President Donald Trump landed at the Springfield-Branson National Airport in August. Next, he rode along the Springfield streets to give a speech on modifying the tax code in America.  

  

Trump arrived at the private event and addressed the crowd at Loren Cook Company. His reason for choosing Springfield was symbolic; he wanted to kickstart his campaign for tax reform in the birthplace of America’s main street: Route 66. Trump used this as a metaphor for the birthplace of tax reform and the revival of the United States under his leadership. A main point of Trump’s speech was his desire to bring companies back to the U.S. from overseas. He chose to speak at Loren Cook Company, a manufacturer of large ventilation equipment, because it is an American company to provide an example of that goal. The president spoke to a crowd of employees of Loren Cook and influential members of the state of Missouri on Wednesday, August 30. 

  

“We are here today to launch our plans to bring back main street by reducing the crushing tax burden on our companies and on our workers,” Trump said. 

  

In his address, Trump detailed his goals for tax reform in the United States. He shared his four principles of tax reform: a simple and fair tax code; the need for a competitive tax code that promotes the working class; tax relief for middle-class families; the return of money from overseas. Accompanying these ideas, Trump spoke about lowering taxes for businesses and increasing the gross domestic product (GDP) in America.   

  

The president focused on businesses returning to making their products in America and providing more jobs for U.S. citizens.  

  

“By making it less punitive for companies to bring back this money and by making the process far less bureaucratic and difficult, we can return trillions and trillions of dollars to our economy and spur billions of dollars in new investments in our struggling communities and in our nation,” Trump said. “It is time to invest in our country, to rebuild our communities, and to hire our great American workers.”

  

Trump’s speech gave an outline of his ultimate objective for revising the tax code. The president asked for Congress’s support on his ideas and urged the people to support his ideas as well. Trump’s address did not share his plans on how to accomplish these goals. He shared that he will be working with Congress to create his “Pro-American Tax Reform”. 

  

“So this is our once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver real tax reform for everyday hard-working Americans,” Trump said. “I am fully committed to working with Congress to get this job done.”

  

The president also took time in his speech to speak out against his Democratic adversaries, including Missouri’s senator, Claire McCaskill. Trump shared that taxes need to be lowered for Americans and his plan needs to be supported. He urged his Missourian audience to remove Senator McCaskill from her position if she does not support the lowering of taxes. Along with that, Trump expressed his frustration with Democrats not supporting past Republican ideas.  

  

“We must lower our taxes. Your senator, Claire McCaskill, must do this for you, and if she doesn’t do it for you, you have to vote her out of office,” Trump said. “The Dems are looking to obstruct tax cuts and tax reform just like they obstructed so many other things, including administration appointments and healthcare.”

  

Donald Trump ended his speech with his hope for the future and what it would mean for American workers with his new tax plan. He also spoke of the country coming together to support each other and the tax reform in order to move the country in the right direction. 

  

“If we unite in the name of common sense and the name of common good, then we will add millions and millions of new jobs, bring back trillions of dollars, and we will give America the competitive advantage that it so desperately needs and has been looking for, for so long,” Trump said. “It’s time.”

   

Loren Cook Company was Trump’s chosen venue because it is an American company that has been passed down through three generations. The company specializes in the manufacturing of vents, blowers, fans, and other ventilation equipment for businesses. A main point of his speech was his desire to bring companies back to America from overseas, so Loren Cook was an example of this goal. 

  

“For many decades, Route 66 captured the American spirit. Communities along this historic route were a vivid symbol of America’s booming industry,” Trump stated. “High-quality manufacturing jobs lifted up communities, and gave Americans a paycheck that could support a family. Mr. Cook is a great example of the people that do it.”

  

Among the audience of Loren Cook employees were a few Glendale students. Sisters Olivia Baron, junior, and Mckenna Baron, freshman, were a part of that group. They had the privilege of attending the private event because they are related to the Cooks. Olivia was looking forward to discovering what Trump’s administration will do because she is nearing the voting age. 

  

“My uncle Loren is Loren Cook and his dad, Jerry, is the one that owns the company,” Olivia said. “I wanted to see what the future might be like because I will be voting very soon in a couple of years.”

  

The girls were happy with how the speech went. They were proud to learn more about the taxes in the country and see the president in person. 

  

“It’s just good to learn what the president has to say,” Mckenna said. “He is our president, so it’s pretty cool to go see him.”

  

On Tuesday, September 5, Trump met with members of Congress and tax negotiators. There has reportedly been no strides made in pushing the tax reform through to legislation. It will take more time than the president had intended to pass. The meeting Tuesday focused more on relief for Hurricane survivors and Democratic efforts to provide young immigrants a path to citizenship. Another meeting will occur in December to continue the discussion of tax reform.