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Detailing a litany of "disastrous" trade deals by the Obama and Clinton administrations in a speech on the economy Tuesday, Donald Trump told supporters that the U.S. needed to declare its "economic independence."
The U.S. is more dependent on foreign countries than ever, the presumptive Republican nominee said.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to declare our economic independence once again," the billionaire said in a speech in Monessen, Pennsylvania. "That means voting for Donald Trump. I'll do it, no doubt about it. Not even a little doubt."
“Ladies and gentlemen it’s time to declare our economic independence once again.” - @realDonaldTrumppic.twitter.com/rxMcPC1C1m
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 28, 2016
Trump said that he would withdraw the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, which "ties us up and binds us down."
"The TPP, as it's known, would be the death blow for American manufacturing," Trump said. The TPP, an agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries that lowers trade barriers like tariffs, has yet to be officially ratified, he added.
Trump also announced that he would renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was finalized in 1994 during former President Bill Clinton's term in office, to get a "lot better" deal. Trump added that he planned to label China a "currency manipulator."
If the U.S. is unable to renegotiate "the disaster called NAFTA," Trump said that he would submit notice under Article 2205 of the NAFTA agreement that America intends to leave the partnership.
"We are going to put America first again," Trump said. "We are going to make America wealthy again. We are going to reject Hillary Clinton's policy of fear and her policy of absolute nonsense."
During Trump's speech, a number of snarky Twitter users pointed out that the candidate was standing in front of a pile of garbage.
Staffer 1: So just whatever you do, don't put him in front of a giant pile of garbage.
— Rob Flaherty (@Rob_Flaherty) June 28, 2016
Staffer 2: Got it. pic.twitter.com/1zjzNEnLoy
“Mr. Trump needs a backdrop.”
— Jamison Foser (@jamisonfoser) June 28, 2016
“What do you have in mind?”
“It’s gotta be on-brand. Obviously.”
“A giant pile of garbage?”
“Genius.”
Finally, a backdrop befitting Trump's candidacy. pic.twitter.com/RqXisPQOX1
— Avery Jaffe (@averyjaffe) June 28, 2016
Whose bright idea was it to have Trump give a speech in front of a pile of garbage? What, feces weren't available? pic.twitter.com/MwcttytnLS
— John Aravosis (@aravosis) June 28, 2016
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