This week, the White House will be hosting 50 companies from across the country, each intended to represent a state. The companies will display a product that they manufacture in the United States, such as a NASA spacesuit made by ILC Dover LP, Delaware’s representative. Steinway, representing New York, will display a piano. Shotgun chaps made by K Bar J Leather, on behalf of South Dakota, will be displayed as well. The list goes on from there.
Press Secretary Sean Spicer talked up this campaign at yesterday’s off-camera press briefing, stating that the country has an “incredible span of American products.”
But no endeavor by the Trump White House goes without criticism. One correspondent pointed out that some do not believe Trump “is the right vessel for this message.”
“After all, [President Trump] has shirts made in China and Bangladesh and India. Other products made–like Trump vodka made in the Netherlands,” the correspondent said.
Spicer responded that his perspective was different. President Trump’s history as a businessman is beneficial for the future of American companies. At least, it more of a blessing than a curse.
“The President has been a very successful businessman on a number of fronts and a number of areas and industries,” he said. “To understand firsthand what the tax burden and what the regulatory burden do to a business that wants to grow or expand here or hire here…he’s in a very unique way able to talk about the challenges that so many of these companies face.”
Another media correspondent got Ivanka Trump’s company involved, asking the question: “If the Trump Organization or Ivanka Trump’s brands will make any kind of commitment to stop manufacturing gifts, clothes, and other wares abroad?”
As Secretary Spicer had to make clear on more than one occasion, he was not going to comment or discuss details involving his boss’ prior business engagements before becoming President. He expressed that it was “inappropriate” but that “in some cases, there are certain supply chains or scalability that may not be available in this country.”
“I will tell you that the overall-arching goal, of course, though, is to grow manufacturing,” he continued. “To grow and invest here in the United States and to grow U.S. workers here… that remains the overall objective.”
But then, you have to pay men like in the 1950ies, otherwise no-one can afford….