Unruffled Donald Trump Faces Raucous Crowd In Detroit - Mike Pence Makes Surprise Appearance [LIVE VIDEO]
DETROIT (CBS Detroit) After a series of missteps that had him going toe-to-toe with the bereaved family of a military hero and berating the mother of a crying baby, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump came to Detroit to reset his image and unveil his economic plan.
And he brought a couple of surprise guests: running mate Mike Pence and daughter Ivanka Trump.
Pence took the podium for a few minutes before Trump's speech to talk about the "refreshing" candidate and his ability to make connections with Americans. "He's never forgotten the men and women who work with their hands," he said.
Donald J. Trump speaks at Detroit Economic Club event.
Posted by WWJ Newsradio 950 on Monday, August 8, 2016
Then he turned the podium over to Trump, who faced down a raucous crowd at Cobo Center, which broke out in boos and catcalls throughout the talk. A seemingly unruffled Trump stopped several times until the hecklers were silenced.
Fourteen protesters, all women, were removed throughout the speech.
"It's all very planned out," he quipped during one such outbreak; during another he referenced the "Bernie Sanders people," whom he said, "had a lot more energy and spirit."
In another unscripted moment, Trump had his daughter Ivanka stand up in the crowd and said the two of them had been working together very closely on his economic plan. Trump's economic plan promises to unravel business regulation and cut taxes for the highest and lowest income earners to jumpstart recovery from the slow job growth that has plagued the country in the last decade since the Great Recession.
"Detroit, the Motor City, will come roaring back," he promised. "Our party has chosen to make new history by selecting a nominee from outside ... The other party has reached backward, into the past... Just take a look at what happened to New York state manufacturing, a disaster."
His plan will reportedly make childcare expenses fully tax deductible, re-tool controversial free trade agreements, reduce the number of income tax brackets from seven to three and eliminate income taxes for individuals who earn less than $25,000 or $50,000 for married couples.
Trump reiterated, in broad strokes, his proposal to eliminate the federal estate tax, a 40 percent level on wealth, which exempts the first $5.45 million per individual. He said more details will be coming in future weeks.
"It's a conversation about how to make America great again -- for everyone," Trump said, to a wild round of applause.
Outlining local issues, Trump pointed out that Detroit's per capita income is about half the national average. "The unemployment rate is more than twice the national average," he said, adding "Detroit tops the list of the most dangerous cities in terms of violent crime."
An angry protester shouted during that segment of the speech, disrupting the crowd, and Trump stood by calmly until she quieted.
He went on to say Detroit is a city controlled by Democrats at every level.
Protesters rallied outside Donald Trump's economic talk in Detroit Monday. (Photo: Jon Hewett/WWJ)
At one point, Trump quoted The Washington Post, referencing what he called a "devastating" article about Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and her broken promises about jobs. "She was all talk, no action," Trump said, adding "Compare that to my record."
He talked about the tax burdens on business owners and pharmaceutical companies that he said are punished when they make drugs in America.
"I want to jumpstart America. It can be done. And it won't even be that hard," he said.
Clinton is expected to deliver her own economic plan to Detroit at a speech Thursday.
Trump is down 10 points against Clinton in the latest polls.
Ford was expected to be in Trump's crosshairs over its move to move small car production to Mexico, something the candidate criticized several times in major speeches, and promised to prohibit. But Trump tread lightly an any direct attack of auto company plans to ship jobs overseas, painting his policies, again, in broad strokes.
"I want jobs and I want wealth to stay in America," he said, adding the U.S. economy is 25 percent smaller than it would have been without the "surge of regulation" that started in 1980. "So many of our cities are suffering so greatly," he added, saying President Barack Obama has issued 400 regulations since taking over, "each with a cost to the American economy."
"It is time to remove the anchor dragging us down," he said.
He promised to issue an immediate moratorium on agency regulations when he takes office.
The UAW opposes Trump, but WWJ 950's Jeff Gilbert said union leaders were expected to closely watch the performance, knowing that Trump's position on trade is likely to draw support from some members.
"When I am president, we will start winning again, big league," Trump said.
In case you've missed any, here is a round-up of Trump opinions on everything from torture to marijuana from a live interview with WWJ 950 a few months ago.