Derrick Van Orden Invites Prince William to Wisconsin

I am formally inviting William to Wisconsin to roll heavy on some Milwaukee Iron, eat some cheese curds, and have a beer with his fellow bikers.

Kate of course is also welcome. https://t.co/oCZIzZe7pe

— Derrick Van Orden (@derrickvanorden) June 18, 2026

Derrick Van Orden Rides Harley From Wisconsin to DC

Guess who’s driving 951.8 miles from Wisconsin to DC on a Harley-Davidson 👀 pic.twitter.com/6MqKswihP4

— Rep. Derrick Van Orden Press Office (@RepVanOrden) November 11, 2025

Rep. Derrick Van Orden riding from Wisconsin to DC on Harley-Davidson amid flight delays https://t.co/Rqhht83DTX

— The Hill (@thehill) November 12, 2025

Rep. Derrick Van Orden drove his motorcycle more than 900 miles from Wisconsin to Washington, D.C. to avoid air travel chaos.https://t.co/Vs2jLGlYeA

— NOTUS (@NOTUSreports) November 12, 2025

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) rode his motorcycle halfway across the country to make it back to Washington and vote on the government funding bill, avoiding flight delays caused by the ongoing shutdown. pic.twitter.com/N9wabI9cgo

— Reshad Hudson (@ReshadHudson) November 12, 2025

We’re so back 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/mLj1XkzfDR

— Rep. Derrick Van Orden Press Office (@RepVanOrden) November 12, 2025

This is a very Wisconsin thing to do.

Harley Homecoming 2023

Day 1 of #HarleyDavidson Homecoming was incredible. Riders and motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the world gathered at the @hdmuseum to kick off the festival of the summer in celebration of our 120th Anniversary. We’re just getting started & today is going to be huge. #HD120 pic.twitter.com/aNuIh9WrH8

— Harley-Davidson (@harleydavidson) July 14, 2023

This weekend, in case you somehow missed ithttps://t.co/XNZIEM1PsD

— Milwaukee Record (@milwaukeerecord) July 14, 2023

Harley Homecoming 2023

What do tickets cost for the 2023 Harley Davidson Homecoming? https://t.co/VCgatQVEDH pic.twitter.com/68MLKpkSNF

— New York Post (@nypost) July 10, 2023

From the New York Post:

The biker birthday party of the year is going down in Milwaukee, WI.

On July 14-15, legendary motorcycle company Harley Davidson will ring in its 120th year of existence with the Harley Davidson Homecoming at the famed Veterans Park.

And they’re bringing in some big names to celebrate the occasion.

To kick things off on Friday, Green Day, The Cult, Phantogram, KennyHoopla and Abby Jeanne will rock the park.

Then, come Saturday, Foo Fighters, Cody Jinks, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, White Reaper and Ghost Hounds bring it home.

Harley-Davidson Execs and Leaders at the White House

.@POTUS and I enjoyed welcoming @harleydavidson execs & union leaders to the @WhiteHouse to discuss keeping America's manufacturing strong. pic.twitter.com/EScD4VcsGm

— Vice President Pence (@VP) February 2, 2017

I'm glad to see that Harley executives and union leaders weren't afraid to be seen with President Trump and Vice President Pence. I see Reince Priebus is there, too. Yeah, Wisconsin!

It appears that Harley is trying to undo some of the damage of the cancelled Trump event in Wisconsin.

I know Harley denies the CNN story that an event was even scheduled and its alleged cancellation was due to fear of protests.

Whatever.

Trump and Pence did Harley a favor.

Harley-Davidson and Trump Milwaukee Visit

Harley-Davidson is in damage control mode.

Love for freedom is the bond we all share. This is not a partisan idea. If you agree, like and retweet. #UnitedWeRoll pic.twitter.com/2oJYIppMKU

— Harley-Davidson (@harleydavidson) January 31, 2017

What is this about?

Harley cancelled a planned visit from President Trump scheduled for this Thursday.

Trump trip canceled; Harley-Davidson wasn't comfortable with likely protests - https://t.co/w8UwDV7gJn https://t.co/N16k2QFjdF

— John Aravosis (@aravosis) February 1, 2017

From CNN:

President Donald Trump will not head to Milwaukee for a previously scheduled visit of a Harley-Davidson factory after the company decided it wasn't comfortable hosting him amid planned protests, an administration official said Tuesday.

