MACUNGIE, Pa.—President Donald Trump visited Mack Trucks’ Lehigh Valley Operations to tour the facility and highlight U.S. manufacturing during a speech on June 23.
“For more than 100 years, this legendary company has been making trucks right here in eastern Pennsylvania, building the heavy-duty machinery that keeps our economy rolling, our factories moving, and our industries roaring all across the nation,” Trump said, noting the “Made in the U.S.A.” markings on all Mack Trucks.
“You built this country, and you’re the ones who are making America great again.”
The crowd was boisterous, overflowing with standing-room-only attendees.
Mack Trucks, a subsidiary of Volvo Group, maintains its primary facility in Macungie, encompassing 1.7 million square feet and including a massive warehouse operation.
Approximately 1,200 workers are employed at the facility, which has served as a central component of the company’s production since 1975.
More than $400 million was invested in upgrades and expansions over the past 10 years, according to company president Stephen Roy, who spoke at the gathering, highlighting the brand’s iconic Pioneer trucks and Granite construction trucks and announcing a brand-new model with off-road capabilities, the Keystone, named after the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
“As a 126-year-old company this year, it is a true honor for Mack to welcome President Trump during this, America’s 250th anniversary,” Roy said.
Lead project manager Matthew Parry, a third-generation Mack Trucks employee, told The Epoch Times that the company “means everything” to his family.
“It’s been our upbringing; it’s been our history,” Parry said. “Neighbors, friends, family, relatives, we all have a common connection here to this company, and it’s been our lifeline, and we’re proud of it.”
He celebrated Trump’s arrival and expressed gratitude for his administration.
Trump thanked the thousands of supporters who waited for hours in the rain to enter the venue, promising to continue moving forward with his America First agenda.
“For decades, the workers of this commonwealth watched globalist politicians let other countries rip you off, close your factories, rob your jobs, take them away to foreign lands,” the president said. “Then I came along. We stopped it very quickly.”
He listed his recent accomplishments, including the peace deal with Iran, stock market successes, and lower oil prices, while urging Pennsylvanians to vote Republican in the upcoming midterms, where the balance of the House could be determined by races in the swing state.
Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.) emphasized federal investments that benefit the region, including $47 million for military trucks, and the company’s long history of partnership with the armed services.
“Behind every new road, bridge, and skyscraper, there is an American worker with a Mack Truck, and that proud legacy extends to the support that they give to our U.S. military,” Mackenzie said. “From World War I to the global war on terror, you have stepped up to do your part, building tough, reliable transportation that helps our servicemembers accomplish their mission.”
Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) told the crowd that Mack Truck is a “symbol of America’s manufacturing strength.”
The appearance was Trump’s first in the commonwealth of the year and the fourth during his second term.
A heckler attempted to disrupt the gathering shortly after the president began speaking but was escorted out by security, while a handful of protesters stood in the rain near the facility holding signs.
