President Trump touted his record on the economy and unveiled a massive investment by John Deere in the United States during a speech in Iowa on Tuesday afternoon.
Trump traveled to the city of Clive outside of Des Moines and spoke in front of hundreds of supporters crowded into the Horizon Events Center. The president largely focused on the economy as he attempts to sell Republican success on the key issue to voters ahead of the midterm elections.
Early in his speech, Trump announced that agriculture equipment manufacturer John Deere plans to build an excavator factory in North Carolina, relocating some of its production from Japan to the United States. The company said in a Tuesday announcement that it also plans to build a distribution center in Indiana to spur its manufacturing in the United States.
Trump also touted a number of agriculture-related actions his administration has taken in a speech aimed at appealing to Iowa’s farm-heavy industry. The president noted he had cut “ridiculous water restrictions” at the Environmental Protection Agency. He also brought up reforms that the agency made to Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) standards to prevent severe slowdowns to vehicles due to DEF system failures.
“I terminated the so-called Diesel Exhaust Fluid requirement, saving family farmers more than $1 billion a year,” said Trump.
The president also pushed the administration’s move to cut the electric vehicle mandate, which would have forced automakers to make over half the vehicles they sell electric by 2032, and support ethanol subsidies.
In the middle of the speech, the president brought on stage two workers in the service industry to tout his tax legislation, in particular Trump’s campaign promise to end taxes on tips.
“Thanks to our tax cuts, millions of Americans will soon receive record-setting tax refunds—an average of more than $1,000. Think of that. $1,000 compared to last year.”
Trump also touched on a number of other issues, including foreign policy and health care. He also mentioned his deportation efforts, which have been under the microscope after a Border Patrol agent fatally shot anti-ICE activist Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
“They have to show that they can love our country, not hate our country. They have to show that they’re not going to blow up our shopping centers,” said Trump, talking about immigration into the country while his deportation agenda suffers complications over the tensions in Minnesota.
The president also threw a barb at Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota: “They have to show that they can love our country. They have to be proud — not like Ilhan Omar.”
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