President Donald Trump Praises Boeing, Suggests More Plane Purchases Coming
February 17 2017 - 2:53PM
Dow Jones News
By Doug Cameron and Damian Paletta
President Donald Trump on Friday heaped praise on Boeing Co. and
suggested the U.S. government could increase its business with the
aviation company as he delivered an economic-themed speech that had
many campaign trail overtones.
Mr. Trump, speaking at Boeing's North Charleston, S.C.,
facility, gestured to a large 787 Dreamliner behind him and said:
"That is one beautiful airplane. Congratulations to the men and
women here who have built it. What an amazing piece of art. What an
amazing piece of work."
The 15-minute remarks he delivered in South Carolina reinforced
many of the themes he has made for months, both as a presidential
candidate and since he was sworn in. He said he was going to cut
taxes for almost all taxpayers, cut regulations for businesses and
find ways to financially punish companies that move jobs overseas
and then try to sell their products back into the U.S.
He said U.S. companies and workers faced unfair trade
imbalances. He didn't mention which countries were responsible for
these trade imbalances, but he did reference how he wanted to
strengthen security along the U.S. border with Mexico.
"When there is a level playing field, and I've been saying this
for a long time, American workers will always, always, always win,"
he said.
Mr. Trump can enact some of his economic and trade agenda
through executive powers, but much of it would rely on
congressional assistance. The changes to tax law he wants, for
example, would likely require a sweeping overhaul of the tax code.
He has said he would like to advance this effort during the summer,
but lawmakers appear unclear on how the White House wants to
proceed. He didn't offer any new timetables during his speech.
Aside from the campaign-style themes, Mr. Trump suggested,
repeatedly, that the U.S. might be soon expanding its business with
Boeing. He said, for example, that the U.S. government could soon
be purchasing more F-18 Super Hornets.
After attacking Boeing in December over the costs of Air Force
One planes and suggesting he would cancel any contract with the
company to build a new Air Force One, he said on Friday that "it
looks like we are getting closer and closer" on the plane deal.
He even ended his speech with praise of the company. After
saying "God Bless" the United States of America, he said "God Bless
Boeing."
Write to Doug Cameron at doug.cameron@wsj.com and Damian Paletta
at damian.paletta@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 17, 2017 14:38 ET (19:38 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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