Gov. Kim Reynolds, Ambassador Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg pose for a photo in Cedar Rapids at the Trump rally.
Posted on 06/22/2017 9:09:34 AM PDT by iowamark
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - President Donald Trump covered a wide range of topics in a 75 minute speech at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids Wednesday night.
Trump touched down early at the Eastern Iowa Airport and headed to Kirkwood Community College, where he toured agriculture technology innovations, then reveled in Karen Handel's victory in a Georgia special election.
"We're 5-0 in special elections," said Trump.
Trump's stop at Kirkwood was intended to draw attention to the school's advancements in high-tech agriculture.
During the tour, Trump marveled at a "combine simulator," which is a virtual way to practice using a combine. After the tour, Trump told supporters at Kirkwood that he had "just learned more about farming than I ever thought I'd learn."
He was joined by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
Trump also paid tribute to former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, whom he had appointed the United States' ambassador to China. He hailed Branstad as "a legend" and "one great man." Branstad was the longest-serving governor in the nation's history and an early Trump backer.
Branstad traveled with Trump to Iowa on Air Force One. They were greeted at the airport by Iowa's new governor, Kim Reynolds.
At a campaign-style rally at the U.S. Cellular Center, the president told his audience he was "dealt a very difficult hand" as president, with crises brewing in North Korea and the Middle East.
"This was a tough hand. But you put me there for a reason and I think you're going to be very happy with the end result."
President Trump also touted his administration's commitment to agriculture and said he will urge technology upgrades for rural communities, including rural broadband Internet access.
Trump also said he would push for technology like drones and sensors on harvesting equipment, so American farmers can compete with foreign agriculture interests. And he pledged to get rid of the estate tax, which he called the "death tax," and protect corn-based ethanol.
The president said he urged Senate Republicans to add more money to their health care plan because he wants a plan with "heart," and suggested he would be willing to change the bill Republicans are crafting if Democrats would come onboard.
"A few votes from the Democrats, it could be so easy" and "so beautiful," Trump said.
The president also mused about putting solar panels on his proposed wall on the Mexican border. He said that a solar wall would "create energy and pay for itself," and joked it would mean Mexico "will have to pay much less money" to build it. Trump claimed as a candidate that Mexico would fully fund his impenetrable border wall - a plan Mexico rejected.
The wall was a signature campaign promise, but has not been at the center of the White House's agenda. Construction has not yet begun.
The president also saluted rural areas for voting for him in last November's election.
This is where it is criminal that the GOPe is turning Obamacare repeal into Ryan’s pathetic Medicaid reform.
And it is unfortunate that Trump somehow thinks like Ivanka on this, rather than understanding that the kindest and best healthcare by far is delivered by the free market.
Entire Cedar Rapids rally, 2 hour video:
Donald Trump speech only, 70 minutes:
At least two out of three of these look like criminals.
Someone show him the TV Show where Hannity had a doctor who created a ‘co-op’ type of medical care service that cost $50 a month.
I would move there to be part of that.
After years of being lied to and betrayed by the “TRUE CONSERVATIVE” I’m more than willing to give TRUMP the benefit of the doubt. The so called true conservatives need to shut their lying pie holes.
They are politicians, so you’re probably right.
I had a quick flashback to President Bush "marveling" at a supermarket barcode scanner. Which was a reporter hit-piece and unfair at the time.
But here, I don't since any way a reporter can scoff "Combine simulator! Who doesn't know about those?? What a rube to be impressed by such things!"
Wilkow is talking about this now. If Obamacare is not completely repealed, we will have single-payer.
Good... and stupid, all in one sentence.
Yep—the reported senate plan puts us on a clear path to socialized medicine.
If you are a great quarterback and you are drafted to a team with no line, no receivers, no running backs, and no defense, you might make a few great plays on individual effort but the team will not win championships.
The Republican Party is like a pro on the all exempt tour, striving to keep a card verses win!
We need a congress that loves Monday qualifying; you must win to stay or fight like hell every day to stay- No free rides!
This is the message True Americans must send to politicians. You don’t have a right to rule, and your money and pac money doesn’t vote! We The People Vote!
Time to start primarying RINOs and going door to door to get out the vote.
I want an option for catastrophic only and I’ll pay the other stuff myself. But in my state you have to be under 30.
I have a feeling nothing is going to scale back the insane premiums and deductibles we see after 6 years of obamacare.
You would think a real estate mogul would own some farms ad ranches.
repealing the death tax is important not only to farm families but small business. The ease with which businesses could be passed down to suceeding generations has been a major factor in sustaining the viability of the German economy.
As for ethanol, the 350+ biorefineries generate over $10BN in economic activity, over 150,000 US jobs, and increase energy independence. About half of the $35BN annual ethanol production comes from cellulosic (i.e. non-corn) feedstocks. The ethanol industry is here to stay, it’s an important part of many midwestern (Trump-country) states economies including Iowas, and Trump is smart to express his support no matter how much bitching it provokes from some FReepers.
I’m not sanguine about fixing the unfixable but the end of the Death Tax would be a very American thing to do.
It would also free a little capital for the private sector that is now wasted in the public sector.
And how about a little pay-go with that?
Cut spending by the amount the Death Tax raised per year, so it all evens out.
That should be obvious to all. "Fixing" Obamacare will only push us further down that road.
And every future failing will be blamed on TRUMPCARE and find the leftists and the sheeple pining for the "good ol' days" of Obamacare!
It’s unclear to me what extent DJT thinks like his little princess or how much she sways his otherwise rational decision making.
She’s an irritating, immature, self-centered feminazi that couldn’t care less about returning this country back to being the land of the free; the home of the brave.
Half the elites in this country are working overtime to take her father down (and thereby finish off America), and barely a peep out of her to defend this Presidency.
Being buddies with Chelsea and retaining Gorelick as an “ethics” attorney (don’t make me laugh) is all anyone needed to know about her.
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