Trump had been scheduled to tour the factory Thursday where he also planned to sign executive orders related to American manufacturing.

The visit had not been publicly announced, but White House staffers were already on the ground in Milwaukee setting up for Trump's planned visit to the factory on Thursday.

Harley hasn't screwed up this badly since the Elton John debacle of the 100th anniversary celebration.

We in Wisconsin have seen how crazed the Leftist protesters get. It wasn't long ago when they occupied our Capitol and did a lot of damage.

We've experienced the insanity of the protesters. I can understand why Harley wants to avoid it. However, it's a cowardly move.

Of course, the Leftists are considering this a victory, and to a certain extent, it is.

Ha ha ha 😂😂😂
Trump cancelled a trip to Harley davidson, in Milwaukee
DUE TO PROTESTS!!!
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏#TheResistance

— WeThePeople🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@PrincessBravato) January 31, 2017

HAHA Trump was going to visit a Harley Davidson factory and had to cancel because of #MuslimBan protests there.
Keep it up, guys.

— k8 (@rolling_2) January 31, 2017

What's crazy is these Leftists aren't Harley's market. They aren't their customers, but they care more about bowing to them then remaining true to their loyal riders.

Trump in Milwaukee on Thursday

The president of the United States will be in Milwaukee on Thursday.

From CBS 58:

According to CNN, President Trump is expected to make a visit to Milwaukee on Thursday, February 2. The purpose of the visit will be to deliver an economic address highlighting manufacturing.

An exact location for the event has not been made public.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

(Yikes! The Journal Sentinel website looks like USA Today. It's been a while since I've been to the site.)

Sources say the Trump team has been scouting locations ahead of a tentatively planned visit to the Milwaukee area on Thursday. Among the places under consideration are State Fair Park and the Harley-Davidson Museum.

Trump is scheduled to attend the National Prayer Breakfast at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning — an annual event hosted by the U.S. Congress and The Fellowship Foundation. Later that day, the first-term Republican president would then make his first trip to Wisconsin since taking office. Trump was the first Republican presidential candidate to win the popular vote in Wisconsin since 1984.

A time for Trump's Milwaukee visit has not yet been determined.

Last week, Trump tweeted that he plans to announce his nominee for a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday.

There's speculation that the purpose of Trump's visit will be to announce U.S. Appeals Court Judge Diane Sykes as his Supreme Court selection.

Why speculate?

We'll learn if/when Trump will be in Milwaukee on Thursday when it's announced by the White House.

If it turns out that a Milwaukee visit is because Diane Sykes is his SCOTUS choice, she is in my prayers because the Leftists/Democrats have gone completely nuts.

Harley-Davidson 110th Parade (Video)

FOX6 has video of Saturday's Harley-Davidson 110th anniversary parade here.

It's great that FOX6 provides the video online of its broadcast of the parade.

While the video is nice to watch, it was much more fun being there. It was a beautiful morning and a great time.

Happy 110th, Harley-Davidson!

Harley-Davidson 110th Anniversary

They're ba-ack! And I love it!



In honor of the celebration of H-D's 110th, Marlon Brando in The Wild One:

MILDRED: Hey, Johnny, what are you rebelling against?

JOHNNY: Whaddaya got?

Paul Ryan, Tommy Thompson: Harley Museum Event

Paul Ryan Will Host Reception with Tommy Thompson in Milwaukee

Madison, WI - On Sunday, October 14, less than a month from Election Day, Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan will return home to Wisconsin to host a reception for former Governor Tommy Thompson in support of his bid for the United States Senate. The event will kick off at 3:30 PM and will be held at the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee.

"I am proud to have Congressman Ryan help rally the people of our great state on my behalf," said Thompson. "From the moment Paul was elected to Congress, I knew he would shake up the status quo in Washington to get things done the 'Wisconsin Way'. Since then, Paul has made a name for himself as a commonsense reformer, and instead of watching as our nation tips closer to the fiscal brink, he has stepped up with solutions to the problems our nation is facing. I know the people of Wisconsin will welcome Paul home as warmly as I do because they share our vision of responsible reforms, lower taxes and reducing government spending - a vision that will build a stronger and more prosperous America."

Senator Tommy Thompson and Vice President Paul Ryan - To quote Paul Ryan, "We can do this!"

Harley, the Wauwatosa Plant, and the Recession

There's good news and there's bad news.

First, the bad news...

