President Donald Trump spent Wednesday making two stops along the Ohio River corridor, touring the Thermo Fisher Scientific facility in Reading, Ohio, before speaking at a rally across the river in Northern Kentucky, where he delivered a wide-ranging speech focused on manufacturing, jobs, drug pricing, and energy policy.
The trip began in Ohio, with Trump visiting the Thermo Fisher facility and speaking with reporters there about manufacturing investment and economic policy.
Trump framed the visit as part of a broader effort to expand domestic production and encourage companies to grow their operations inside the United States.
“Well, it's a great company. We're just talking about how the expansion's going, and a lot of expansion because of Trump, I have to say. I think the one-year depreciation is great when you're expensing. Everyone loves it.”
Trump also addressed prescription drug pricing during the exchange, arguing that his administration’s “Most Favored Nation” policy is aimed at lowering costs for American consumers.
.@POTUS on Most Favored Nation drug pricing: "We went from the highest price in the entire world — we paid more than any other country — and now we're going to pay the lowest price... People said they weren't able to get it done in the past. I don't even think they tried." pic.twitter.com/UvQuYeov1U
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 11, 2026
Energy policy also came up during the discussion, with Trump pointing to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as a tool to lower fuel prices.
.@POTUS on gas prices and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve: "I filled it up once, and I'll fill it up again. But right now, we'll reduce it a little bit, and that brings the prices down. We have to get rid of the evil... somebody had to do it. 47 years of horror." pic.twitter.com/icQ0IEFDZ2
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 11, 2026
After the Ohio visit, Trump traveled south across the river to Northern Kentucky, where he spoke to a large rally crowd and highlighted several economic developments tied to the region.
Trump began the rally by referencing the Thermo Fisher visit earlier in the day and pointing to additional manufacturing investment nearby.
.@POTUS: I just came from @thermofisher in Reading, Ohio, right across the way—a great American company that's investing $2B in domestic manufacturing. And @Ford has announced a $2B assembly plant in Louisville, Kentucky, which will support more than 2,200 Kentucky jobs. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oO6QfYXET9
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 11, 2026
Trump argued those investments reflect broader growth in American manufacturing and construction employment.
.@POTUS in Northern Kentucky: "We have added 70,000 new construction jobs... including 8,000 brand new construction jobs in Kentucky... More Americans are working today than any time in history." pic.twitter.com/am5o22mXzg
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 11, 2026
The rally took place in Northern Kentucky, inside the congressional district represented by GOP Rep. Thomas Massie (KY-04), a Republican who has occasionally clashed with Trump and his allies on fiscal and other legislative issues.
See Also: Trump Visits Fort Bragg and Talks Army, the Maduro Raid, the Economy, the Democrats, and 2026
Trump did not directly mention Massie during the speech, but the location placed the president squarely in the congressman’s district as he highlighted economic policies and investment in the region.
Energy policy also featured prominently in the rally remarks. Trump referenced an international agreement involving coordinated oil releases aimed at lowering fuel prices.
.@POTUS: "I'm pleased to report that earlier today, the @IEA agreed to coordinate the release of a record 400 million barrels of oil from various national petroleum reserves... which will substantially reduce the oil prices as we end this threat to America..." pic.twitter.com/ItoVwniFiu
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 11, 2026
Trump also argued that strategic use of the reserve could stabilize prices while the United States continues expanding domestic production.
“We have to get rid of the evil. Somebody had to do it. Forty-seven years of horror.”
Readers can watch the full rally remarks from Northern Kentucky below.
Trump’s stops in Ohio and Kentucky carried a consistent theme throughout the day. The president highlighted manufacturing investment, job growth, drug pricing reform, and energy policy as central pieces of his economic agenda.
The Ohio visit showcased a major manufacturing facility expanding domestic production, while the Kentucky rally focused on jobs, investment, and energy prices. Taken together, the two appearances served as a full day of economic messaging aimed squarely at industrial communities along the Ohio River corridor.
For Trump, the message was straightforward. Manufacturing investment is rising, construction employment is growing, and energy policy remains a key tool for bringing down prices for American consumers.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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