Live coverage: Trump speaks for 50 minutes in York on energy, jobs, fracking, trade
Check back frequently for live coverage of Donald Trump's campaign stop in York County today.
Trump stayed on message in his York stump speech
Advisers to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump have been trying to get the candidate to stay on message.
He accomplished that Monday afternoon at Precision Custom Components in York.
He stayed mostly on message - the speech was billed as an address about the economy - and he only drifted into attacks on President Joe Biden and his successor as the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, briefly during his talk in Bay 1 of the machine shop at the venerable York manufacturer.
He spoke for 54-minutes, well short of of his usual 90-minute-plus speeches he delivers to rallies. But midway through the speech before a small group of perhaps a couple of hundred invited guests and employees packed into the cavernous, yet steamy machine shop, he appeared to lose the crowd. People in the audience responded to his applause lines politely. At the 40-minute mark of his talk, those in the crowd appeared bored. Some were chatting amongst themselves. Others were staring at their phones.
He raised his signature issues - trade, tariffs, tax cuts and immigration - but his delivery seemed low-key. He sometimes rushed through his comments, making it difficult to hear what he was saying as the sound system could not make up for the expansive space it was intended to fill.
At the end of his speech, as the strains of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" blared over the sound system, the crowd chanted "USA! USA! USA!" before drifting off to the exit, their retreat delayed by a medical emergency at the gate where one of Trump's guests was overwhelmed by the heat and the thick air.
Excerpts from Trump's speech
Trump says he will slash regulations and stop outsourcing and "bring back those beautiful words Made in the USA."
He says he handed "Crooked Joe Biden" a "surging economy with no inflation" and that we're seeing "inflation like no one has ever seen before."
Trump says Kamala Harris has ushered in "the worst inflation in American history" which "costs the average American family $28,000."
He says Harris is soft on illegal immigrants and wants to give them health care.
He says Harris "is an economic wrecker" - her policies "set the world on fire."
On election day, he said, Pennsylvania will tell Kamala "you're fired," repeating his catch phrase from the reality TV show "The Apprentice."
Trump spent about 10 minutes touting his economic record and then segued into attacking Harris and Biden, accusing them of being corrupt.
America, he said, "is a nation in decline. We're going down the drain."
Speaking about energy, he says if Harris is elected energy prices will "triple and quadruple" and the United States "won't be producing a drop of oil."
He will tell frackers in Pennsylvania and oil producers to "drill, baby, drill."
Harris was a "non-fracker," but has changed her mind, he said.
He promises "low-cost energy."
He says economy would go back to 1929 if Harris gets in and calls it a "big-league depression."
He promises to cut energy costs in half in first 12 months in office.
He promises to reduce gasoline costs by 50 percent.
He calls oil "liquid gold" and says we have more than Saudi Arabia and Russia.
He says Harris will conduct a "regulatory jihad" against power plants and touts clean coal.
Says since Harris took office "they're closing everything" and that's why they have blackouts in California.
He mentions "Communists and Marxists" are set to obliterate the country and plants like this one.
He says he will cut taxes and slash regulations and punish outsourcing - talking about auto plants in Mexico - and pledges massive tariffs.
He says Harris wants to cut taxes on China imports and adopt "the highest tax hikes in history on American factories," saying American manufacturers would pay more in taxes than factories in China.
He promises no tax on Social Security or tips.
He says Harris would give "illegals" "free health care."
He says illegal immigrants are coming in "caravans."
If people don't vote for him, he said, "We won't have a country left."
He says he won't let other countries "plunder our country into poverty."
"The American dream is dead," he said. "We're going to bring back the American dream, so vote for Trump."
'God Bless the USA'
Trump arrived at Precision Components just a few minutes before taking the small stage set up in the machine shop. A cheer went up by the crowd at 3 p.m. when Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" began blaring over the sound system. Many in the crowd are holding up their phones to capture the moment.
When the song faded out, the crowd cheered as Trump approached the podium.
Trump motorcade has arrived
The motorcade carrying former President Donald Trump to a rally at Precision Custom Components in York has arrived.
“Interesting, he arrived right when it stormed,” Karen Santiago of York said, as it was raining heavily when the motorcade arrived.
A crowded crowd
The audience of a couple of hundred people - invited guests and employees - is crowded into Bay 1 of the machine shop, the humidity adding to the closeness. Volunteers circulated through the crowd handing out water while they awaited the arrival of the former president.
The crowd was greeted with brief remarks from Precision Component's general manager, Bret Butler, son CEO Gary Butler. It's a family business.
A "Make America Great Again!" banner was hung from a grimy khaki beam in the machine shop. The podium was set up in front of a banner that said, "Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!"
Many in the crowd are wearing red MAGA hats. One young blonde woman is wearing a pink bedazzled hat with Trump printed in rhinestones on the front and what appears to be a pink a prom dress from the '80s.