From Dan O'Donnell, 620 WTMJ:

Harley-Davidson, Inc. will close its facility in Wauwatosa by Sept. 25, according to a filing with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. An estimated 50 employees will be laid off, and TODAY'S TMJ 4 has learned that some of those layoffs could be permanent.

Harley said earlier this year that it expected to cut about 600 jobs in Wisconsin, many of them from the Wauwatosa facility and distribution center in Franklin.

The Wauwatosa facility will be shut down for the entire fourth quarter of this fiscal year and could remain closed even longer.

Don't let that bring you down. There's good news! The recession is over!

Worst recession since 1930s appears to be over

A new government survey finds the vast majority of the country reporting economic activity is stabilizing or improving, as the worst recession since the 1930s appears to be over.

The Federal Reserve's snapshot of economic conditions backs predictions by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and most other analysts that the economy has started to grow again in the current quarter.

Millions of Americans aren't celebrating.

Jobless plight growing longer

Most economists expect the national unemployment rate, now 9.7 percent, to top 10 percent before peaking next year.

Yeah, but the recession is over!

Celebrate!

Harley: Job Losses

Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary, Downtown Milwaukee, August 30, 2008

Obama is nuts to suggest that his disastrous stimulus is working.

Was this part of the plan?

President Barack Obama on Tuesday declined to predict how high unemployment will climb but made clear he expects it to keep worsening for a while as hiring lags behind other signs of economic recovery.

"How employment numbers are going to respond is not year clear," the president said on a day when he was headed to Michigan, home of a particularly battered economy. "My expectation is that we will probably continue to see unemployment tick up for several months."

The unemployment rate stands at 9.5 percent, the highest in 26 years.

...More than 2 million jobs have been lost since Congress passed Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus package. Without that government intervention, Obama said, states like Michigan would be even worse shape because they would have had to lay off more teachers, firefighters and other workers.

The White House has been criticized for being overly rosy about employment projections. Just 10 days before taking office, Obama's top economic advisers released a report predicting unemployment would remain at 8 percent or below through this year if an economic stimulus plan won congressional approval.

Instead, it is headed toward double digits.

What a load!

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Nearly half of the 1,000 job cuts announced by Harley-Davidson Inc. on Thursday will come from Wisconsin, the company says.

Of the 1,000 jobs to be eliminated, about 480 will come from Wisconsin, including the elimination of 300 hourly production positions.

About 180 salaried employees will lose their jobs here, mostly at the company headquarters.

The production of Harley-Davidson Sportster engines in Wauwatosa will be shut down for about 14 weeks late this year, including the company's entire fourth quarter.

The news comes as Harley-Davidson said its second-quarter profit fell 91%.

Harley said Thursday its earnings for the quarter ended June 28 fell to $19.8 million, or 8 cents per share, from $222.8 million, or 95 cents per share, in the same quarter in 2008.

Revenue declined 27% to $1.15 billion.

The results included two non-cash charges related to the company's motorcycle financing division. Harley did not provide results excluding those charges, but Deutsche Bank analyst Rod Lache said adjusted earnings came to 27 cents per share.

In a news release Thursday, the company said it will implement an employee reduction this year of approximately 700 positions in the hourly production workforce and will reduce its non-production workforce, primarily salaried employees, by 300 additional positions.

Read Harley's press release here.

Obama's plans to spread the wealth around have had catastrophic consequences.

You don't tax your way out of a recession. His moves have deepened the economic woes. He owns this economy. It's his.

Obama is killing Harley because he's killing the free market.

These job losses are of Obama's making. He didn't inherit this mess. He made it.

It makes me sick.

Harley's Cutbacks

A lot has changed since that beautiful Labor Day weekend when Milwaukee hosted the Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary Celebration.

Press Release

Milwaukee, Wis. (January 23, 2009) - Harley-Davidson Inc. (NYSE:HOG) reported decreased revenue, net income and earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the year-ago quarter. The Company said it plans lower motorcycle shipments in 2009 and made public its overall strategy to deal with the current economic environment.

“We have a strong core business anchored by a uniquely powerful brand, but we are certainly not immune to the current economic conditions,” said Jim Ziemer, Chief Executive Officer, Harley-Davidson Inc. “We have a clear strategy to not only deal with the economic conditions, but also strengthen our long-term operations and financial results. We are executing that strategy with confidence and conviction.”

Read the complete release.

