CLYDE, Ohio — President Donald Trump visited the Whirlpool facility in Clyde in his first visit to Ohio since the onset of the pandemic and his 16th trip to the state overall.
The president tweeted just before 1 p.m. that he "just departed for the Great State of Ohio!" and shared a video.
Gov. Mike DeWine shared tweet of his own shortly before the president's tweet. DeWine said that he has tested positive for COVID-19, having taken the test as part of the standard protocol to greet the president on the tarmac in Cleveland. He is symptom-free and will quarantine at home for the next 14 days.
The president took the stage at the Whirlpool plant to the strains of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" after hearing glowing remarks about the American-made appliances that are churned out one every four seconds at the Sandusky County Whirlpool plant.
"It's a great honor to be here. I'm thrilled to be in the great state of Ohio. You've been good to me, but I've been good to you," he said. "Every single (appliance) in Whirlpool is inscribed with the glorious phrase, 'Made in the USA.'"
He said after he toured the plant and saw the "beautiful" machines that plant makes that he
"Today I want to lay out my vision to bring out millions and millions of more jobs to America," Trump said. He then launched into a list of things he said he's accomplished since 2016.
Trump reflected on his tariff plan that helped to save the Whirlpool plant, he said. In January 2018, Trump upheld a 50% tariff against Samsung and LG for their role in producing washing machines outside the United States and "dumping" them into the U.S. market at below-market value.
He laid the previous problems at the plant at the feet of the Obama-Biden administration, saying that calls to bring back U.S. manufacturing fell on deaf ears.
"On the question of foreign trade, we were previously guided by a shameful policy of capitulation," he said, saying that other nations "Plundered" the crown jewels of America.
The president also touched on his 2016 promise of building a greater wall between the United States and Mexico, saying "it is being built, I promise."
Trump also said that he's following through on his promises to American workers, saying he's "fighting for Main Street, not Wall Street," and brought up the end of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
"I want to make sure that these companies aren't leaving," Trump said, "and managers woke up and said 'I'm sorry.'"
"I made a lot of promises to American workers in 2016. I kept every single one of them. The fake news media back there, they hate to report this," he said.
NEW PROMISES
The president then outlined six more promises he makes to U.S. workers.
1. He vowed to defeat the coronavirus, saying a vaccine for COVID-19 will come "sooner than people think."
2. He vowed job prosperity and economic resiliency after the virus is defeated. "We're going to have many many, very very successful years as long unless someone comes along and destroys it by doubling, tripling quadrupling your taxes and something else - regulations. It will be ended, it will be Depression time," he said.
3. He vowed to turn America into the premiere medical manufacturer of the world. "We cannot rely on China and other nations (for medical essentials) that could one day deny us products."
4. He vowed to onshore millions of new manufacturing jobs across other sectors. "We will never forget your washers or dryers," he said. Trump then told a story about signing a regulation that gave dishwashers "much more water," saying some people have told him they've had to "hit the button five times" because of restrictors placed on machines to limit water.
5. He vowed to "bring back American jobs, using every tool in my disposal."
6. He vowed to put American workers first always.
Joining Trump at the Clyde plant were Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan and Bob Latta, state Sen. Larry Obhof, Clyde Mayor Scott Black and others.
WHY CLYDE?
The president chose Clyde as his stop, a White House official said, to demonstrate how Trump "continues to put American jobs first." In 2018, Trump upheld a tariff on imports of large residential washing machines, a product that is manufactured by Whirlpool in Clyde.
According to Whirlpool, the tariff resulted in the creation of 200 new jobs at the Clyde plant. The Clyde plant is the largest source in the world of washing machine manufacturing and employs about 3,000 in a city that has a population of about 6,000.
PHOTOS | Trump in Ohio: Clyde turns out to greet president
Trump then returns to Cleveland for an evening fundraiser at the exclusive Shoreby Club on the waterfront in Brahtenal. That event is a joint fundraiser for Trump's re-election campaign and the Republican National Committee. Tickets cost a minimum of $5,600. Guests who contribute $100,000 will have more exclusive access to the president and other GOP officials.