Go here to follow live coverage of the president's visit
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BLUE ASH, Ohio -- President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will arrive in Cincinnati Monday at about 1:30 p.m. via Air Force One, according to the White House.
The president will then visit a Sheffer Corporation in Blue Ash, a company that makes hydraulic and custom cylinders, where he will highlight the impact of the Republican tax plan he signed into law at the end of last year. He plans to deliver remarks on tax reform at 2:30 p.m.
The first lady will visit Children’s Hospital during Monday's trip.
Here's what you need to know.
Why Sheffer Corporation?
When lawmakers passed the Republican tax bill, the Sheffer Corporation in Blue Ash gave $1,000 bonuses to employees.
Now, President Trump is looking to highlight the effects of that tax bill, and he's planning to speak about it at Sheffer after his arrival.
He will speak from the business at 2:30 p.m.
CEOs from Ohio companies will be meeting the president at Sheffer, including:
- Jeff Norris of Sheffer Corporation, which gave its employees a $1,000 bonus.
- Greg Carmichael of Fifth Third Bancorp, which paid its more than 13,500 employees a $1,000 bonus and raised its minimum hourly wage to $15 per hour.
- Christopher Irion of e-Cycle, which paid its employees a $1,000 bonus.
- Matt Schron of Jergens Inc., which also paid its employees a $1,000 bonus.
Why Children's Hospital?
White House Director of Communications Stephanie Grisham said "the first lady knows that Ohio is one of the states hit hardest by the opioid crisis, so she is visiting Children's Hospital to speak with doctors and people on the ground about ways that she can help."
What else will the president talk about?
The White House has not released a list of topics Trump will discuss during his visit to Cincinnati. However, one possible topic beyond the effects of the Republican tax bill could be our region's opioid crisis.
Last October, Trump declared, "It's time to liberate our communities from this scourge of drug addiction."
Trump declared the opioid crisis a "public health emergency" that day. With the president visiting the Tri-State again Monday, many here are hoping he'll discuss that topic again. Local leaders like Hamilton County Health Commissioner Tim Ingram say the fight against opioid addiction takes money.
"We really need for the president to follow up with a clear plan ensuring adequate resources," Ingram said.
When did President Trump last visit Cincinnati?
Trump last visited Cincinnati on June 7, 2017, when he stopped by Rivertowne Marina in the East End to discuss a $1 trillion overhaul of the nation’s infrastructure.
Before that, his "Thank You" tour stop at U.S. Bank Arena gridlocked Downtown traffic and brought local freeways to a standstill during the evening rush hour on Dec. 1, 2016.
Speaking of traffic, what should I expect?
Specifics about the presidential motorcade's route are always kept confidential, but here are the roads that could be affected by President Trump's visit:
First, East Enders should be most vigilant throughout the day, as they should expect Wilmer Avenue and Wooster Road in the Lunken vicinity to be shut down both when the president arrives and readies to depart. These roads provide access to the municipal airport.
Redbank Road is also a connector between the two locations, in that it connects to Interstate 71.
This would be the most direct route. Commuters should expect shutdowns of I-71 between Red Bank and Pfeiffer roads while the motorcade is en route. Here's that route:
Secret Service could choose to avoid the interstate. In that case, Fairfax and Mariemont residents should expect shutdowns on Wooster Pike and Camargo and Plainville roads. Camargo Road runs up through Madeira and Indian Hill, so those who commute through those cities should be ready, as well.
How can I watch the president's trip?
WCPO will stream live video of the president's visit. The exact times of those streams have not been made official and will depend on what kind of access is given to members of the media.
We plan on streaming the president's arrival at Lunken Airport in the afternoon, as well as his visit to Sheffer Corporation. We will also stream live video from Chopper 9 to highlight any traffic issues the president's motorcade may cause.
You can follow along on WCPO's Facebook Page or on WCPO.com/LIVE.
Go to the Apple store or Google Play to download the WCPO news app to receive alerts on when our live streams begin and if there are any traffic issues you need to avoid.
WCPO's Pat LaFleur, James Leggate, Sarah Walsh, Maxim Alter and Lisa Smith contributed to this report.
