OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – Ahead of President Donald Trump’s arrival in Oshkosh on Monday, his campaign reported he would be addressing topics related to jobs and the economy – particularly in Wisconsin. But he also hit on a number of other hot button issues during his speech.
“Before the virus came in from China, unemployment in Wisconsin had reached the lowest rate ever recorded,” Trump said. “We created 15,000 Wisconsin manufacturing jobs, everyone said that would be impossible. 121,000 Wisconsinites were lifted out of poverty and 100,000 were lifted off of food stamps because they had good jobs.”
Despite the shutdowns and major economic impact the pandemic had on businesses and economies across the country, Trump is confident that the measures being taken will result in a major resurgence.
“I took the greatest economy and closed it up and we saved millions of lives. And now we’re bringing it back, and we’re bringing it back so strongly,” Trump said. “Who would think, we have a pandemic – I think we’re way on the other side of the pandemic, we’re doing great with vaccines and therapeutics and everything else – but who would think that we’d hit a record with NASDAQ and the others are right there.”
Trump claims stocks would be higher if there was no headwind – or resistance from people who were wary of reopening everything so quickly. He predicts that stocks will also rise significantly on election night, claiming there will be ‘tremendous success.’
Meanwhile, on a more local front, Trump spoke about relief efforts made to help workers and farmers impacted by the pandemic and recent trade deals that caused complications for major industries in Wisconsin.
“I issued a directive granting emergency payroll tax relief to every worker making under $100,000 per year. This temporary relief will help tens of millions of American workers,” Trump said. “When China targeted our farmers, we provided $28 billion in relief.”
He also mentioned the impact of his most recent visit to the state, which also came to Northeast Wisconsin.
“As part of our great rebuilding of the US military, we also signed a $5.5 billion contract to build combat ships in Marinette, Wisconsin – support thousands of jobs across the state,” Trump said.
The president also used the opportunity to challenge any potential moves that his presumptive opponents would make, if they were to win the White House this November.
“If Kamala and Biden are ever elected, this recovery will come to a total shutdown, to use their words, permanently,” Trump claimed. “I don’t think we could ever bring it back if they get in. I don’t think there’s anything called a comeback. This will be a large scale – very large scale – Venezuela if they get in…You got a dose of it right here, I hate to say. With some of these Democrat governors, they just don’t want to open it up. On November 4th, they’ll announce ‘Well, we’ve decided to open.’”
The speech, while intended to focus on the difference between his economy and job creation and what he believes a potential Biden administration would install, did wander off into a series of other topics. And per usual, Trump didn’t hold back any punches.
“The only reason they want him in is to stop our great agenda. Nobody wins when you’re not on the side of enthusiasm,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, he claimed Biden would turn major cities across the country into versions of Portland – referring to riots and major protests that happened there. He argued to defend, rather than de-fund police across the country.
“Biden and Harris are pro-crime and anti-cop. There’s no other way to say it. We’re anti-crime. We’re pro-cop, all the way,” Trump claimed.
Kamala Harris is a former prosecutor, district attorney, and Attorney General of California. Her selection raised eyebrows for some in the Democratic Party or left-leaning crowd who are critical of her record – saying she may have been too tough on some criminals, and slow to push any sort of criminal justice reform.
President Trump continued on to tout the endorsements he has received from police across the country – including what he claims is the first ever endorsement from the New York City chief, and about three dozen sheriffs here in Wisconsin.
He also spoke on yet another common topic for his administration – polling numbers. Trump ripped the pollsters from CNN, which initiated a roar of boos from the crowd – but he also ripped polls issued by Fox News, saying they’ve ‘never gotten it right.’
“CNN gave us an increase of ten or eleven points, in just a short time that we went up. Now they call it margin of error. Don’t believe it, we’re way beyond the margin of error,” Trump claimed. “The only way we’re going to lose this election is if the election is rigged. Remember that.”
Trump urged making votes count, whether they are via absentee ballot or in-person for the November general election.
Trump spoke for about an hour at the Basler Flight Service hangar.
His son, Eric Trump will be in the Milwaukee on Tuesday while Vice President Mike Pence will be in Walworth County Wednesday.
