Just over one year ago today, with your help, we saved America. That’s what happened. The most important election victory, possibly, in the history of our country,” the president opened.
“By the way, last election, did we kick ass? That means we won three times in a row.”
“Now, after just 10 months in office, I’m pleased to report that America is winning again. Pennsylvania is prospering again, and I will not rest until this commonwealth is wealthier and stronger than ever before,” he continued.
“Since my inauguration, we’ve created nearly 60,000 new Pennsylvania jobs, including 4,000 Pennsylvania manufacturing jobs that the Democrats gave up on. You’re doing better than you’ve ever done under leadership.”
Though Trump didn’t take the stage until more than an hour after his scheduled 6 p.m. start, rally attendees started lining up around 5 a.m. to enter the concourse. Roughly a third of the crowd, both seated in the audience and standing on risers behind the president’s podium, were dressed in Trump’s own image, wearing dark suits and red ties.
The sea of Trump-branded red ball caps in the crowd was punctuated by more than a smattering of Santa hats.
The White House declined to give a head count for Tuesday’s rally, but shortly before Trump arrived, an announcer asked guests standing in the aisles to move into overflow viewing rooms.
And in case anyone was unsure of the White House’s message for the evening, massive “LOWER PRICES” and “BIGGER PAYCHECKS” signs hung behind the stage in blue.
Trump spoke after comments from a handful of Pennsylvania lawmakers, including Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA), Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA), and other political allies. The bulk of Monroe County, where Mount Pocono is located, lies within Bresnahan’s district.
He pledged his support for the president’s message while subtly acknowledging that elevated costs are hammering American households.
“The message is the same everywhere: lower the costs. Support high-paying jobs, keep our community safe, and listen to the people doing the work,” Bresnahan said. “They aren’t asking for partisan arguments. They’re asking for results.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a rising star within Trump‘s Cabinet, warmed up the crowd with a more direct approach: tearing into former President Joe Biden and pledging that inflation will “roll down” over the next year.
Just after taking the stage, Bessent joked that while nearby Scranton may be Biden’s “hometown,” the state is “Trump country,” drawing cheers from the crowd.
Republican lawmakers have subtly pressed Trump to do more to sell his economic platform amid stagnant inflation and job uncertainty.
### Trump Changes His Tune on Releasing Second Strike Footage
Since November, Trump has repeatedly referred to affordability as a “hoax” or a “con” orchestrated by Democrats. However, while speaking at the White House on Monday, he refrained from that rhetoric.
You can watch Trump’s remarks in full below.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/3912580/trump-affordability-speech-pennsylvania/