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A Lawrence County farmer who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and says the president’s trade war has threatened the existence of his third-generation family farm, will speak at the Democratic National Convention next week.

Rick Telesz, a 62-year-old dairy and soybean farmer who runs Telesz Family Farm in Volant, was tapped by the Democrats to speak as part of their convention program highlighting Americans from different backgrounds and political affiliations across the U.S.

A registered Democrat who said he’s never voted a straight ticket, Mr. Telesz voted for Barack Obama twice before casting a ballot for Mr. Trump in 2016, convinced that the real estate businessman would “drain the swamp” and “look after the working man.”

“He’s a hell of a salesman,” Mr. Telesz said.

“And a tremendous con man,” he added. “He conned me.”

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Mr. Telesz said his message to the country is that in 2016, he and other voters hired Mr. Trump to run the country for four years — a task that he’s failed at doing successfully.

“Why would I want to give him a contract for another four years?” Mr. Telesz adked. “This guy has not done anything positive for me.”