Former President Donald Trump hosted a brief town hall event in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on Thursday night. The event lasted just over 30 minutes, with Trump taking about six questions from the audience. One of the key moments from the town hall was Trump’s announcement regarding in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Folks, a reminder that we’re now 70 days until Election Day:
Donald Trump puts himself first and America last.@KamalaHarris is fighting for the people. pic.twitter.com/Pe2jPM2OUq
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 27, 2024
Donald Trump, who has criticized electric vehicles, will give an address on the economy and manufacturing Thursday in a region of Michigan that's slated to benefit from large government investments in EV technology.
Story with @bykaleahall. https://t.co/7wj5vGCcb7
— Craig Mauger (@CraigDMauger) August 29, 2024
In response to a question from former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who moderated the event, Trump expressed his intent for the government or insurers to cover the costs of IVF treatment. “Government is going to pay for it, or we’re going to mandate your insurance company to pay for it, which is going to be great,” Trump stated. A student from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse asked Trump about inflation, mentioning the impact of higher grocery and gas prices on the ability to afford a home.
Trump in MI today trashing EVs, despite the 20K+ new Michigan jobs that have been created, with many more to come. This local Michigan TV story today is a good example of how our Good MI jobs message is undercutting his attacks. https://t.co/RFW2lwtaDn https://t.co/Y6ZJACfuaW
— Mike Murphy (@murphymike) August 30, 2024
Trump suggested that the U.S. should focus on becoming “the energy capital of the world” and paying down its debt. He assured the audience that grocery prices and interest rates would “come tumbling down,” enabling Americans to achieve their dream of home ownership. The economy is a central issue for Wisconsin voters, with 38% of registered voters considering it their top concern when deciding whom to vote for, according to a Marquette University Law School poll.
Trump outlines IVF support plan
Trump argued that he would handle the economy better than Vice President Kamala Harris, who has a slight edge over President Joe Biden in economic handling according to previous polls. Democrats held a news conference before Trump’s town hall, targeting him on issues such as abortion access and infrastructure funding.
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez highlighted Vice President Harris’ economic plans, including down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers and tax credits for families with newborns. In response to a question about crime from an attendee from Minnesota, Trump called the Democratic vice-presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov.
Tim Walz “a weird guy.” He then defended his running mate, Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance, stating, “I mean, we’re a lot of things, we’re not weird.”
While Trump often began answering questions on topic, he tended to go off on tangents, such as bringing up false claims of election fraud and nuclear power during a discussion on inflation. La Crosse County, where the town hall took place, has voted blue in the last two elections, with 56% of the vote going to Biden in the most recent election.
Despite holding multiple rallies in Wisconsin this year, this was Trump’s first 2024 event in western Wisconsin, a region home to competitive electoral districts and key to both parties’ strategies.
- JSOnline.”6 takeaways from Donald Trump’s brief town hall in La Crosse”.
- NYTimes.”Election Live Updates: Trump Visits Midwest; CNN Releases First Clips From Harris Interview”.
- C-SPAN.”Former President Trump Delivers Remarks in Potterville, Michigan, on the Economy”.