Caterpillar and Ditch Witch kicked off a special week at the White House focusing on American manufacturing with two of the largest examples of “Made in America” goods the country has to offer.
On Monday, the Trump administration held a “Made in America product showcase,” inviting one manufacturer from each of the 50 states to show off their wares. The White House says the showcase was meant to honor “the incredible workers and companies who make ‘Made in America’ the world standard for quality and craftsmanship,” noting that “for too long our government has forgotten the American workers.”
A Cat 966M wheel loader and a Ditch Witch JT20 horizontal directional drill were displayed alongside each other on the South Lawn of the White House. Also representing the heavy equipment industry at the event was Alabama’s Altec.
“Remember in the old days they used to have ‘Made in the USA’, ‘Made in America? But made in the USA. We’re going to start doing that again. We’re going to put that brand on our product because it means it’s the best,” President Trump said in remarks delivered from the White House’s East Room. “…We want to build, create, and grow more products in our country using American labor, American goods, and American grit. When we purchase products made in the USA, the profits stay here, the revenue stays here, and the jobs—maybe most importantly of all—they stay right here in the USA.”
Of the showcase and its exhibiting manufacturers the President said, “I saw fire engines. I saw tractors from Caterpillar. I saw some incredible machinery. Make it right here. We thank you for being here. We’re honored to showcase your creations. And I will say, they’ve really taken on, and some of you have built names that I know of for so long. And it’s—congratulations. Right? You in particular. What a great job you’ve done. Thank you very much.”
In his remarks, the President promised that manufacturers and trade workers could expect to “see a lot of things happening over the next six months.”
“I want to make a pledge to each and every one of you: No longer are we going to allow other countries to break the rules, steal our jobs, and drain our wealth—and it has been drained. It has been drained,” he said.
