On the heels of the G-20 summit, where world leaders gathered to discuss the global economy, President Trump reiterated his commitment to “America first” in his weekly address.
“Since taking the oath of office, our government has adopted a new philosophy: America first. And believe me, it’s about time,” Trump said. “The era of economic surrender is over, and a new national pride is sweeping across the land. You see it. I see it. We all see it.”
In the address, which was published by the White House on Friday, the president said he dedicated July to the words “Made in America” and touted his commitment to restoring American manufacturing.
The president noted his April “Buy American and Hire American” executive order as one way he has fought for American workers and said his administration would no longer stand for special interests and foreign nations’ taking advantage of the U.S.
“For decades, American jobs have been ripped out of our communities, industries and towns stripped bear, and entire communities have been uprooted and left,” Trump said. “Foreign nations got rich at America’s expense, and special interests profited from this great global theft of American wealth.”
Trump also praised his decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership and called for a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement — issues that were expected to be raised at the G-20 meeting.
“We have also sent a clear message to the world that we will not allow other nations to take advantage of us any longer,” Trump said. “That’s why I withdrew from the one-sided Paris climate accord — and believe me, it was one sided, not a good deal for our country — and the job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership. And that’s why we are pursuing a total renegotiation of NAFTA, and if we don’t get it, we will terminate, that is end, NAFTA forever.”
“Every other nation on earth protects its own interests,” he continued. “America is finally going to do the same, and as we continue to fight for America workers and industry, it won’t be long before we see the ‘Made in America’ label proudly displayed on thousands of new products all across the great land and exported all around the word.”
Trump attended the two-day meeting of the G-20 in Hamburg, Germany, which started Friday.
Disagreements between Trump and other world leaders were expected, as the president’s views on climate change and trade put him at odds with others in attendance.
Before the summit began, German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized Trump for his anti-globalization policies and said she still believes Europe cannot fully rely on the United States.
“While we are looking at the possibilities of cooperation to benefit everyone, globalization is seen by the American administration more as a process that is not about a win-win but about winners and losers,” she said.
