Trump hails TN and its politicians — including Corker and Andrew Jackson

Tennessee Republican officials stood by President Donald Trump on stage Monday and much of the party’s congressional delegation rode Air Force One into Nashville for his speech to America’s farmers, according to the Associated Press. He also praised President Andrew Jackson, a Democrat.

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and Rep. Diane Black showed the range of Republicans who traveled with Trump and stood by him for an executive order signing at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention Monday.

In October, Corker charged that Trump had turned the White House into an “adult day care center” and was setting the U.S. “on the path to World War III.” His toughest criticisms came after he announced in September he wouldn’t seek re-election.

Trump hit back at Corker as a “lightweight” and charged that the former Chattanooga mayor and two-term senator “couldn’t get elected dog catcher in Tennessee.” Trump insultingly dubbed him “Liddle Bob Corker.”

If bad blood remains between the two, it didn’t show Monday. Trump handed Corker a marker he used to sign an executive order aimed at improving rural broadband access. The two talked about foreign policy on the flight in, Corker said.

“People don’t realize, we’ve been working together and talking together about numbers of issues for a long time,” Corker said. “All that’s being written is, like, old.”

…Black, a Republican candidate for governor, said she’s proud of working with Trump on the budget and tax reform. Trump called her a “terrific woman.”

“I’ve had an incredible opportunity to work right there with the president, to be at the desk with him in talking about the issues and how we can bring those things together, and we will help the American people,” Black said.

Three of the four other leading Republican gubernatorial candidates also attended Trump’s talk Monday: former state Sen. Mae Beavers, state House Speaker Beth Harwell and businessman and farmer Bill Lee. Businessman Randy Boyd couldn’t attend due to prior commitments, but released a statement praising Trump’s executive order.

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The full text of the president’s speech in Nashville, via the White House press office, is HERE. An excerpt including some of the things he said about Tennessee and its politicians (current day and back to Andrew Jackson):

I’m thrilled to be back in the amazing state of Tennessee.  (Applause.)  Here, as the state slogan goes, we see America at its absolute best.  And you’re doing well.  You’re doing a lot better since November 8th, I might add.  (Laughter and applause.)

…I want to thank Governor Haslam and Mrs. Haslam — wonderful people — for joining us, along with members of the Tennessee congressional delegation.  And I, sort of, have this beautiful list that I wrote.  Some of us came in on Air Force One.  And they’re great people, and they’re fighting for you.

In addition to the Governor and your great Secretary, Senator Bob Corker.  And they’re out here someplace.  Bob?  (Applause.)  Senator Lamar Alexander is here.  Senator Pat Roberts.  (Applause.)  (Note: Roberts is from Kansas.) Thank you, Pat.  Oh, does he love the farmers.  Pat, does he love those farmers.  Right, Pat?  Stand up, Pat.  Do you love the farmers, Pat?  “Yes.”  He’ll come in — we’re talking about a different subject, he’ll say, “What about the farmers?”  That’s good.  That’s why they love you.

Representative Diane Black — terrific woman.  (Applause.)  Representative Marsha Blackburn.  Marsha.  (Applause.)  Representative Scott DesJarlais.  I love that name.  (Applause.)  Hi, Scott.  Thank you, Scott.  Right from the beginning.  Representative Chuck Fleischmann.  (Applause.)  Representative David Kustoff.  Thank you, David.  (Applause.)  Representative Phil Roe.  (Applause.)

I talk about Zippy, so I don’t have to mention Zippy Duvall (Note: Farm Bureau president).  I’ll talk about him in this speech.  (Applause.)

Tom Nassif. (Note: CEO of Western Growers, a trade association) Where’s Tom?  Tom?  Thank you, Tom.  And Mark Morris (sic), State Senate Majority Leader. (Note: It’s actually Norris, of course, who has been nominated as a federal judge by Trump.) 

All right, I’ve done my job now.  All right?  Okay.  (Applause.)  I’ve done my job.  Did I do a good job?  Did I leave out anybody?  I hope not.  It’s always trouble when you do that.  You left out one person; it’s like for the rest your life they never speak to you, so — (laughter) — it’s always very dangerous.  Thank you very much.

… I will sign two presidential orders to provide broader and faster, and better Internet coverage.  Make sure you look up @realDonaldTrump.  Right?  (Laughter.)  I have a feeling you get that anyway.  It’s our only way around the media.  Fake media.  (Applause.)

I also want to thank Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, who is here with us today, for her leadership on getting broadband.  She’s very, very strong on it — getting it to rural America.  Thank you, Marsha.  (Applause.)

… We’re streamlining regulations that have blocked cutting-edge biotechnology, setting free our farmers to innovate, thrive, and to grow.  Oh, are you happy you voted for me.  (Laughter.)  You are so lucky that I gave you that privilege.  The other choice wasn’t going to work out too well for the farmers, I hate to tell you — (laughter) — or the miners or anybody else.  Because we know that our farmers are our future.  So true.

… We have to remember our history.  Mostly good, some not so good, but you learn from it.  We have to remember our history.

That is why I want to close my remarks today by commemorating one of the most important days in American history — today, January 8th.  The story began right here in Tennessee.  And like so many of the great stories of American history, many of its heroes were American farmers.

It was a pivotal moment in the War of 1812.  At the time, the British Army seemed totally unstoppable.  They had just beaten Napoleon in Europe, and set fire to the United States Capitol.  But that did not stop a man named General Andrew Jackson of Tennessee.  Did you ever hear of Andrew Jackson of Tennessee?  (Applause.)  He was a great general and a great President, and his ragtag militia of patriots who were ready to fight to defend American independence.

In December of 1814, Jackson and his Tennessee volunteers had made their way to New Orleans to defend that crucial port from the British.  Through grueling winter weeks, horrible weather, icy rain, hunger, and sleepless nights, a few thousand American patriots fought to hold back a British force nearly twice as large and that everybody thought was totally unstoppable.

Finally, on this day, 203 years ago, the British launched their full-scale attack, and it was brutal.  It was brutal.  They expected to secure swift victory and seize control of the Mississippi River.  And that would have been catastrophic for what we were doing.

It was not the first time the British had underestimated the American spirit.  Do you notice how so many people underestimate the Americans?  They’re not underestimating us so much anymore, folks.  (Applause.)

But Jackson’s men quickly proved them very, very wrong.  Within only one half an hour, an outnumbered force — the American force — achieved victory over one of the world’s mightiest empires and one of the strongest armies ever seen.  Tennessee — congratulations, Tennessee.  (Applause.)  I like you too.  I like you too, Tennessee.

The Americans held their ground.  Independence was secured.  Andrew Jackson’s name was etched into history.  And those patriot farmers proved once again that, in the words of Andrew Jackson, farmers are the “basis of society, and true friends of liberty.”  Great story.  Love that story.  Have great respect for Andrew Jackson.  (Applause.)

Today, the Battle of New Orleans lives on in the American soul, and it lives on in each and every one of you.

Our task is to preserve the freedom that American soldiers have fought for and died for in every generation.

… A phrase that I’ve heard all my life, but I will repeat right now — very simple, but very, very accurate and concise:  Farm country is God’s country.  So true.  (Applause.)

Thank you very much, Tennessee.  And thank you for the honor of speaking here this afternoon.  I’m thrilled to stand with you today, and I will be standing with you for many years to come.  Together, we truly are making America great again.