‘He’s a true statesman’: Just south of Manitoba, Trump’s popularity is as strong as ever

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This article was published 05/09/2017 (2670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MANDAN, N.D. — Donald Trump’s young presidency has been marred by controversies and staff upheaval, but here in the heart of Trump country, about a 4 1/2-hour drive from Brandon, he’s as popular as ever.

Trump gave an invitation-only, 40-minute speech focused on tax reform Wednesday afternoon at an oil refinery in Mandan, across the Missouri River from the state capitol, Bismarck. Hours before Air Force One was scheduled to land at Bismarck’s airport, people lined up along the road leading to the Andeavor Corp. refinery, hoping to catch a glimpse of the U.S. president’s motorcade.

LoAnn Dick and a friend made the 90-minute drive from Dickinson, N.D., hoping to see Trump for the second time. Dick was part of a motorcycle ride to see the president speak in Reno, Nev., last month.

“I admire him so much. He’s a wonderful man. He’s fulfilling all the promises that he made to us. And I just respect everything he does,” the senior said. “I respect his courage. He’s a wonderful person, and I just love that man and his wife.”

Mandan resident Sheldon Sime also waited in the hot sun to see the president.

“I’m just a huge Trump supporter,” he said. “It’s not every day you get to see the president’s motorcade going through your town.”

In last November’s presidential election, Trump won nearly 63 per cent of the vote in North Dakota, the largest margin of victory since Ronald Reagan in 1980. Wednesday was the first time a U.S. president has visited the state while in office since Barack Obama in 2014.

In his speech, Trump called for bipartisan support from Congress for tax reform, including simplifying the tax code. Details of his plan have yet to be revealed, but he said he wants to lower business taxes to about 15 per cent.

“H&R Block (tax preperation company) will not be supporting Donald Trump, I can tell you,” Trump said, later adding, “It will be the greatest tax reduction in the history of our country.”

Speaking with processing towers and huge oil tanks in the background, Trump also referred to his having approved the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline after taking office. Thousands took part in a lengthy protest in an attempt to block the project.

“Right here in North Dakota, the Dakota Access Pipeline is finally open for business,” he said to applause. “It is flowing now beautifully.”

At one point, he called his eldest daughter, Ivanka, onstage, saying she asked to accompany him to North Dakota.

“We love this state, so it’s always a pleasure to be back here,” she told the crowd, adding, “You treated us very, very well in November.”

Trump also invited Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp onstage, calling her a “good woman” and saying, “I hope we’ll have your support” on tax reform. Last week, Trump targeted a different Democratic senator in a Republican state in a similar speech in Missouri.

Trump said North Dakota has shown how to help industry flourish instead of obstructing it, which pleased North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger.

“I thought his recognition of North Dakota and the contributions that are made in this state were right on,” he said. “I’m glad.”

On Wednesday morning, Charles Tuttle set up a few tables filled with Trump merchandise outside the refinery. Tuttle, who lives in Bismarck, often drives around the U.S. selling his items outside Trump rallies. He said he likes Trump because he’s a straight-shooter and a Washington outsider.

“He’s neither a Republican nor a Democrat — he’s a pragmatist. He sees a problem and says here’s how you solve it,” he said. “He’s here to solve a problem. He’s a true statesman.

“He has no reason (to be president) other than to make America great. Why would you give up a billionaire lifestyle to be slandered, ridiculed?”

Marty Beard was holding a U.S. flag and a sign calling for antifa (anti-fascist) and Black Lives Matter supporters, undocumented immigrants and “Muhammad lovers” to be deported.

Beard, who sports a long beard “to help people out” in remembering his name, said he’s worried about Canada’s border policies.

“We don’t have that support with (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau, so it’s going to be a long fight for the Canadian people. He’s so far left. He’s letting terrorists into Canada,” Beard said. “People need to wake up in Canada like they’re finally waking up in America. Hopefully, it isn’t too late.”

After the speech, one anti-Trump protester held a sign urging Republicans to follow the example set by former president Theodore Roosevelt by protecting the environment and cracking down on big corporations.

“We have regressed back to monopolistic corporations that are exploiting the American people,” said Robert Haukenberry of Dickinson. 

“If Donald Trump was truly a conservative that was for the people, he would be breaking these trusts up, not giving them big tax breaks.”

adam.treusch@freepress.mb.ca

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