[ad_1]
President Trump arrives at the Indianapolis airport.
Kaitlin Lange, [email protected]
U.S. President Donald Trump briefly speaks to media about the shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, adding that he plans to deliver a formal statement at the start of his speech at the FFA convention in Indianapolis, at Indianapolis International Airport, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.(Photo: Jenna Watson)
8 p.m.: Read all about what President Trump had to say at the national FFA convention.
4:30 p.m.: The president has wrapped up his speech.
“You are amazing people,” he tells the crowd. “Your time in the FFA, in the field, in the farm, in the land and in the classroom has not only prepared you for a stellar, great career in something you love, it’s taught you essential truths about life and about the world in which we live.”
4:15 p.m.: Trump turns political as he mentions his ongoing criticism of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat who defended her claims of Native American ancestry by having a genetic background analysis done.
“Turns out that I had more Indian blood in me than she has,” Trump says.
4 p.m.: Trump expresses optimism that his tariff and trade policies will succeed.
“We’re in a trade dispute,” Trump tells the national FFA convention. “I want to use that word because it’s a nice, soft word. But we’re going to win. You know why? Because we always win. We’re American. We always win.”
Trump on shooting: President calls Pittsburgh mass shooting a ‘wicked act of mass murder’
3:45 p.m.: Trump is now talking about the importance of farming and how he believes his policies will help the agricultural industry.
“We’re going to be opening new markets for your exports,” he tells the national FFA convention. “We’re going to be eliminating job killing regulations. … We’ll be cutting your taxes, and just like I promised, we are ensuring that ethanol remains a vital part of America’s energy future.”
Ethanol policies are of particular interest to Indiana farmers.
3:30 p.m.: Trump invites a local pastor and a rabbi to offer a prayer with the audience amid his comments regarding the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. The president praises them both for responding quickly.
“They were given about eight minutes notice,” Trump said.
“We pray today for moral clarity. Let us not dismiss this as an act of insanity but see it for what it is, an act of evil,” Rabbi Benjamin Sendrow said. “May we always remember that the presence of a few evil people among us does not define this country.”
3:15 p.m.: President Trump begins his speech at the national FFA convention by condemning anti-Semitism following the fatal shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue earlier today.
3 p.m.: President Trump will soon speak.
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Buy Photo
Autoplay
Show Thumbnails
Show Captions
Last SlideNext Slide
2:14 p.m: Air Force One has landed at Indianapolis International Airport.
1:50 p.m.: The 91st National FFA Convention & Expo is underway at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. President Donald Trump is expected to give the keynote address later this afternoon.
12:30 p.m.: Speaking at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump tells the press pool that he would make a “major announcement” later today at the National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis about a mass shooting this morning at a Pittsburgh synagogue.
At least 10 people were killed and multiple people were injured Saturday morning at Tree of Life synagogue, according to USA Today. A male suspect has surrendered to police.
Noon: President Donald Trump will speak today at the 91st National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, two weeks ahead of the midterm elections.
He is expected to speak this afternoon at Bankers Life Fieldhouse Downtown.
Although the National FFA Organization extends an invitation to speak to every president, Trump will be the first to speak since 1991, when George H.W. Bush visited the convention, which was then held in Kansas.
More:What you need to know about Trump speaking at the FFA conference
More: Can Trump soothe Indiana farmers with his FFA speech ahead of elections?
The FFA has drawn criticism from some former and current members for hosting the president, who they believe displays poor character. The president’s tariff policies also have not been well received in the agriculture community. China’s retaliatory tariffs have driven down demand on agriculture products in the U.S., especially soybeans.
FFA CEO Mark Poeschl defended the decision to have Trump speak and said the FFA isn’t a political organization.
“We’ve taken a position this year as we have every other year that we respect the office of the president of the United States, and based on that respect, that is what drives our invitation,” Poeschl said. “And we do that regardless of political party. We do that regardless of popularity. We do that regardless of policy because for our students something of this sort can be the experience of a lifetime for them, to get to listen to and be in the same room as the president of the United States.”
Trump’s speech at Bankers Life Fieldhouse will be closed to the general public but will be streamed online at FFA.org.
This will be the third time Trump has visited Indiana this year. Previously he stumped for Republican candidate Mike Braun in Elkhart and Evansville. Braun is challenging Democrat Joe Donnelly for his seat in the U.S. Senate.
Call IndyStar reporter Kaitlin Lange at 317-432-9270. Follow her on Twitter: @kaitlin_lange.
FFA CEO: Trump accepted invitation to speak at convention
Future of farming: As Trump prepares to speak to farmers, their future seems uncertain
Read or Share this story: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/27/trump-ffa-convention-speech-indianapolis/1754982002/
[ad_2]
Source link
