LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. – President Donald Trump returned to the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday for the first time since retaking the Oval Office, urging Congress to pass the SAVE America Act and criticizing “dumb-ocrats” throughout an 83-minute address.
Hundreds of people stood in the rain for hours for a chance to hear Trump speak inside Mack Truck’s manufacturing plant off Alburtis Road. At least 900 people filed into the facility for the event, which was marketed as a recognition of American labor.
But Trump rarely stuck to a subject for long, delivering a stream-of-consciousness speech that hit on familiar talking points of transgender athletes in sports, boasting about his victory in the 2024 election, demonizing the media and declaring victory in the war in Iran. But Trump also made a point to urge local voters to support U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, in one of the nation's most contested congressional seats.
"You've got to make sure you vote for your congressman here. I’m not doing this for my health," said Trump, who turned 80 earlier this month.
Republicans hold a narrow majority in the U.S. House, making Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District a coveted prize for both major parties. Flipping the seat this November would allow Democrats to limit Trump's ability to pass legislation for the remainder of his term, while Republicans would be hard pressed to maintain their control of the speaker's gavel if Mackenzie loses re-election.
Since eking out a 1 percentage point win over Democratic incumbent Susan Wild, Mackenzie has served as a loyal ally of Trump, including his support for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Trump trumpeted his signature law as a win for working families because it locked in tax cuts passed during his first term and made social security, tips and most overtime pay tax exempt. The average Pennsylvania household saw $10,000 increase in take-home pay as a result of the taxes, Trump said.
In addition, Mackenzie has supported Trump's efforts to make major investments in ICE and border security and voting to strip funding for foreign aid and public media. Mackenzie credited their stance on foreign trade — the congressman has opposed efforts to limit the president's ability to set tariffs — has led to a manufacturing boom and in the Lehigh Valley, Mackenzie said.
"Our workers like the ones here at Mack are spearheading the great American comeback. Since President Trump and I have taken office, companies have rushed to build, invest and expand here in our community," said Mackenzie, pointing to Eli Lilly's decision to construct a $3.5 billion facility in Upper Macungie Township and expansions for Nokia's and B Braun's existing facilities in the region.
Requests for an interview with Mackenzie following the president's remarks were not returned Tuesday.
The general election will pit Mackenzie against Democrat Bob Brooks, a retired Bethlehem firefighter and president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association. In a statement Tuesday morning, Brooks criticized Mackenzie as a career politician who has raised costs for working families, cut healthcare and failed to act as a check on Trump in the war with Iran.
"No speech from Mackenzie can change the fact that his time in Congress has been an absolute disaster for the hardworking people of the Lehigh Valley. It’s time we send one of our own, a working person who understands the struggles we face, to fight for us in Congress," Brooks said in an emailed statement.
But while the PA-7 campaign will grab national attention, Trump's focus shifted throughout his address. He mentioned U.S. Dave McCormick and U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, both R-Penn., more often than Mackenzie. The first-term congressman received more attention in turn than Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the Republican candidate for governor who praised Trump's leadership earlier in the program.
Neither got as much attention as the SAVE America Act, which would require voters to present proof of American citizenship in order to cast a ballot. While the bill passed the U.S. House, it has repeatedly failed to pass through the Senate. Trump railed against Democrats Tuesday for opposing the measure.
"They voted against voter ID. Do you know why? Because they want to cheat. There's only one reason," he said to cheers from the crowd.
But Democrats aren't his only problem. On its last vote, the bill only received 48 votes with several members of the Republican caucus opposing the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has said he does not have the votes to pass the bill and has pushed back against efforts to kill the fillibuster, which requires most legislation to pass with 60 votes instead of a simple majority.
Critics of the bill argue the bill would disenfranchise millions of voters across the country; married women who have changed their last name would be at particular risk. Many states, including Pennsylvania, offer photo ID without requiring proof of citizenship, which would require millions of Americans to quickly assemble legal documents to prove their citizenship. In its current form, the bill would take effect immediately, leaving voters with a shrinking window to gather and present their birth certificates, marriage licenses and other documents ahead of the election.
While Trump's popularity has waned in recent months — a recent survey by Marist Poll found 60% of Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy — he was received warmly by the crowd. Damien Riebe, of Bethlehem, left the event carrying a Mackenzie yard sign and motivation to vote Republican in the fall. He said he was particularly concerned with efforts to oppose the SAVE America Act.
"People who are not citizens do not belong voting. You'd have to hate America if you do not want that to pass," said Riebe, who works the third shift at Mack.
