01/09/2018

President Trump signs executive order on rural broadband Internet

NASHVILLE — During a whirlwind trip here Monday, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at promoting the expansion of broadband Internet into rural areas that lack connectivity.

Trump, speaking before a crowd of nearly 5,000 American Farm Bureau Federation members at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention, also touted the effects of axing regulations on American industry and cutting taxes on the nation's farmers and agriculture industry.

“The American dream is roaring back,” he said.

He then spent the next 35 minutes defending his first year in office in a speech tailored to the audience of farmers, a group that remains one of the pillars of his political base. In a rarity for the president, Trump stayed mostly on script and was more policy focused than usual, offering less of the firebrand populist rhetoric that has defined him.

► Jan. 8: Agriculture secretary seeks to ease farmers' anxiety on international trade
► Jan. 7: Trump to outline efforts to boost rural prosperity during speech to farmers
► Jan. 6: Farmers fret over disappearing profits, hope Trump will hear their concerns

"You are forgotten no more," Trump said. "We're fighting for our country, we are fighting for our farmers and we are fighting for our great American flag. ...

“And we want our national anthem respected as well,” the president said, receiving one of several standing ovations as impromptu chants of “U-S-A” broke out.

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