The Vice President made several stops in the Keystone State to promote President Trump’s recent policy accomplishments.
Vice President J.D. Vance landed in Luzerne County’s West Pittston on Wednesday for an event at Don’s Machine Shop. The Vice President focused on the proposed tax breaks and American-owned small businesses in his remarks at Don’s Machine Shop, touting President Trump’s understanding of working-class Americans.
“If you’re building here, if you’re making here, if you’re working in the United States of America, we just gave you a big fat tax break. But if you’re gonna ship American jobs overseas, thanks to Donald Trump, you’re gonna pay a big fat tariff. It’s time to invest in our own country and our own people once again,” said Vice President Vance, referencing the President’s efforts to keep American-made goods in the United States. Those tariffs have been successful for small businesses, including others across Pennsylvania.
Supporters of Trump and Vance showed up early to watch the Vice President arrive, with some voters saying they showed up as early as 4 a.m. Others set up lemonade stands and held signs offering support for Vance. Others protested the Trump administration’s presence in Luzerne County, specifically Vance’s role in passing the One Big, Beautiful Bill on July 1st. Activist group Action Together NEPA held up signs as Vance arrived outside the West Pittston Municipal Building. Some protestors called the recent bill the “big, ugly bill” and accused Vice President Vance of supporting legislation to take away healthcare from Americans.
But the crowds favoring Vance were large, stretching across Exeter avenue even after the Vice President arrived and had made his way towards Don’s Machine Shop. Signs saying “Keep America Great” and “America is back” were frequent as Vice President Vance began his speech. While much of his speech was discussing the benefits of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, he also touched on immigration, another key issue of the Trump administration’s, and something that helped lead Republicans to flip the state in November 2024.
“We kept our promise that we’re going to close down the American Southern border, shut off the flow of fentanyl and start prioritizing American workers over Mexican drug cartels, for a change,” Vance said. “That is a great accomplishment.”
The visit marked Vance’s first time in Pennsylvania since being sworn in on January 20th. He was accompanied by Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) from the 8th Congressional District, who reportedly faces a tough reelection bid in the 2026 midterms.
Vance took an upbeat and positive tone during his speech at Don’s Machine Shop, where he referenced the longtime owners that Vance hailed as a great American success story.
“It’s time to keep building, it’s time to keep working, and it’s time to make sure that those beautiful faces, these beautiful kids that I see in this audience, that they’re gonna have a better life than we had. That is the promise of America. And we’ll never stop fighting to give it to the next generation.”
