Alabama State House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen is defending President Donald Trump’s economic policies when it comes to tariffs and energy.
During a recent interview at a Business Council of Alabama (BCA) Legislative Issue Briefing, Stadthagen was asked how recent decisions by the Trump administration will affect Alabama’s economy.
“You know, our president has surrounded himself with a phenomenal team, and they have broke down our economy and what we need to do to make America better for our kids and next generations,” Stadthagen said. “I think what we have been positioned is other countries are profiting more than we are, and they are doing things that we should be doing. So any time that you do what he’s doing now is going to be painful, but at the end of the day, trying to bring those industries to Alabama and for us to thrive and to be a strong nation with our working force again.”
The majority leader said the country learned a lesson from the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
“During COVID I think the most surprising thing to all of us was our pharmaceuticals,” he argued, “when we found out that every bit of our pharmaceuticals are made overseas, you know, and we’re like, ‘How can this be?’ Well, it’s more profitable for those companies to do that, right? So I think stuff like that is what’s going to bring the good stuff back to our country, and we will thrive at the end of the day.”
Stadthagen also highlighted Trump’s energy policies and how that will directly help the Yellowhammer State.
“Yeah, I think it benefits us greatly,” he explained. “We’ve got, I mean, the coal you know, goodness gracious. And drill, baby drill. We all heard that during campaign. I think being self dependent on our energy source and given our utility companies free range to let’s go and be the dominance factor of the state, not only in the country…I think that’s what we should’ve done years and years ago.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