-Mike Argento
Friends and foes gather outside, debating
Trump supporters and foes are on hand outside the venue, some debating such issues as the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“I came out today because I’m very concerned at where the direction of America is headed,” said Trump supporter Brian Schier of York.
“I’m here in protest. I don’t want this country to go backwards,” said Kamala Harris supporter Jody Trimmer of York.
-Lena Tzivekis
First visit to York
Former President Donald Trump is making his first visit to York today at Precision Custom Components in the city.
Trump plans to address the economy, including inflation, at the manufacturing facility, according to a news release. He plans to talk about ending inflation, implementing policies to help workers and making the country the dominant energy producer in the world, the release states.
Trump's visit to central Pennsylvania comes less than three weeks after he held a rally in Harrisburg. That visit marked the first time he returned to commonwealth since he was shot during a rally in Butler, Pa. The shooter, Matthew Thomas Crooks, was killed by the Secret Service.
During the Harrisburg rally, Trump vowed to eliminate the tax on tips, to accelerate fossil fuel extraction and to withhold federal funding from public schools that address gender ideology and critical race theory.
Trump is expected to speak in York at 3 p.m.
-Teresa Boeckel
Who's there?
Attendees include: U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-York County, a strong supporter of President Trump who played a role in efforts to keep Trump in office after the 2020 election. York County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler was in attendance. U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-9, was also in attendance.
Traffic 'will be greatly impacted today'
York City said in a news release that traffic "will be greatly impacted today as Presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives in York for a 3 p.m. event at Precision Custom Components, LLC."
Both Route 30 and Interstate 83 will be congested as the highways will shut down sometime between 2-3 p.m. and then again between 4-5 p.m.
The city will close Hartley Street between Gas Avenue and Linden Avenue as well as Manchester Street from Company Street to Park Street until 5 p.m.
Precision manufacturing
A small stage was set up in Bay 1 of Precision Component's machine shop, a massive space that contains huge milling machines, most automated by computer numerical control machines that do the precise work that skilled craftsmen used to perform decades ago. The company makes, among other things, containers used by the U.S. Navy to store spent fuel from the service's nuclear-powered vessels.
Mike Billet, who worked his way up from being a machine operator to retiring after 51 years with the company in 2017 as an inspection foreman, said the automation, while replacing workers, has increased the company's productivity and precision, which is paramount. "For what we do, yeah, you have to be precise," he said.
Billet, a 76-year-old Stoverstown resident, supports Trump because he believed that his first term in office was successful and that the former president governed as a businessman and not as a politician. "That's why we were successful," he said.
-Mike Argento
Will Trump visit affect York City's first day of school?
Today is the first day of school for most students in the York City School District, and some people are wondering how Donald Trump's visit to a residential neighborhood in the city will impact dismissal time.
Trump is expected to speak at 3 p.m. at Precision Custom Components in the Avenues.
In a Facebook post, one person noted that some parents and caregivers provide transportation for their children.
District spokeswoman Daija Berry said the district is trying to figure out the details. It plans to send a robocall later.
Today is the first day for students in grades one through nine.
The first day for students in pre-K, kindergarten, and grades 10 through 12 is Tuesday, Aug. 20.
-Teresa Boeckel
What does Precision Custom Components do?
The company, in the Avenues section of York City, grew out of S. Morgan Smith, founded in 1976 to manufacture turbines for mills. It morphed into a producing hydroelectric turbines and was bought out by Allis-Chalmers, which, in addition to the factory in the city, operated a large plant on East Berlin Road. In 1983, a group of executives bought Precision Components from Allis-Chalmers and spun off. Now, the plant on East Berlin Road is owned by Voith Hydro and Precision Components is family owned. The plant employs about 250 just off the Avenues in York City.
The company does "highly specialized machining, welding, and fabrication," according to its Facebook page, including work in the defense sector.
In 2014, International Association of Machinists union members at the plant went on a prolonged strike over issues including health insurance.
Union issues statement on Trump visit
Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), released the following statement on former President Trump's visit to an IAM Union-represented facility, Precision Custom Components, in York:
“As former President Donald Trump prepares to visit Precision Custom Components, we must remember the hard truths about his record with American workers. The IAM has consistently called out Trump’s failures during his time in office.
“When Trump took office, we pledged to call balls and strikes with his administration.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t take long to strike out with the IAM. Throughout his presidency, Trump’s policies and inaction led to theclosure of nearly 48 IAM-represented plants, devastating countless families and communities. Despite our numerous requests for help to save these jobs, Trump remained silent, showing where his true priorities lay.
