Remarks at the 2024 Republican National Convention - July 15, 2024

Good evening, and what a great evening it is.

I am Marsha Blackburn from the great state of Tennessee. [cheers]

And yes, last week I did have the honor of chairing the Republican Platform Committee. We produced a different kind of platform, one that is dedicated to the forgotten men and women of America.

People like Brad Bordeaux, a small businessman from White Bluff, Tennessee. Brad leads Bordeaux Metals. By the end of the Obama-Biden administration, high taxes, massive government spending, and overregulation almost put him out of business.

But things changed when we elected Donald Trump. Thanks to President Trump’s tax and regulation cuts, Brad and those who worked for him prospered. He hired new workers, expanded the business. Life was good and getting better.

But Bidenomics was a four-letter word for Bordeaux Metals. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, their high inflation, high interest, high taxes, and Green New Scam are destroying small businesses.

Biden and Harris outsourced our energy supply, driving electricity prices up over 29%. When they – Joe and Kamala – walked into office, gas was $2.40 a gallon. Today it is $3.54. [boos]

Our platform says we will make America energy dominant. [applause] You know—and let me hear you now—you know who will make that happen—Donald Trump. [cheers]

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris also think that small business owners are wealthy and they should pay their fair share. We all know that’s left-wing code for “you gotta pay more taxes.”

Well, in Tennessee, I led the fight against a proposed state income tax. We killed that thing. We are income-tax free in Tennessee.

So when Donald Trump was president, I helped him spread economic prosperity with the largest tax cut in American history. Now President Trump will make those tax cuts permanent. [applause]

But if Joe and Kamala are re-elected, they say they’re going to let them expire. That will be the biggest tax increase in American history. [boos]

Our party’s platform commits to making the Trump tax cuts permanent, and you know who will return us to an era of prosperity—Donald Trump. [applause]

Now, Joe and Kamala, bless their hearts, they couldn’t help themselves. They hired 85,000 new IRS agents to harass hardworking Americans. [boos] IRS penalties have surged 300%, and they’re not on big corporations. They’re on gig workers, free-lancers, small business owners and the self-employed.

Let me ask you a question. Who is going to look at those 85,000 IRS agents and say, “You’re fired!” Donald Trump! [cheers]

Under Biden and Harris, people are also crushed by more regulations than in any time since Jimmy Carter. Their regulations aren’t just burdensome, often they include racist DEI requirements. Many small businesses are going bankrupt. Some are throwing up their hands in disgust.

Our party’s platform pledges seven times to cut regulations that are killing jobs and costing you thousands of dollars.

Now, you know who will slash that red tape and return this country to economic greatness? Donald Trump. [cheers]

The harmful Biden-Harris policies are why so many small business owners, like Shana Gray. She is a Black female owner of Gray Jett Cafe, right here in Milwaukee. She voted for Biden in 2020, and in ’24 she is voting for President Donald Trump. [cheers]

Our platform is a promise to people like Shana, people like Brad, and President Trump will keep his promises, just like he did the first time.

So I’ve got one more question for you—who should be the next president of the United States? Donald Trump!

God bless you, protect you, and God bless and protect the United States. Thank you.

PBS NewsHour. “WATCH: Sen. Marsha Blackburn speaks at 2024 Republican National Convention | 2024 RNC Night 1.” YouTube video, 6:39. July 15, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDg0xzPHv98