President Donald Trump spoke Tuesday at a Mack Trucks plant in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where he leaned heavily on his administration’s past economic actions and briefly addressed questions about public backing for defense spending connected to the U.S. war with Iran.
President Donald Trump visited a Mack Trucks plant in Macungie, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, using the appearance to emphasize what he described as his administration’s past economic accomplishments rather than laying out detailed future plans.
Just before his remarks, Trump was asked whether Americans would support increased defense spending tied to the war with Iran even as many are struggling financially. He said Americans “demand” such spending because, he argued, they would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.
In his speech, Trump said the United States had achieved what he called a “historic peace agreement” with Iran to end conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. NPR noted that the United States and Iran were still negotiating an end to the war.
Turning to the economy, Trump pointed to tax cuts passed by Republicans last year and said he had imposed a 25% tariff on medium- and heavy-duty trucks, arguing the tariff would benefit domestic manufacturers such as Mack Trucks.
Trump’s approval rating on the economy has fallen to 33% in the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, NPR reported, calling it his lowest point on that issue in the survey.
He also promoted Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, whom Trump has endorsed in a competitive race in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, and greeted supporters he referred to as the “Front Row Joes.”
After returning to Washington, Trump was expected to meet with Senate Republicans, NPR reported, after four Republicans voted the day before in favor of a resolution aimed at pulling U.S. troops from Iran.
