Trump formally unveils Defense Secretary pick, talks jobs in North Carolina
President-elect Donald Trump continued his post-election “thank you” tour on Tuesday with a speech in North Carolina, and formally introduced his pick for secretary of Defense, Gen. James Mattis.
In the speech, which lasted a bit longer than half an hour, Mr. Trump stuck to a more optimistic tone than the one he had on the campaign trail. Noting that North Carolina was the home to both the Army’s Fort Bragg and the Marine Corps’ Camp Lejeune, Mr. Trump repeatedly praised American veterans before insisting that he would keep the promises he made prior to his election.
Mr. Trump said that he would revitalize America’s armed forces but only use them “when it’s in the vital interest of the United States.” He promised “peace through strength,” and an end to the caps on military spending resulting from sequestration.
Mr. Trump also introduced the crowd to Gen. Mattis, whom he repeatedly referred to by his nickname “Mad Dog.”
“’Mad Dog’ plays no games, right?” Mr. Trump said to hoots and hollers from the crowd.
The general then spoke briefly, thanking Mr. Trump for the “confidence you have shown in me.” Mattis then said that he looked “forward to being the civilian leader” of the Defense Department, assuming Congress grants him a waiver to serve despite his recent military service and the Senate consents to his nomination.
After Mattis left the stage, Mr. Trump said there will be “a lot of angry people” should Mattis not receive the waiver, which would allow him to become secretary of defense even though he retired from the military in 2013. According to federal rules, a secretary of defense must be at least seven years removed from service in the armed forces.
Mr. Trump then pivoted to a discussion of the economy and jobs, promising “bold structural reform” that will bring more and better economic opportunities for American workers. He said that he would lower taxes dramatically, and insisted he would implement “massive tax cuts” for the middle class.
The president-elect also promised to “get rid of all the unnecessary regulations” and secure energy independence. Invoking President Theodore Roosevelt, the originator of the National Parks system, Mr. Trump also said he would “preserve and protect” America’s national resources, in part for the good of hunters such as his two adult sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.
After noting how his come-from-behind victory had surprised many, Mr. Trump said Hispanics and African-Americans, whom he “did so well” with, would quickly be beneficiaries of his proposed infrastructure investments, particularly those in the “inner cities.”
Trade, a major focus of Mr. Trump’s during the campaign, was also discussed, with the president-elect decrying what he called “the greatest jobs theft in history” due to poorly-negotiated trade agreements. And he touted Tuesday’s commitment from Japanese industrialist Masayoshi Son to invest $50 billion in the United States.
Meanwhile, companies that outsource jobs, he said, would face “consequences.”
“We will defeat the enemy on jobs, and we will defend American jobs,” Mr. Trump said, likening the loss of jobs due to international trade as a war. Additionally, he said he would make access to “safe and affordable child care for all” a priority, a policy that has been promoted by his daughter, Ivanka Trump.
“Did anybody ever hear of Ivanka Trump?” he said, to cheers from the crowd. Mr. Trump also said he “support the incredible men and women of law enforcement,” and insisted his proposed repeal of Obamacare would lead to a “much lower price” and “much lower deductable” for insurance.
Continuing with pledges made prior to his election, Mr. Trump said that his would be the administration that “ended illegal immigration” and built a wall along the southern border. He said “hundreds of thousands” of immigrants would still come to the U.S., but that they would arrive legally, and would not be allowed to come from regions where he says it would be too difficult to screen them.
Mr. Trump also said that, under his presidency, “we will respect out great American flag again,” an apparent reference to his tweet earlier this week calling for people who burn it to face criminal charges, and perhaps a loss of citizenship.
Mr. Trump closed the speech by thanking the people of North Carolina, a state he won, and promising that America’s best days still lay ahead.