MILWAUKEE — President Donald Trump was back in the Badger State for the sixth time since winning the White House.
TODAY'S TMJ4's Charles Benson talked one-on-one with the president about the economy, trade, Foxconn and Wisconsin 2020.
Benson: You're back in Wisconsin?
President: I love Wisconsin.
Benson: You won Wisconsin by more than 20,000 votes in 2016. Governor (Scott) Walker lost by about 30,000 votes in 2018.
2020, what do you think?
President: I think we are doing great.
Trump's approval numbers on the economy hit 51% in the most recent Washington Post poll. His overall job approval in Wisconsin was 46% in the most recent Marquette Law School Poll.
Trump stopped by Derco Aerospace in Milwaukee to talk about getting Congress to approve the U.S -Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on trade.
Benson: What about this trade agreement, how will farmers and manufacturers benefit in terms of guaranteeing more jobs?
President: It's going to open up the playing field. The USMCA, you're all talking about. it will open up the playing field.
While manufacturing jobs are up, it's been a year since Trump was here for another high-profile manufacturing opportunity in Wisconsin. Foxconn is building a plant, but uncertainty remains about the total number of jobs that will be created.
President: They have tremendous plans for Wisconsin; they're going to be doing a great job.
Benson: Did you have to convince them to stay here?
President: I had to convince them to get going a little bit because they were not certain about the job picture. They have to get employees because they have to get employees and they were having a hard time getting employees. Our unemployment rate is so low.
Foxconn expects to employ 1,500 workers by late next year.
As for Trump, he'll be back before then.
"Good to see you. See you in a couple of months. We will be around a lot."