“From Harley-Davidson in Missouri to Schneider Electric in Indiana, Trump’s administration failed to act, allowing U.S. jobs to be shipped overseas and plants to shutter. His “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” was a massive corporate giveaway that did nothing for American workers while benefiting CEOs and shareholders. The so-called tax reform only accelerated job losses eroded the foundation of American manufacturing and devasted the IAM Union.
“Trump’s record is a catalog of empty promises and broken commitments. He assured us that ‘U.S. workers won’t lose one plant’ on his watch, but the reality differed. The IAM saw jobs being outsourced and plants being closed, all while Trump focused on policies favoring the wealthy and powerful. Trump recently laughed with his billionaire buddy Elon Musk about firing striking workers. He’s not even pretending to stand with workers anymore.
“In stark contrast, the Biden-Harris administration has shown a genuine commitment to labor and working families. Through initiatives like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act, they have worked tirelessly to revitalize American industry and create good-paying jobs. The Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to enforce Buy American provisions and invest in infrastructure have benefited IAM members.
“In September, over 1,000 IAM delegates representing every local and district within our union will gather in New York City at the 41st IAM Grand Lodge Convention to decide on the IAM Union endorsement for the 2024 presidential election.
“We cannot afford to return to the days of Trump’s broken promises. The future of our union and our country depends on moving forward, not backward. The IAM Union will continue to fight for leaders who genuinely support labor and protect the rights and jobs of working people.
“Donald Trump had his chance, and he failed us. Our members will choose whether to endorse a leader who stands with labor to build a brighter future for American workers or one who uses workers as props for his press conferences."
York County celebrates 275th birthday during Trump's visit to York
Former Donald Trump's visit to York comes as York County is celebrating its 275th anniversary today.
York County, which was at one time part of Lancaster County, was founded Aug. 19, 1749.
More: Mark your calendar to celebrate York County's 275th birthday by ringing bells
The county has activities planned this morning, including a reading of the Charter for York County, at 10 a.m. at the York County Administrative Center in downtown York.
At noon, bells will ring across the county to mark the birthday.
“York County is a special place with truly historical significance – serving as our fledgling nation’s capital city during the Revolutionary War, growing to become an agricultural and industrial powerhouse and evolving into the diverse and thriving community we are today,” York County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler said in a news release. “We are proudly York County, and we are excited to join with all our fellow York Countians to celebrate our 275th anniversary.”
-Teresa Boeckel
Harris campaign statement
Onotse Omoyeni, Pennsylvania rapid response director for Harris for President, released the following statement in response to Donald Trump's plans to deliver remarks in York:
“Donald Trump’s plan for Pennsylvania is to raise taxes on middle-class families by thousands each year, set off what economists say will be an ‘inflation bomb,’ help corporations rip off workers, and give more tax breaks to billionaires while sticking the rest of us with the check.
“Pennsylvanians are clear eyed: We fired Donald Trump in 2020 for destroying 275,000 jobs and undermining unions, trying to rip away our health care, and selling us out to his rich friends. Every time he returns, Pennsylvania voters are reminded why they kicked him out in the first place – and why we are determined to ensure he never sees the inside of the Oval Office ever again.”
Which other presidents have visited York?
York has a long history of visits from prospective, actual or former presidents, including George Washington in 1791.
More recent visits include the following, according to a blog post by former York Daily Record Editor Jim McClure:
Ronald Reagan: The president toured Harley-Davidson's plant in Springettsbury Township in 1987. Matt Gladfelter, then a student journalist at Central High School, covered the event. "When he spoke, everybody was quiet," Gladfelter recalled. "He just had a way of being able to connect with people and draw them to whatever he had to say." Reagan did not get on a motorcycle.
George H.W. Bush: In 1992, the president was the main attraction at a political fundraiser in Monaghan Township in northern York County. His efforts brought $800,000 to U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's campaign. The president endorsed Specter, commenting: "This is not a normal kind of endorsement. I really mean it." On the campaign trail in 1988, Bush visited York, and his wife, Barbara, split off to visit Crispus Attucks Community Center's Day Care Center. The Republican candidate gave a 20-minute speech before 4,500 assembled at the Colonial Courthouse.
Bill Clinton: York became the Democratic nominee's first campaign stop in 1992. An estimated crowd of 3,000 attended. In 1999, President Clinton visited Harley-Davidson.
George W. Bush: President Bush, seeking re-election to a second term, visited the York Expo Center in 2004. The crowd responded excitedly to his comments on military matters. When Bush said, "Al-Qaida is wounded, but not broken," members of the audience yelled back, "Go get 'em!"
Barack Obama: The then-Democratic presidential candidate toured West Manchester Township's Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation plant in September 2008. He also took questions from a group of 50 gathered in the plant parking lot. Obama's wife, Michelle, spoke to a capacity-filled Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center in April.
-Jim McClure
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Live: Donald Trump campaigns at Precision Components in York PA
