Trump, Battered in Washington, Is Buoyed at Boeing Rally -
NORTH CHARLESTON, S. C. — President Trump, seeking to reset his stumbling presidency, hit the road for a photo op and returned to the simple economic message
that got him elected, telling aircraft factory workers that “we’re here to celebrate jobs.”
The president toured a sprawling Boeing complex here, next to the airport, en route to a weekend in Florida
that includes a stay at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, and a Saturday rally in Melbourne.
“There’s the palace intrigue story about them not being very well coordinated,
that the White House isn’t ready for prime time, that he’s still setting things up,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and frequent Trump critic.
“This is our house, and our house is going to remain union free!” said Joan Robinson-Berry, one of plant’s managers, to the applause of about 2,000 employees
and local officials who gathered for the president’s visit.
In one campaign appearance, Mr. Trump called some of the bank’s deals “featherbedding.”
But the president has softened his stance considerably since the inauguration, as he has moved his focus
from assuaging his party’s base to fulfilling big campaign promises on jobs, trade and manufacturing.
And then you have the whole Flynn situation.”
“But you have a very disciplined president when it comes to economic messaging,”
said Mr. Graham, who was in Washington on Friday with the Senate in session.