NORTH CHARLESTON -- President Donald Trump called the new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, produced at the North Charleston Boeing plant, an example of America producing more of its own products domestically and lessening its reliance on imports.
"It has to be much easier to manufacture in our country and much harder to leave," Trump said. "Our goal as a nation must be to rely less on imports and more on products made here in the U.S.A. Right here in the U.S.A."
The rollout event, which was held to showcase the new aircraft, gave Trump the opportunity to promote his "America First" agenda as he continues to work with major American companies to highlight job-creating accomplishments and admonish those that choose to move operations offshore.
"This is our mantra: ‘Buy American and hire American,'" Trump told the crowd of nearly 1,000 people.
The new "Dash 10," like the 787-8 and 787-9, is constructed out of carbon-fiber composite instead of aluminum. The lighter plane is more fuel-efficient and can carry up to 330 passengers across oceans.
The plane has a list price of $306 million, but airlines typically buy several planes at a time and negotiate discounts.
Trump took the stage after a massive door in the final assembly building opened to reveal another Boeing airplane, the president's Boeing 747 Air Force One, and the new 787-10. Gov. Henry McMaster who was the first statewide official to endorse Trump for president during the Republican primary last year called the day "the single best day in the history of South Carolina."
"Together these great people and this great company, and this great president are going to lead this country to greatness, strength and prosperity," McMaster said. "We will make America great again. We will make America greater than ever before!"
The Boeing plant in North Charleston, which has expanded considerably since opening in 2009, employs around 7,500 people.
