By Jenna Liston and Anna Skinner
Although Donald Trump covered several topics during his campaign stop at Grand Park Events Center in Westfield July 12, there was one announcement he chose not to make just yet. The crowd of an estimated 7,500 attendees did not hear who he will choose as his official running mate, although many in attendance expected him to announce Gov. Mike Pence.
Pence took to the stage at 8:30 p.m. to introduce Trump, and spoke of his support for the republican nominee, with no indication of whether or not he will be chosen this week.
“We need the no-nonsense leadership that Donald Trump will bring to the White House in the fall,” Pence said. “The American people are tired of hearing this is as good as it is going to get, but Donald Trump gets it and understands it.”
Law enforcement
When Trump began speaking he immediately addressed the death of five police officers in Dallas, Texas.
“This came right from the heart. Our whole nation grieves and mourns over the five Dallas police officers,” Trump said. “These are great, great people. We pray for their families, the wounded survivors and our police officers that defend our nation. Our police represent our highest values. When our police are attacked, our entire nation is attacked.”
After recognizing the tragedies of last week, Trump began highlighting his plan for the nation if elected this fall.
Jobs, trade and eradicating Obamacare
Trump stated his position in bringing jobs back while promoting better trade.
“Every other country is sharper and better (at trade,)” he said. “They have the best negotiators. We have people that don’t know what they’re doing. I have the best business men in the world who have endorsed me. We have the greatest negotiators, but we don’t use them.”
He also mentioned his plan to eradicate Obamacare from the nation and “replace it with something better.”
National security
Trump spoke on constructing “safe zones” in Syria to prevent refugees from immigrating to America.
He continued with his previous declarations of building a wall on the American-Mexican border, and stated that 16,500 border patrol officers had endorsed him, and said the wall was “vital for the nation.”
At the end of his speech, Trump remained tight-lipped about the upcoming announcement for who he will choose as vice president, only stating that Pence might remain a governor, or might become a vice president.
This story will be updated.
