President Donald Trump's reelection campaign is walking back a statement from its national press secretary concerning a major government intervention in the country’s next-generation 5G wireless network, Axios reported Sunday.
Kayleigh McEnany told Politico a few days ago the campaign backed a controversial plan to give the government a role in 5G, which would be completely at odds with the Trump administration’s free-market stance on the issue.
McEnany explained the apparently new policy as a way to attract more rural voters who have long lacked reliable internet service because wireless companies don't have a financial incentive to offer affordable broadband to everyone, especially those outside the biggest cities.
“A 5G wholesale market would drive down costs and provide access to millions of Americans who are currently underserved,” McEnany told Politico a few days ago. “This is in line with President Trump’s agenda to benefit all Americans, regardless of geography."
But McEnany has now clarified that the re-election campaign had not intended to create a new policy, saying, “The White House sets the policy on 5G and all issues. Naturally, the campaign fully supports the president’s priorities and his policy agenda. There is no daylight between the White House and the campaign."
The announcement to Politico sparked confusion inside the administration, and over the past few days Axios could not find anyone who works on telecommunication policy inside the Trump administration who knew in advance from the campaign that it would make the announcement about 5G policy.
A senior administration official admitted to Axios that “Lots of policy folks were caught off guard."
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