It’s “Made in America” Week!

 

The Trump administration dubbed this week “Made in America Week,” and Donald Trump invited company representatives from all 50 states to come to the White House and showcase their American-made products yesterday. There was a wide array of goods, including a fire truck which Trump climbed into and told Mike Pence, “Where’s the fire? We’ll put it out fast!”  Trump also marveled at a set of dinnerware from West Virginia saying, “I love West Virginia, I love West Virginia.  Had a great victory in West Virginia, tell everyone I said hi.”  Trump delivered a speech to the companies encouraging American manufacturing.  Following Trump’s speech, a ceremony was held for the completion of the latest US-built Navy aircraft carrier.  White House Director of Media Affairs, Helen Aguirre Ferre, said, “For too long our government has forgotten the American worker. Their interests were pushed aside for global projects, and their wealth was taken from the communities and shipped overseas...Under the leadership of President Donald Trump, not only will the American worker never be forgotten, but they will be championed.”  

Source: https://youtu.be/GQ09bVzWfV0

However, some people accuse Trump of hypocrisy because most of his company's products are made overseas.  Even his eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, uses foreign manufacturing for her business.  This contradicts everything Trump was standing for and makes him look silly, especially because he encourages others to put “America first.”  Some politicians believe that the whole idea of “Made in America” week is to distract the public from the controversial Russian scandal.  This “themed week” also takes attention from the debate over repealing and replacing Obamacare, which is one of the president’s biggest priorities.  Also on Monday, The Department of Homeland Security announced that businesses will soon be able to apply to bring in up to 15,000 more foreigners for seasonal work (which goes against President Trump’s “America First” promise).

 

Sources for further reading:

• Striking protectionist tone, Trump touts US-made products (CNN)
• White House planning "Made in America Week"(ABC News)
• WDHS announces boost in seasonal worker visas during W.H. 'Made in America' week (CNN)
• 5 things for Tuesday, July 18: Health bill, Minneapolis shooting, Korea talks, visas (CNN) (#4)
• White House announces new theme weeks amid health care bill uncertainty (Politico)
• White House unveils ‘Made in America’ week, though many Trump products are made overseas (Washington Post)

Overall, do you feel that Trump’s “Made in America” week is a distraction?

Feel free to use these questions to help start your discussion:

• Is Trump trying to deflect people's attention away from the Russian scandal, or is he simply showing his appreciation for American workers?

• How is the public reacting to this “themed week”? Do other Republicans agree with this?

• How do you feel about the release of visas to foreign workers?   Are you concerned?

• What do you predict President Trump will do about his products being made overseas?  Will he have them made in the US? What about Ivanka?