Former President Donald Trump focused on the economy Wednesday in what he called an “intellectual speech” where he outlined his plans for combating inflation.
“A lot of people are very devastated by what’s happened with inflation,” the Republican nominee for president said in a speech in Asheville, North Carolina. “So we’re doing this as an intellectual speech. You’re all intellectuals today.”
Trump, 78, went on to announce two new initiatives that he would undertake as president that said would “rapidly” bring prices down.
“On my first day back in the Oval Office, I will sign an executive order directing every cabinet secretary and agency head to use every tool and authority at their disposal to defeat inflation and to bring consumer prices rapidly down,” the 45th president said.
“It will be a whole of government effort to raise the standard of living and make American lives affordable again,” Trump added, noting that will instruct his cabinet that he expects “results within the first 100 days, or much sooner than that.”
The former president also pledged to work to cut energy prices by 50% within his first year in office, if elected.
“I am announcing today that, under my leadership, the US will commit to the ambitious goal of slashing energy and electricity prices by half, at least half,” Trump declared.
He noted that he hopes to achieve that objective “ within 12 months, at a maximum 18 months.”
