BURNSVILLE, Minnesota – President Donald Trump visited Nuss Truck & Equipment Monday for a roundtable discussion with local business leaders while protesters lined the streets outside.
The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) organized a protest outside of the Nuss company’s Burnsville location in support of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), who was singled out on Twitter by the president last week for her comments on the 9/11 terror attacks.
“No hate! No fear! Immigrants are welcome here,” protesters chanted, while on the opposite side of the street a large crowd of Trump supporters led chants of “USA!” and “build the wall!”
With a heavy security presence, both sides remained relatively peaceful while engaging in competing chants during the hours leading up to Trump’s arrival.
On the inside, the president touted his Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for the tax-day event, calling it the “biggest tax cut in history.”
“This has been a very special state. It’s been a rare victory for Republicans, and we almost won it. One more speech,” Trump continued, saying Minnesota has been treated “extremely unfairly” on immigration.
“Today unemployment in Minnesota, because of your federal government policies, is down to the lowest level I think that you’ve ever had—3.1 percent, and jobless claims in Minnesota have reached their lowest level in 22 years. Minnesota has added more than 7,500 brand new mining, logging, and construction jobs, which nobody expected,” he continued, saying that thanks to his tax cuts “Minnesota families are saving more than $5 billion on their 2018 tax bills.”
“The average Minnesotan has seen an annual income gain of more than $1,700 since my election,” he said. “The total number of new business applications has skyrocketed to almost 20 percent, and that’s just been in a really short period of time. It’s been really pretty amazing.”
Trump thanked Bob Nuss, owner of the company, for putting the event together and noted that “this room is packed, but outside you could probably pack this room 20 times over.”
“You have a lot of people out there, Bob,” he said, and again mentioned the number of supporters gathered outside at the end of Monday’s event.
“It’s been an incredible experience for me being in Minnesota. I have so many friends here. I just want to thank the people of Minnesota and everybody for making this day possible. I mean, you have to see outside to believe what’s going on. This was supposed to be a little roundtable, as they call it, but you have to see what’s happening outside. You wouldn’t believe it, and it’s beautiful. I see American flags waving all over,” Trump said.
He also said he’s working on ensuring the construction of the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline with the “local government, who unfortunately is opposing us and you on this.”
Minnesota Republican Party Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan said her party will do its “part to re-elect” Trump in a statement released after his visit.
“Today, President Trump is in Minnesota to tout the incredible benefits of our nation’s first tax reform in three decades,” she said. “Because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Minnesotans across the state are seeing more in take-home pay. Companies like Nuss Trucking, who hosted the president’s visit today, have been able to give raises, hire more workers and expand their operations due to savings. Minnesota was less than two percent away from turning red for President Trump and in 2020, due to Trump’s successes bettering the lives of Minnesota voters, Minnesota will do our part to re-elect President Donald Trump.”
Monday’s full event can be watched below:
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
