Trump warns of ‘war’ on farmers on visit to Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa — Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump warned Saturday of a “war on the American farmer,” telling a crowd in Iowa that Democratic rival Hillary Clinton “wants to shut down family farms” and implement anti-agriculture policies.
Trump’s speech at the annual “Roast and Ride” fundraiser for Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa came just hours after Clinton received her first national security briefing as the Democratic presidential nominee.
Clinton met for more than two hours with intelligence officials at the FBI office in White Plains, N.Y., for her first overview of the major threats facing the nation around the globe since becoming the Democratic nominee. Trump received his briefing earlier this month, a customary move for major party nominees.
Trump skipped the 42mile motorcycle ride that preceded the event in a state where polls show a tight contest between him and Clinton, a rare bright spot for Trump amid a sea of challenging battleground states. Joining him on stage were top Iowa Republicans — among them Ernst, Gov. Terry Branstad, Sen. Chuck Grassley and Rep. Steve King — in a rare show of support for a candidate who has struggled to unite his party.
In a hat tip to Iowa’s agriculture industry, Trump renewed his commitment to continuing a requirement that all gasoline sold contain an ethanol-based additive, an issue important to corn growers. He also promised to cut taxes on family farms, which he called the “backbone” of the country.
“Hillary Clinton wants to shut down family farms just like she wants to shut down the mines and the steelworkers,” he said at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. “She will do this not only through radical regulation but also by raising taxes on family farms — and all businesses — to rates as high as nearly 50 percent.”
Clinton’s campaign website touts a plan to increase funding to support farmers and ranchers in local food markets and regional food systems, saying she’ll create a “focused safety net to help family farms get through challenging times.”
It also says she plans to target federal resources in commodity payment, crop insurance and disaster assistance programs to support family operations.
Speaking to an overwhelmingly white crowd, Trump again pledged that as president he would help African-Americans living in cities with high crime and low employment. He offered no specifics for how he would achieve that goal.
Amid his ongoing appeal to black voters, Trump drew backlash online Saturday for a tweet he sent in response to the shooting death of NBA star Dwyane Wade’s cousin, who was gunned down near the Chicago school where she had planned to register her children.
“Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!” Trump tweeted. He later sent a second tweet offering his “condolences to Dwyane Wade and his family.”
Campaigning in Florida, Clinton running mate Tim Kaine said, “We just ought to be extending our sympathy to the family.” He added: “That’s the only reaction that’s appropriate right now.”
Trump also previewed his immigration plans at the Iowa event, saying that he was developing an “exitentry tracking system to ensure those who overstay their visas, that they’re quickly removed.”
The proposal echoed the language of Trump’s former primary rival, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is now advising him.
Also, the ex-wife of Trump’s new campaign CEO, Stephen Bannon, said Bannon made anti-Semitic remarks when the two battled over sending their daughters to private school nearly a decade ago, according to court papers.