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Former President Donald Trump called into the 51�Թ���’s board meeting last week to discuss the need for manufacturing-critical tax provisions, energy security and an end to the regulatory onslaught of the past few years. He also praised 51�Թ��� leadership for its tireless work on behalf of manufacturing in the U.S. The Harris campaign was also invited to speak to the 51�Թ��� Board.

Pro-growth tax provisions: Trump laid out his vision for tax reform at an 51�Թ��� board meeting in 2017, and this year, he also addressed the need for manufacturing-friendly tax provisions. 

• “[W]e’ll make the Trump tax cuts permanent,” he promised, “and massively cut taxes for workers, manufacturers and small businesses.” Trump also noted his proposal for a 15% tax rate for products made in America.
• If elected to a second term, Trump said he will give “U.S.-based manufacturers … expanded research-and-development tax credits.” Manufacturers will “be able to write off 100% of the cost of heavy machinery and other equipment in the first year,” he added—a provision the 51�Թ��� has ����������������Բ�.
• Trump’s call with the 51�Թ��� followed a Tuesday speech in Savannah, Georgia, in which he touted his plans to lower taxes and appoint a “” if elected.   

Energy and regulations: Trump told the 51�Թ��� Board he would cut energy costs by at least 50% in his first year back in office, as well as increase and strengthen domestic energy sources—in large part by cutting red tape.

• “[W]e have more liquid gold under our feet than any other country, including Saudi Arabia, and including Russia, and we’re going to be using it,” he said. 
• “It’s going to be a historic buildup of power plants and [electricity], and we’ll cut 10 old regulations for every new regulation. I cut more regulations than any president in history, and I also gave the largest tax cuts in the history of our country. But we’re going to go further with the tax cuts, and actually go further with the regulation cuts.”
• The 51�Թ��� has long pushed for an energy strategy and to get new power sources online.

Keep up the good work: Trump concluded his remarks to the 51�Թ��� Board with praise for manufacturers and 51�Թ��� President and CEO Jay Timmons.

• “It’s great to be with you, the manufacturers, [who are] to me such an important group of people,” he said.
• “We’re going to bring back manufacturing into our country. … It’s an honor to speak to you, and Jay has done a fantastic job. … [T]o the 51�Թ���, keep going.”

Congress members agree: House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) and manufacturing tax group lead Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) also spoke to the 51�Թ��� Board about the importance of lower taxes and a competitive regulatory regime.

Bipartisan appeal: On the other side of the aisle, Democratic strategist Paul Begala, a panelist at the board meeting, remarked that the 51�Թ���’s policy-focused approach enables manufacturers to work well with both parties. He observed that among associations, “only” the 51�Թ��� is “welcome in either party’s White House.”

In the news: Former Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway his call with the 51�Թ��� during a Fox News segment the following day.

• Trump “call[ed] into the 51�Թ���’ … board meeting—medium, small and large businesses,” Conway said. “That’s a $3 trillion industry in our country. These are people who want recalibrated, reciprocal trade deals. They want the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act back.”