On July 15, President Donald Trump climbed aboard a Freeman Boatworks center-console boat showcased on the White House’s South Lawn as part of a “Made in America” event.
This annual showcase at the White House emphasizes products manufactured in America from all fifty states. Freeman Boatworks, located in Summerville, South Carolina, was chosen to represent South Carolina.
Scott Cothran, who heads marketing and sales for Freeman Boatworks, mentioned that they received a call from the White House on June 12 to see if they wanted to join. The stipulation was that the items featured on the 34-foot boat had to be made in the U.S.
Freeman Boatworks showcased South Carolina at the White House’s “Made in America” event. Photo provided by Freeman Boatworks via Facebook.
“One of the guys who received the call came into my office and said, ‘Hey, you’re going to want to take this; it’s the White House,’” Cothran recalled. “Naturally, when you get a call from the White House, you wonder what went wrong.”
Initially, Cothran hoped to present the company’s 42LR model featuring quad Mercury Racing 450R outboards, but its 11’9” beam was too wide for the White House gates. They settled for the 34VH model with Mercury outboards and a 10’10” beam, barely fitting through the gate with just 2 inches to spare.
The Secret Service inspected the boat at a separate location, Cothran shared, before providing a police escort to the White House, where it was placed on the South Lawn. Cothran noted they removed everything from the boat for security checks.
“They were very professional and polite, but quite firm,” he said. “This will proceed this way, and you will follow our instructions.”
Once on the South Lawn, they presented the center-console model to several cabinet members before President Trump arrived. Cothran reported that he invited the president on board, and Trump stood on the swim platform, examining the boat and asking questions.
President Donald Trump inspected the 34-foot center console from the transom. Photo provided by Freeman Boatworks via Facebook.
“It was a really unique experience,” Cothran noted. “He was incredibly personable, genuinely interested in our business, and truly engaged with the boat… It felt entirely sincere rather than a political maneuver.”
Since the Monday event, Cothran mentioned they’ve faced some backlash. This reaction was not surprising given the current polarization in the country.
“We were honored to be featured by the President of the United States,” he stated. “Setting politics aside, it doesn’t matter who the president is. If you get the chance to represent your product at the White House, you seize it.”
Cothran finds the criticism disheartening but acknowledges the attention has heightened awareness of the brand established by Billy Freeman.
“We had the chance to take a boat to the residence of the leader of the free world and showcase it there,” he emphasized. “What an incredible opportunity it was.”
Cothran conveyed that they were not only representing the company’s over 100 employees but the entire marine industry.
“We felt we were representing not only our company but also the whole marine sector,” he remarked. “Any exposure we can provide the industry benefits us all.”