The “horrific” attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump is a wake-up call for the US to come together and solve the issues dividing the country, says Indiana governor Eric Holcomb.

Two days after the shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, the Republican spoke to fDi about how the incident presents an opportunity to collaborate more on national priorities, the power of bipartisan legislation and why the Midwestern state is banning Chinese land ownership on security grounds.  

Q: What’s your view on the assassination attempt on Donald Trump over the weekend and what do you hope can come from it?

It was horrific to watch, and I’m so thankful that former President Trump is alive and back at it. I think this presents a unique opportunity for the former president, the current president and the electorate to seek a better way to focus on solving the issues that divide us. The $2tn deficit and national debt are not getting smaller. The need for more talented workers and legal immigration is not going away. And yet, we need to make sure that illegal immigration is not occurring at the rate it has over recent years.

We have an opportunity now to say, “We need a reset here”. This country … is being challenged, and we’re not going to let those who seek to [thwart] its end goal and values we stand for win. That will require us to step forward with model conduct that seeks to persuade, not divide.   

Q: Recent bipartisan efforts include the Chips Act and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). How big a role have these incentives played in spurring Indiana’s large electric vehicle and semiconductor projects in recent years?

Very early on I applauded the Chips Act to address the nation’s laggard status when it came to semiconductor production, and its [impact] on national and economic security. It has lived up to its billing and we’re seeing investment that I don’t think would have happened without it. 

Regarding the IRA, we were doing things and making investments in Indiana prior to that act. The attention was already on Indiana. Now, in every last one of my days left in office [Mr Holcomb cannot run for another term as governor in the November 2024 election] I want to make sure we get our fair share of those dollars to make sure that Indiana is competing 10 years from now.  

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Q: Indiana recently banned Chinese ownership of farmland in the state. Why, and what Chinese investment does the state welcome?

We’re a state that has long been an outspoken proponent of free and fair trade relationships, and also one that takes into account our national relations regardless of which federal administration is in power. We want to make sure that our national military assets are protected, meaning they’re not encroached upon [especially] by folks who are running counter to our national relationships. 

We’ll continue to promote Indiana as a place that seeks to grow, understanding that there are private sector-driven transactions going on right now [between] Indiana and places all over the world, including China. But when it is outside that parameter, then Indiana has sought to make sure we protect our interests. So in response to international incidents — maybe it’s a balloon flying over our country or a relationship with Putin and Russia who has invaded a sovereign country — we have sought to make sure we draw a line.

Q: What’s your message to any foreign firms considering investing in Indiana but wary of uncertainties surrounding the November elections?

It’s certainly understandable. If you turn on any channel, reality smacks you in the face that we live in a world of uncertainty. But amid all that upheaval and transition, over the past eight years — during two different [national] administrations which wore different political jerseys — we continued to grow and sought to work with partners even from opposite parties. 

Obviously, most people [overseas] think of the shores of the US. We think of the core of the US as being where we make things, grow things and ship things. That’s why you see five OEMs —  Stellantis, General Motors, Hyundai, Toyota and Subaru — making investments in Indiana here with the [green] transition in mind. We want to be part of the global marketplace. 

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

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