Table of Contents
President Trump Arrives in Tri-State for Stops in Ohio, Kentucky
President Donald Trump arrived in the Tri-State area Wednesday afternoon for his first visit to the region in six years and his first since taking office for a second term . Air Force One touched down at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) around 2 p.m., with the president scheduled to make two stops on opposite sides of the Ohio River .
Ohio Stop: Thermo Fisher Scientific in Reading
Trump first toured the Thermo Fisher Scientific facility in Reading, Ohio, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company . The visit focused on promoting TrumpRx.gov, a new federal prescription drug website launched in February that aims to help Americans purchase prescription medications at lower prices .
Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, accompanied the president and explained the rationale behind choosing Ohio for the visit .
“The reason we’re coming to Ohio is Ohio has a bunch of really good health and sciences companies. They’re ensuring, bringing business back to America. Hiring folks who live in Ohio, investing in Ohio,” Oz said. “So, we want to visit some of these life-science facilities and make sure they know they matter to us” .
TrumpRx.gov currently features brand-name drug offerings from manufacturers including AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer, offering discounted cash prices for patients without insurance or those whose copays exceed manufacturer-negotiated rates .
Kentucky Stop: Verst Logistics in Hebron
Following the Ohio visit, Trump traveled to Verst Logistics’ contract packaging facility in Hebron, Kentucky, located in the district of Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie . The event drew approximately 1,000 Trump supporters despite a storm that drenched the area .
During his more than hourlong appearance, Trump touched upon the economy, the cost of living, and the ongoing war with Iran . He praised the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” for delivering no tax on overtime wages and claimed that more items are being made in the country than at any time in U.S. history .
Trump also offered shout-outs to several political leaders and even to professional boxer and influencer Jake Paul, whom Trump said he could see “in the not-too-distant future running for political office,” adding, “You have my complete and total endorsement” .
Political Message: Targeting Rep. Thomas Massie
A significant focus of Trump’s Kentucky visit was his endorsement of a primary challenger against Massie, a frequent Trump critic who has represented the district since 2012 . Trump has backed Ed Gallrein, a farmer, businessman, and retired Navy SEAL from Shelby County, in the Republican primary scheduled for May 19 .
Trump did not hold back in his criticism of the incumbent congressman .
“Massie is a disaster for our party,” Trump said, labeling him a “nutjob” and urging the audience to support Gallrein . “We’ve got to get rid of this loser,” Trump added, calling Massie “stupid” .
Massie has drawn Trump’s ire on several issues, including leading the charge to release federal investigation files on Jeffrey Epstein and opposing the White House-backed tax and spending measure . He also recently opposed the U.S. war in Iran, posting on X that the conflict was causing gas prices to jump and was “not America First” .
In response to Trump’s criticism, Massie remarked that the president’s endorsement of Gallrein is “all my opponent has going for him” and emphasized his commitment to independent representation .
Iran War Comments
Trump also addressed the ongoing conflict with Iran during both stops . He told reporters at Thermo Fisher that the U.S. military is “way ahead of schedule” regarding what he termed an “excursion” in Iran .
“It’s an excursion that will keep us out of a war. For them, it’s a war. For us, it turned out to be easier than we thought,” Trump said .
He acknowledged that oil prices have risen and markets have been impacted but assured that “we’ll be back on track in a pretty short while” . He also added, “We don’t want to leave early, do we? We’ve got to finish the job,” suggesting a commitment to continued military engagement .
Economic Realities vs. Messaging
Trump’s economic messaging faced some headwinds from recent data. A March 6 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report indicated that employers cut 92,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.4%, with downward revisions to previous employment figures . Despite this, Trump maintained that more Americans than ever are working and that the economy remains strong .
Democratic Response
Democratic party leaders from both states issued statements pushing back on Trump’s economic claims .
Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde said: “From gas prices to energy bills to the cost of healthcare, the White House and their allies in Congress and Columbus have not only failed to lower prices, they’re actually making things worse” .
Nat Turner, director of communications for the Kentucky Democratic Party, added: “The only prescription for lowering costs for the American people is to hold Trump accountable by electing more Democrats” .
Protests and Supporters
Both stops drew crowds of supporters and protesters alike . Outside Thermo Fisher in Reading and Verst Logistics in Hebron, demonstrators gathered with signs expressing opposition to Trump’s policies, with some holding messages like “No Blood for Oil” referencing the Iran conflict . Meanwhile, die-hard Trump fans—some of whom traveled from several states away and slept in their cars for days—greeted the president with enthusiastic chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A!” .
Traffic Impacts
The president’s visit caused significant traffic disruptions throughout the region, with portions of I-75 closed and the evening commute affected as his motorcade traveled through the Tri-State area .
