former Dallas Cowboy Willie Lane punches Hank in a disagreement, Hank’s smart enough to know that he’s got the edge because he can charge Lane with assault. He doesn’t want people who make trouble and want to hurt others.

What do you think? Please comment.