Here's how the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the news:

Harley-Davidson Inc. says it will cut 1,100 jobs over two years and scale back its operations as its fourth-quarter earnings fell amid the slowing motorcycle market.

Harley says it will consolidate two engine and transmission plants in Milwaukee into its Menomonee Falls plant. It will close a distribution facility in Franklin and shrink its paint and frame operations in York, Pa.

The company also says it will end its domestic transportation fleet and plans a 10% to 13% reduction in motorcycle shipments for 2009.

In a news release this morning, Harley said earnings fell 58% to $77.8 million, or 34 cents per share, from $186.1 million, or 78 cents per share, last year. Sales fell 6.8% to $1.29 billion.

Analysts expected earnings of 57 cents per share on sales of $1.29 billion.

Harley shares have taken a beating in recent months amid declining motorcycle sales tethered to sinking consumer confidence.

CEO Jim Ziemer recently announced that he will retire sometime in 2009. Earlier this month, Sy Naqvi, president of Harley-Davidson Financial Services, announced his resignation effectively immediately.

Analysts see considerable downside from the dual impact of declining motorcycle sales and tightened credit markets.

Until recently, international sales had been a bright spot for Harley. But a slowdown in the global economy, coupled with a strengthened U.S. dollar, has put a damper on overseas sales.

I thought Barack Obama promised to save or create three to four million jobs.

Where is he?

Surely the messiah can make this all better.

Actually, I don't think Obama can. He'd be wise to back off his proposed disastrous tax hikes, to make it clear to Americans that he isn't going to pick their pockets. He should admit that he was completely misguided when he made those campaign promises to punish business owners and investors. He should admit that he made reckless campaign promises.

Obama should promise not to penalize industry. He should back off. He should stop creating a climate of economic fear, preaching that this is the Great Depression II. It's a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Got hope? Not if Obama pursues his promised economic strategy.

I do have confidence in Harley.


_______________

MILWAUKEE – County Executive Scott Walker issued the following statement regarding the announcement by Harley-Davidson Motor Company on job cuts:

“The news from Harley-Davidson would be bad at any time, but it is even worse now. This is a serious blow. We need to get more money into the economy and the quickest way to do that is through bold tax cuts.

Reducing the payroll tax can be done immediately and that will put more money into the hands of consumers who can then buy things like Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

I hope that we can save some of the 1,100 jobs by getting the economy
roaring again.”

Like a Harley in Heat

Could the Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary Celebration have been any better?

Tens of thousands of people from across the country and around the world converged on Milwaukee for the party.

Other than the traffic snarls, the long lines, and the enormous crowds, there wasn't much to complain about.

The weather was beautiful - warm sunny days and mild nights.

The parade of thousands and thousands of bikes, with all the incredible sights and sounds, was spectacular as always.







Event organizers got the entertainment right this time, with popular acts on the many stages on the Summerfest grounds and Bruce Springsteen headlining at the Veterans Park location, dubbed Roadhouse at the Lakefront. No offense to Elton John, but that decision for the 100th anniversary was a blunder of epic proportions.

And as Dave Tianen put it in his review for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Two American icons - Bruce Springsteen and Harley Davidson - met at an intersection called Magic Saturday at Veteran's Park.

This was probably the most anticipated Milwaukee concert of the year. Extravagant expectations often unfold in moderate payoffs. On Saturday night, Bruce Springsteen lived up to every measure of his considerable legend.

...As everyone seems to understand there is a natural affinity between Springsteen and the Harley brotherhood. They share a restless love of freedom, and a devotion to the core values in American life. Saturday all those elements came together in one of the most special nights in Milwaukee concert history.

More, from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Many Harley riders rated the celebration a huge success, although some complained about the way crowds were handled at the Springsteen concert and other music venues.

At the Springsteen show: “They basically dropped the gates, and there was a big mass of humanity that kind of pushed over people who had already marked their spots. All of a sudden, what they thought were their seats became pretty tough to defend,” Jarvis said.

He added: “We were in a little bit of that situation, but honestly I have come to expect when you have that many people together you have to know how to stay mobile and flexible . . . because the crowd is always going to win.”

Before Springsteen’s set began, concert security guards surprised fans by allowing open access to a large area near the stage that had been reserved for people who had obtained wristbands.

The H.O.G. party at Miller Park ran out of water and beer, according to some people who attended the event Thursday.

