'Let's keep this going'
PENN TWP — The president of the United States ran a bit late Saturday, but you wouldn't have known from the crowd's reaction as thousands erupted in cheers of glee around 6:15 p.m. at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport.
Chants of “four more years” and “Trump, Trump, Trump,” echoed on as a fleet of helicopters flew into the airport, coming from the direction of the setting sun.
The final chopper, Marine One, shown through the center of an arrangement of multiple huge American flags, before circling the crowd and landing again behind the flags, which provided a living picture frame for President Donald Trump's entrance onto a catwalk that led to a podium featuring the president's seal.
“Hello Butler,” Trump said. “We are going to win the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and we're going to win four more years.”
An estimated 15,000 people showed their admiration and support for the president, who delivered a speech that talked about his successes, his plans for the future and his perceived failures of Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
“They're back there,” Trump said. “You can't even see the end of people. There's a lot of people here.”
Trump's comments touched on three major points that the Butler County crowd seemed to react to the most. The three topics were the oil and gas industry, A.K. Steel and veterans' affairs, and Trump made these statements with many affected workers and veterans by his side as special guests.
“With your support, we're going to continue to bring more jobs, cut taxes and make more products with that little stamp Made in the U.S.A.,” he said.
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Trump focused heavily on fracking, claiming Biden plans to end all fracking. Not on Trump's watch. Trump told his supporters the ink was still drying on a document he signed in transit that would protect fracking for the future.“We have to protect you,” Trump said. “Moments ago, I signed an order to protect Pennsylvania fracking. I signed it on the beautiful Marine One.”The president issued the memorandum Saturday, which orders the government to study the effects and impacts to national security posed by “prohibiting, or sharply restricting, the use of hydraulic fracturing and other technologies.”To emphasize his point, Trump stepped away from the podium as a video played for the crowd. Much of the video pointed out contradictions in Biden's statements regarding fracking, which then deviated into a laugh track of Biden bloopers to which the crowd gladly supplied the laughs.Matching the theme of Oct. 31, the video ended with a scene of a Halloween night where a couple handed out candy to little trick-or-treaters, only to be interrupted by a disturbing adult in a Biden costume.The man asked who the person in the costume really was, and the unveiling showed a woman wearing a mask with Kamala 2020 written on it.“Know who you're voting for,” a message read. “Don't get tricked.”
Trump also turned his attention to A.K. Steel.“We saved 1,400 jobs right here at A.K. Steel in Butler,” He said. “Anybody work there?”A contingent of the crowd made its voices heard.“I know they're voting for us,” Trump said in reference to himself and likely U.S. Rep Mike Kelly, R-16th. “We did a great job.”In the last year, the Trump administration launched an investigation into whether the import of electrical steel from foreign countries has threatened national security by circumventing tariffs.The tariffs in place are meant to protect domestic makers of electrical steel, of which A.K. Steel, now under the ownership of Ohio-based, Cleveland-Cliffs, is the only remaining manufacturer in the U.S.Trump told the crowd the tariffs he imposed on China, in general and not specifically regarding electric steel, had garnered “tens of billions of dollars a year.”“Biden will remove all the tariffs,” Trump said. “If Biden wins, China wins. If we win, America wins.”
With VA Butler Healthcare and a high population of veterans, Trump's statements about his strides in that regard also received a great deal of applause from supporters.Trump said he helped reduce the wait times veterans' once experienced in waiting for care, and he has made sure the professionals treating veterans are more accountable and respectful of the patients.The VA Choice Program allows veterans to seek care outside VA facilities while still having their bills paid.The VA Accountability First Act of 2017 allowed for easier avenues for the removal, demotion or suspension of VA employees who abuse or mistreat veteran patients.Trump also gave thanks to active Armed Forces, referencing a rescue operation that happened sometime Friday night. He said a Special Forces unit rescued an American hostage.“Today's operation should serve as a stark warning to terrorists,” he said. “You cannot escape the long reach of American justice.”
While much of Trump's remarks revolved around striking down Biden, he also highlighted some of the things he has accomplished.He said he was proud of the strides he made in criminal justice reform, the handling of the pandemic and the economy. Throughout the event, Trump attributed a 33.4% growth in the third quarter's gross domestic product to his administration's efforts.“Our economy is now growing at the fastest rate in the country, faster than any nation in the world,” Trump said.Even the 2016 promise of the border wall returned to the conversation, which he said is almost done being constructed across the southern border with Mexico.“We are doing great on that wall.” Trump said. “That's why you don't hear about it.”Trump said he was glad he could be in Butler for some of his Saturday, which included four stops total with one coming after the Butler event in central Pennsylvania.“We're going to have a historic day. If we win Pennsylvania, we win it all,” Trump said. “We have made America strong again, America proud again, America safe again, and we will make America great again.”
