President Trump to visit Cincinnati area to outline vision for overhauling infrastructure

CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) - President Donald Trump on Wednesday will be in the Cincinnati area as part of a week-long effort to lay out his vision to overhaul the country's aging roads, bridges and airports.

The White House will spend the week refocusing attention on a core promise to launch a massive $1 trillion infrastructure effort which could get some Democrats on board but encounter resistance from fiscal conservatives.

Trump will kick-off his push called "infrastructure week" Monday in the Rose Garden proposing privatizing air traffic control, according to White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.

The president's trip to Ohio will reportedly focus on the efficacy of inland waterways and revamping dams that are critical to the agriculture industry. However, it is unclear if the president will endorse any specific projects in the Cincinnati area.

A major infrastructure effort could violate the administration's pledge to crackdown on so-called sanctuary cities. Even if Cincinnati does not see new federal money flow into infrastructure, a lot of America's largest cities have challenged the president's vague threats.

Trump in January issued an executive order declaring a policy of cutting off jurisdictions that refuse to assist federal immigration authorities. The order puts transportation projects and other efforts on the chopping block which could have rippling effects across the nation but could also be contradictory to the president pivoting to sealing an infrastructure deal.

The full throttle infrastructure push — which includes a speech at the Ohio River, comes amid a potentially damning testimony from former FBI director, James Comey on Thursday.

Washington is consumed by anticipation this week with speculation on whether Comey's appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee about being pressured by Trump to terminate an investigation into Russia's ties with White House associates will further derail the administration.

So far the White House has offered few specifics on infrastructure outside of a six page fact sheet that outlined $200 billion in federal spending over the next decade on projects such as bridges, railroads and expanding broadband.

The president's initial outline in his proposed budget only offered a fractional down payment on revitalizing the country's aging infrastructure. Trump would instead rely on a combination of private investments and city and state tax revenue to fund the rest of it, a dramatic departure from President Dwight Eisenhower's interstate highway project the plan cites as inspiration.

It's unknown if President Trump's event will be open to the public. FOX19 NOW will update this story when the White House finalizes when and where the president will deliver his announcement.

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