“It was pretty hot, and the lines were just unbelievable. . . . We left after only an hour because the lines were too long,” said Veronica Duncan, a Harley rider from Suffolk, Va.

Nothing is perfect, but the 105th anniversary celebration was a nearly perfect way to spend the last days of summer.

McCain at Sturgis

John McCain is a smart politician.

His stop at Sturgis, a gathering of Harley bikers from all corners of the country, was the perfect place to find a ready-made audience of thousands to address.

McCain hit all the right notes at the Buffalo Chip Campground for the annual honoring of veterans during the Sturgis motorcycle rally.

Joined on stage at the well-known Sturgis rally venue by his wife, Cindy, daughter, Meghan, Sen. John Thune and Gov. Mike Rounds, as well as military veterans, McCain argued that Obama's energy plan was based on weak conservation premises rather than needed oil exploration drilling.

Referring to recent comments by Obama that properly inflated tires and well-tuned cars can help reduce the need for more oil production, McCain continued the "drill now-drill here" message that has become a focus of his energy plan.

"I'll tell you that when I'm president, we're not going to be paying $4 for gas. We're going to drill offshore, and we're going to drill now," McCain said. "My opponent doesn't want to drill. He doesn't want nuclear power. He wants you to inflate your tires."

McCain spoke for only about seven minutes, focusing on the two issues he discussed in more detail with a few local journalists during a bus ride from Rapid City -- where he was to spend the night at the Hotel Alex Johnson -- to the Buffalo Chip, by way of Interstate 90 and a circuitous sidetrack on dusty gravel roads. During the ride, the Arizona Republican predicted a rousing response to his energy points, and wasn't disappointed. The crowd reacted with cheers and the roar of strategically placed Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the audience.

McCain got a similar response when he criticized Obama for wanting to set time lines for withdrawing troops from Iraq.

"My opponent wants to set a date to come home," McCain said. "I want us to come home with victory and honor, so we'll never have to go back again."

..."As you know, not long ago a couple hundred thousand Berliners made a lot of noise for my opponent," McCain said. "I'll take the roar of 50,000 Harleys every day."

He might not have gotten quite that many Monday night. But at times, it sounded like it.

That line about Obama appealing to Berliners was a good one.

I also liked that Cindy McCain mentioned the military service of her sons.

His wife, Cindy, also paid tribute to the crowd, saying: "I'd like to thank all of you for your support of our troops, and here's why: I'm many things in my life, and one thing I'd like to be is your first lady. But more importantly, I'm Jack McCain's mother and Jimmy McCain's mother, one in the U.S. Navy and another one in the Marine Corps, an Iraqi vet."

The fact that the McCains' children are proudly serving in the military should be noted.

The Dems' favorite chicken hawk label certainly can't be applied to John McCain and his family.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard some lib say that the Bush twins should be serving in Iraq, I could buy a Harley.

McCain should make a stop in Milwaukee for Harley's 105th anniversary celebration at the end of August.

A visit could serve as a nice place for McCain to springboard to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. It would also provide some balance at the celebration, politically speaking.

Vocal Obama supporter Bruce Springsteen will be appearing at the Roadhouse at Milwaukee's lakefront to close out the rally festivities on August 30.

Will Springsteen deliver one of his trademark anti-Bush, "America sucks now" rants during the concert?

I hope not.

________________


________________

More:

Politico

AP

Reuters

Harley-Davidson Museum Opens Today

Harley Decides Not to Keep A Secret

Harley-Davidson learned from the Elton John debacle of its 100th anniversary celebration.

Sometimes, surprises don't work out. Expectations don't always live up to the reality. When you expect the Rolling Stones and you get Elton John, it's not good.

This time Harley decided not to keep the entertainment a secret.

For the 105th anniversary, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be the headliner.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The show will take place Sat. Aug 30 at the same lakefront site where Elton John played to mark Harley's 100th birthday bash.

Tickets will be $40, but to buy one, you must also have a ticket for Harley's 2-day anniversary event at the Summerfest grounds, Aug. 29 and 30th. Those tickets are $60.

Some of the acts playing for the rest of the Harley party include Los Lonely Boys, Black Crows, ZZ Top, Daughtry, Peter Frampton, Buddy Guy and others.

In less than six months, that will be two Milwaukee appearances for Springsteen.

He'll be at the Bradley Center on March 17.

If he's smart, he'll keep his Lefty pontificating in check at the Harley event.