Former President Donald Trump made his first official 2024 campaign visit to Iowa on Monday with a speech on the topic of education.
The event, dubbed the America First Education Policy Speech, will highlight ways the former president intends to tackle the education establishment and improve failing public school systems around the country.
As for what topics Trump specifically intends to discuss, he recently took up the cause of abolishing the Department of Education, a rallying cry of many conservatives for years who feel that the federal government has too much influence on public schools via federal funding.
America First Education Policy Speech
When: Monday, March 13, 2023
Where: Adler Theatre in Davenport, Iowa (Directions)
Full Video: Watch Below
Full Video – Trump Education Speech (Mar. 13)
Here is the full video of Trump’s education policy remarks from Davenport, Iowa, on March 13.
Event Schedule
Times below are local Davenport, Iowa, time
- 3:00 pm CT – Doors Open
- 6:15 pm CT – Speech from former President Trump
As mentioned above, it’s unclear what Trump’s education platform will look like for his 2024 campaign, but one sizable policy plank will likely be a part of his education reform agenda:
Former President Donald Trump revealed Saturday that he plans to shut down the Department of Education if he retakes the White House in 2024.
Axing the Department of Education is part of an education platform Mr. Trump will announce on March 13, he told reporters at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
“It’s time,” Mr. Trump said. “Close it up. When you look at the list of countries, we’re always at the bottom [on education]. We spend more money per pupil and we’re always at the bottom of a list of 40 countries. And we should close it up and let local areas, and frankly, states, handle education.”
Republicans have long been at odds with the Department of Education since President Carter created a cabinet-level education secretary. His successor, President Reagan, advocated for eliminating the department two years after its creation.
As with all federal agencies, the goals start rather benign and then grow in unintended ways. The Department of Education doesn’t explicitly set curriculum or school policies for state-run public schools, but the department does control a lot of federal money. For example, schools may decide to try and buck the agency but the result could be the loss of millions of dollars in federal funding for various school programs.
It’s in this regard that the Department of Education becomes a de facto voting member of school boards and school administrations around the country. While Trump wouldn’t be the first Republican to advocate for the elimination of the department, he would be one of the loudest and most recent voices adding his name to the effort.
Trump is expected to speak around 7:15 pm ET (6:15 pm CT) in Davenport.
Watch the live stream above and follow the Trump events page for all upcoming campaign stops and rallies.
