Republican President-elect Donald Trump offered his thanks to Wisconsin voters, during a stop in West Allis Tuesday night.
Thousands of people turned out to see Trump at State Fair Park, as part of a “thank you” tour he’s making across the country. The billionaire was the first Republican presidential candidate to win Wisconsin since 1984. “You’re incredible people,” Trump said. “I can tell you this – we are going to work so hard for you.”
Trump delivered a roughly 50 minute speech to the crowd, which continued to grow as he was speaking. He restated a number of the promises he made on the campaign trail, such as his intentions to fight radical Islamic terrorism, build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and to get Americans back into jobs. “Rebuilding this country with American hands and American workers…my administration will follow two simple rules – buy American and hire American.”
Trump also offered thanks for the several Wisconsin politicians who joined him and Vice President-elect Mike Pence on stage. The list included Governor Scott Walker, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), and U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, who all offered their thanks as well to Wisconsin voters for backing Trump and GOP candidates in November.
Walker said the state “helped change America” by voting for Trump, while Johnson said the state helped save the U.S. Supreme Court. Ryan said the hard work of Wisconsin voters to elect Trump is helping to get the country back on the right track.
Trump faced some boos from the crowd while offering praise for Ryan, and he jumped to the speaker’s defense. “Honestly, he’s life a fine wine…every day goes by, I get to appreciate his genius more and more,” Trump said, while joking “If he ever goes against me again, I’m not going to say that.”
Ryan and Trump were often at odds during the campaign, although the speaker has been more positive about the president-elect’s administration since the election.
Trump did face criticism from Democrats as he visited the state. Congresswoman Gwen Moore, a Milwaukee Democrat, called it “more than embarrassing” to have Trump holding a rally in Wisconsin. “It’s morose and depressing that Wisconsin…is being drawn in to his claim of victory,” she said.
Trump won Wisconsin by nearly 23,000 votes over Democrat Hillary Clinton. A statewide recount that wrapped up on Monday confirmed his win, while also adding 131 votes to his margin of victory.