Trump Touts Tax Cuts In Pittsburgh-Area Stop

PITTSBURGH, PA - President Donald Trump touted the benefits of the recently enacted federal tax overhaul Thursday, telling supporters at a suburban Pittsburgh industrial site that the legislation’s tax cuts already are leading to a resurgent America.

“When we began our push for tax cuts, I said it would result in more jobs, higher wages and relief for middle class families and we delivered,” Trump told an enthusiastic crowd at the H&K Equipment Inc. headquarters in North Fayette. “It’s been much better than anybody anticipated.”

Trump also took the opportunity to briefly voice support for Rick Saccone, the Republican candidate in the 18th Congressional District special election in March. As he began his remarks, Trump called Saccone, a state representative running against Democrat Conor Lamb, “a real friend and a spectacular man.”

But accompanied onstage by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, National Economic Council Director Cohn, his daughter Ivanka and members of Pennsylvania’s Republican congressional delegation, Trump spent nearly all his time onstage celebrating the tax reform victory.

To illustrate how companies and individuals both will benefit under the revised tax code, Trump noted that because of the corporate tax cuts, H&K planned to make a $2.7 million capital investment.

“That means more growth and ultimately more jobs,” the president said. “The signs of America’s comeback can be seen in companies like this one.”

Trump then called to the stage H&K project foreman Ken Wilson. “Ken will save almost $2,200 in income tax because of our tax plan,” he said. “Ken, you just got a $2,200 raise.”

In Pennsylvania alone, Trump claimed families will see tax cuts totaling about $11 billion this year alone. He said that a family of four with a household income of $75,000 would see tax cuts in the range that Wilson will receive, about $2,000.

Trump also noted that many people have had their incomes boosted further by companies that have provided employee bonuses as a result of the tax cuts. He cited AT&T, which provided $1,000 bonuses to 200,000 workers, and Apple, which is giving its workers $2,500 in restricted stock.

Trump praised Apple CEO Tim Cook for his pledge Wednesday that Apple would contribute $350 billion to the nation’s economy over the next five years as a result of the tax cuts. However, Cook did not offer specifics on how those contributions would be made.

That lack of detail aside, an upbeat Trump predicted a bright future for the nation under the new tax code.“America will once again be a nation that thinks big, dreams bigger and always reaches for the stars,” he said.

Screen shot via YouTube.