MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- Ivanka Trump, the daughter of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, toured Middletown Tube Works with CEO Angie Phillips Thursday afternoon.
Middletown Tube Works produces welded steel tube used in automobile, appliance and HVAC manufacturing.
After the tour, Trump sat with a hand-picked group of women and talked about some of her father's positions.
"Really, all issues are women's issues," Trump said.
Members of the panel talked about regulations on businesses. Trump told the panel that her father wanted to ease regulations that "make it difficult to do business."
"Jobs are a priority," she said, speaking about issues important to Donald Trump. "Common sense trade deals, advocating for America first, understanding the broader context of which we now are doing business with; and ensuring that we have a tax code and tax rates that enable us to be competitive with the world at large."
Outside the event, Paul Gomia of the Butler County Democratic Party wanted to remind everyone in Middletown, a steel town, that when it came time for Donald Trump, he bought his steel from China.
"My concern is there's a big thing about him using China steel in New York," Gomia said. "All of his products are made overseas, so I think it's hypocritical to talk about small business, and especially steel businesses, because they are phony in my mind, and I think they are just trying to sucker some votes."
Ivanka Trump didn't take any questions from reporters, but Phillips responded to the criticism.
"All of us are buying offshore because it's the cheapest thing to get," she said. "That's the only way we can stay competitive, and that's partly because we're in an atmosphere … of heavy regulation and an environment of heavy taxation."
While she was in the area, Trump also met with Hamilton County Republican leaders.
Thank for visiting @HamCoGOP @IvankaTrump. An honor to meet you. Cincinnati is @realDonaldTrump country! pic.twitter.com/4gCXHHMViG
— Alex Triantafilou (@ChairmanAlex) October 6, 2016
Donald Trump will hold his first public campaign rally in Cincinnati on Oct. 13.
