Trump touts economic growth, reinforces support for Paxton during Denton visit

DENTON, Texas - President Donald Trump was in Denton Thursday in what was a mix of a celebration of American manufacturing and Trump administration economic policies and a campaign rally for Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton.

The president spoke at Peterbilt Motors where he used the plant's expansion as an indicator that Republican policies were working.

What they're saying:

"Workers like you and companies like this have always been loyal to our country," Trump said. "But for decades, you were heartlessly betrayed by politicians, lousy politicians who let foreign trade cheaters plunder your wages, loot your factories, close up your jobs, and they robbed our country blind."

Peterbilt said 1,000 jobs were added at the Denton facility.

Trump took time to recognize some employees whose work at Peterbilt was a family affair.

Sarah Renshaw, Peterbilt events manager, said Trump's tariffs allowed the company to hire and increase production. Renshaw, whose parents both worked for the company, said it allowed the company to hire her son.

He also joked that he would buy and drive one of the trucks if he could get it approved.

"They're beautiful," Trump said. "I don't know if I'm allowed to drive them. Secret Service has a little problem with that. But if I can get approval, I'll buy one myself and drive it."

Trump also pointed to the rolling back of Biden era emission standards and loosening the regulations on nitrous oxide as benefits to the trucking industry.

"Wages for manufacturing workers are up by nearly almost close to $4,000 since I took office. And after years of decline this year, the United States has added 60,000 new manufacturing jobs and heavy truck manufacturing is almost up by about, what, 31% or something? And heavy truck shipments have hit an all-time high, the highest in the history of our country under the Trump administration. So American trucking is back," Trump said.

Trump turns attention to Texas Senate race

All eyes are on the U.S. Senate race in Texas and that includes the president.

Paxton joined Trump in Denton on Thursday where Trump said the current Texas attorney general was at his side more than anyone else when he was "being hit by the radical left very hard" before calling Paxton a "pain in the a--."

"You're special man," Trump said to Paxton. "You're certainly one of the, but I think maybe the best attorney general of the whole United States of America. That's your only qualification for the job. I say that's a very good qualification."

Trump also attacked Paxton's opponent, Democrat state Rep. James Talarico.

"The one you have might be the worst of all of a bad one," Trump said of Talarico. "Really bad. Crazy lunatic."

Trump in Denton

What we know:

The North Texas visit comes as many voters raise concerns about the economy and the cost of goods ahead of the November midterm election.

White House officials said the president is expected to talk about the economy while highlighting the manufacturing efforts of Peterbilt’s parent company.

The company has reportedly added jobs, increasing American truck production as a result of the tariffs put into place last November. 

In fact, Peterbilt says those tariffs have allowed the company to add more than 1,000 new jobs at the Denton facility.

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