Haslam will attend Trump rally, hopes to hear more on health care

Gov. Bill Haslam is looking forward to President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit and any clarity he may be able to add in terms of health care.

“Hopefully, he’ll be engaging in some conversations that matter to us. Primarily health care, obviously, that’s the biggest item in our budget. Maybe the biggest question that’s out there for the future of the state in terms of what happens,” Haslam told reporters Tuesday morning.

Although Haslam said he doesn’t know exactly what his day will entail — he’s awaiting the president’s final schedule from the White House — the governor does plan to be at the Municipal Auditorium, where the president will hold a rally.

“Anytime the president of the United States comes you want to be there,” Haslam said.

Trump is also planning on laying a wreath at the tomb of former President Andrew Jackson at The Hermitage during his Nashville visit.

Haslam has been critical of Trump, including throughout his presidential campaign and more recently after the real estate mogul rolled out his first travel ban executive order.

Last year, Haslam faced criticism for not supporting Trump enough.

Despite not voting for Trump in the November election, Haslam said he was encouraged by Trump’s victory speech and later attended the president’s inauguration.

Holly Meyer contributed to this report.