President Donald Trump is headed to North Texas on Thursday, where he is expected to use a visit to Peterbilt Motors’ Denton plant to promote his economic agenda and make the case that his policies are strengthening American manufacturing.
An administration official said Trump is scheduled to tour the facility and deliver remarks to workers as the White House steps up its economic messaging ahead of the midterm elections.
The Denton stop comes as Trump and his allies point to tax cuts, deregulation and trade policies as key pieces of the administration’s push to expand domestic production. That includes tariffs on heavy trucks imposed in late 2025, which the administration has promoted as a way to protect American manufacturers from foreign competition.
In a statement ahead of the visit, a White House spokesman said Trump will tour the plant “to tout his pro-growth economic agenda that has created more than one million private-sector jobs, sparked trillions in new investments, lowered taxes, and reshored key manufacturing back to the United States.”
“The President’s America First trade agenda is driving a manufacturing renaissance that will continue paying dividends for the great state of Texas and Americans across the country,” the spokesman said.
Peterbilt plant takes center stage
Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, is expected to join Trump during the Denton visit.
According to Jackson’s office, Peterbilt parent company Paccar has added more than 1,000 jobs at the Denton facility and more than 2,000 jobs nationwide. The company’s Peterbilt and Kenworth brands are responsible for trucks that move approximately 30 percent of the nation’s freight.
“President Trump is delivering on his promise to put American workers and American manufacturing first,” Jackson said. “Right here in Texas, we’re seeing what happens when we cut red tape, unleash American industry, and stand up for our workers.”
Jackson pointed to Paccar’s employment growth as evidence that the administration’s policies are helping manufacturers expand.
“The thousands of jobs created by Paccar are proof that America is open for business again, and I’m proud to stand with President Trump as we continue bringing jobs, investment, and critical manufacturing back home,” Jackson said.
Economy remains a major midterm issue
The White House has highlighted billions of dollars in pledged industrial investment and gains in construction employment as evidence that Trump’s economic policies are working.
Manufacturing, however, remains an important part of the broader debate over the economy. Federal labor statistics have continued to fuel discussion over the sector’s overall performance since Trump returned to office, giving both the administration and its critics plenty to argue about as voters prepare for the midterms.
Thursday’s visit gives Trump an opportunity to make that argument from a factory floor rather than a campaign stage, with one of North Texas’ best-known manufacturing operations serving as the backdrop.
The president was last in North Texas in September for the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas. During that trip, he also visited the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington.
Exact arrival and departure times for Thursday’s trip have not been announced, and it remains unclear what effect the presidential motorcade could have on traffic around Denton.
Weather could also be a factor. North Texas is expected to face storms later this week, bringing the possibility of heavy rain and flooding. As of Tuesday, however, there had been no indication that the forecast would change Trump’s schedule.
