U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) on Friday gave a hopeful prognostication for Alabama's future in the case of another Donald Trump presidency should he win the presidential election coming up in a few short weeks.
Trump has pulled ahead in recent polls, while his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, has shown significant slippage in the wake of several public appearances that many viewed as disastrous for the Democratic ticket.
While Alabama will almost certainly overwhelmingly vote for Trump during the November 5 general election, his second term is by no means guaranteed.
In a recent appearance on Talk 93.1, "News and Views" with Joey Clark, Britt laid out several ways she believed another Trump presidency would positively affect the state.
Referencing a cause she has championed vociferously, Britt claimed Trump would immediately handle the Mexican government's attempt at a hostile takeover of an Alabama-based company.
Since 2022, the Mexican government has targeted the Alabama-based Vulcan Materials Company on multiple occasions, twice with a military invasion and occupation of the company's property. Mexican President Lopez Obrador has also threatened to forcibly take over the company's port and limestone quarry, forcing their operations out of Mexico multiple times despite its consistent presence in the country for over 35 years.
In July, the Mexico administration declared Vulcan's land and port a naturally protected area. This would rob Vulcan of its rights to the land and ability to operate the port. This is the latest in a long line of attempts by the Mexican Government to take over the property.
Britt said the Vulcan harassment would be "done" under a Trump presidency and expressed frustration at the lack of attention paid to the issue by Harris and President Joe Biden.
"That is done," Britt said. "And that's the difference; we can't even get the Biden administration – Biden/Harris administration – to acknowledge and engage in it in the way that we need them to. And think about this: how in the world are you going to tell any company that it should relocate in Mexico and create jobs and opportunity for the people there if you know that they don't respect private property? They will steal your company and steal everything that you've invested. So no, I don't think anyone should move there until you get these things sorted out. But people respond to strength. This is exactly what we're seeing across the globe."
She continued, "So I think Vulcan, taken care of immediately. And I also think that that helps every, not just our Alabama company, every American company. When they know that their president has their back, it's a game changer in dealing with other countries."
Another major federal controversy directly affecting Alabama was the Biden administration's decision to renege on a Trump-era deal to keep the U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM) in Colorado instead of moving to Huntsville.
In July 2023, the Biden administration announced the headquarters for SPACECOM would remain in Colorado, reversing a Trump-era decision to move the HQ to the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. U.S. Air Force surveys have repeatedly ranked Huntsville as the top choice for SPACECOM, while Colorado was several spaces down the list.
The administration's decision has drawn fierce condemnation from state and federal lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and leadership in Alabama's executive and judicial branches.
Alabama and Colorado congressional delegations have traded accusations that both Trump and Biden made their decision to reward a state that voted for them in the presidential election.
Britt continued with that sentiment, accusing Biden of "playing politics" with SPACECOM.
"Now, this is something we've got to give credit to the entire Alabama delegation," Britt said. "Every single person, whether it was [U.S. Reps.] Terri Sewell, Mike Rogers, Robert Aderholt, you name it. Everyone was working diligently to use their post, and their position, and their committee assignment to make sure that we were pushing so that could be a reality. And that was a great bipartisan, bicameral effort. And what we did was put language in various bills that made sure that that could be a reality if, in fact, Trump comes back into office."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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