Trump campaigns with Mackenzie at Mack Trucks plant affected by tariff layoffs

(This article was updated at 8:28 p.m., June 23, 2026, to include additional information from Mack Trucks.)

Speaking at the Mack Trucks facility near Allentown, where the company warned of tariff-induced layoffs a year ago, President Donald Trump campaigned Tuesday for a Republican congressman who Democrats have identified as vulnerable in November. 

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie briefly took the stage alongside Trump in front of a backdrop of workers wearing high-visibility vests at the Mack Trucks assembly plant in Macungie, Lehigh County. 

Mackenzie, first elected to Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District in 2024, faces Democratic challenger Bob Brooks, president of the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association, in this November’s election.

Trump spoke for nearly an hour about the 2024 election, the economy, his foreign trade strategy, the war against Iran, Mack’s century-long history of building trucks in the Lehigh Valley and the economy before recognizing Republican members of Congress in attendance including Reps. Dan Meuser, Lloyd Smucker and John Joyce.

“And these guys are all in good shape. We got to get Ryan Mackenzie elected,” Trump said.  

Mackenzie’s district is one of dozens identified as critical by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in its effort to flip three seats and retake the majority in the House. In addition to Mackenzie, the committee is focusing on Pennsylvania GOP Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1st District), Rob Bresnahan (R-8th District) and Scott Perry (R-10th District).

When he introduced Mackenzie, Trump urged him to take a cue from U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) and speak briefly. 

“Run up here, Ryan, fast,” Trump said. “Nobody wants to hear you. Come on, just run. Nobody wants to hear you, Ryan. Do what David did. He got up for one minute.”

Mackenzie thanked him for visiting the Lehigh Valley, highlighting the workers at Mack and the work Trump does “for our veterans, our first responders, and everybody across this country to continue to maintain America as the greatest country in the world.” 

“You are the president that is fighting for all Americans,” Mackenzie said.

For Mackenzie, the event was also a chance to tout $47 million in funding awarded to Mack to continue building the M917A3 Heavy Dump Truck at the Macungie facility. The sum is part of a five-year contract awarded in June 2025 to Mack Defense for up to 450 trucks, worth up to $221.8 million.

“Military readiness depends on reliable logistical support that enables our servicemembers to get the job done. Nobody is better prepared to deliver it than workers right here in the Lehigh Valley,” Mackenzie said, according to a news release from Mack. 

During his wide-ranging talk, Trump suggested Mack was working to land a government contract for 15,000 trucks. 

“That’s a lot of trucks, but that’s what this is all about. It’s greatness,” Trump said. “You built this country, and you are the ones who are making America great again.”

A Mack spokesperson did not respond to an inquiry from the Capital-Star about Trump’s claim.

Trump touted his foreign trade policy, which includes 50% tariffs on foreign copper, aluminum and steel; and 100% or greater tariffs on finished goods from dozens of nations.

“For decades, the workers of this commonwealth watched globalist politicians let other countries rip you off and close your factories, rob your jobs, take them away to foreign land. Then I came along, we stopped it very quickly,” Trump said.

After Trump announced the tariff strategy shortly after taking office in 2025, Mack announced it would lay off between 250 and 350 workers at the Macungie plant due to economic uncertainty caused by the tariffs. The company ultimately laid off about 170 people and recalled nearly 150 in the second half of 2025.

“Heavy-duty truck orders in 2025 were negatively affected by market uncertainty about freight rates and demand, possible regulatory changes and the impact of tariffs,” Mack spokesperson Kimberly Pupillo said Tuesday. “Anyone laid off last year has already been given the opportunity to come back.”

The Macungie facility now employs 2,800 people, down from 3,050 in April 2025, when the layoffs were announced.