Trump hints at student debt plan in Dubuque rally

GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump in Dubuque. (photo by Sarah Beckman)
GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump in Dubuque. (photo by Sarah Beckman)

GOP front-runner Donald Trump was in Dubuque Tuesday night for a massive “Make America Great Again” rally. Though the city is usually known for its Democratic-leaning views, more than two thousand people showed up to hear the real estate mogul speak. Trump touched on his normal foreign policy ideas, such as militarizing in the Middle East and taking back jobs from China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. However, Trump was asked in the media press availability beforehand what his position on college student debt is and how he would fix thousands of Americans’ problems with student debt, in particular a response to Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton’s college affordability plan.

“We’re coming out with a plan in about four weeks and I think it’s going to make people very, very happy,” said Trump. “We have so many people, I’ve gone all over the country about what we’re going to do, and the ultimate answer is jobs. Whether it’s China or Mexico or Japan, they’re all taking our jobs. And so we’re going to have to bring back those jobs.”

Trump went on to say in his rally that he has personally spoken to Iowa students (though he would not name any students), and they have informed him of their massive student debt. Trump reiterated that he will bring back jobs to America for young adults.

“A lot of students can’t get jobs,” said Trump. “We don’t have jobs. They graduate and they don’t know what to do. And I think that’s why I’m leading in the polls…because I know how to negotiate to get back our jobs.”

None of Trump’s fellow contenders have outlined specific goals to combat the student debt crisis, though candidates on the other side of the ticket such as Clinton, Martin O’Malley, and Bernie Sanders have included student debt as a key focus of their campaigns. The only policy papers Trump has released are on his immigration plans, which he says he wants to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants back to their home countries “so fast your head will spin” he told reporters Tuesday night. The GOP’er has recently received significant negative feedback from Democrats for his immigration policies, as well as a few negative comments from fellow contenders.

Trump will host a rally in South Carolina today.