Pratt’s $2 billion pledge to boost US jobs

Aussie billionaire Anthony Pratt has met with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago to update the president on his US$2b job pledge.

President Donald Trump and Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt. Picture: Twitter

Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt has met up with Donald Trump while holidaying at the president’s Mar-a-Lago resort to update the US President on a US$2 billion dollar pledge he has gifted the US administration for the creation of manufacturing jobs.

Mr Pratt, who is our nation’s richest person, posted a photo of himself with the US President to Twitter just a few hours ago with a caption reading: “Day 2 Mar-a-Lago after I reported on progress of our $2B pledge to create 5,000 high paying American manufacturing jobs.”

Day 2 Mar-a-Lago After I reported on progress of our $2B pledge to create 5,000 high paying American manufacturing jobs pic.twitter.com/o2bm2uUsyz

— Anthony J Pratt (@anthonyjpratt2) December 28, 2017

Mr Pratt arrived yesterday to the exclusive Florida resort, which is owned by the Trump family and is where the President and his family are currently spending their festive holidays.

Earlier this year Mr Pratt pledged US$2 billion over the next 10 years to invest in the creation of manufacturing jobs in the US midwest.

The paper and packaging magnate is the executive chairman of Visy Industries and Pratt Industries United States, which runs various mills and plants in the US midwest.

Mr Pratt announced the pledge at the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea event in New York in May, which was met with a standing ovation from President Trump.

Mr Pratt, during a speech on stage, told Mr Trump he was making the decision because the president had made “America the greatest place in the world to manufacture”.

“Tonight I’d like to pledge another $US2bn over the next 10 years doubling our rate of investment to create an additional 5.000 high-paying manufacturing jobs mainly in the midwest,” Mr Pratt, who was seated beside First Lady Melania Trump at the dinner, said.

Mr Pratt has been open in his admiration for the US President, posting a tweet congratulating Mr Trump on his “great leadership” on Christmas Eve.

“Good morning @realDonaldTrump congratulations on great leadership as I’ve said in my Wall st journal full page advertisements,” the tweet read.

Good morning @realDonaldTrump congratulations on great leadership as I’ve said in my Wall st journal full page advertisements Anthony Pratt

— Anthony J Pratt (@anthonyjpratt2) December 24, 2017

Mr Pratt made over $400,000 betting on Mr Trump’s election victory last year, and has previously said you should “never bet against America”.