President Biden has arrived in the Midlands. Follow our live updates.

President Joe Biden arrived in South Carolina today to tout an investment that will “create hundreds of good-paying jobs,” according to the White House.

President Biden spoke at Flex LTD in West Columbia this afternoon to promote parts of his economic plan dealing with investing in clean energy manufacturing.

It was Biden’s first appearance in the Midlands since December 2021, when the president visited Orangeburg to deliver the commencement address for South Carolina State University. First Lady Jill Biden was at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island June 30 to speak at a Marine Corps graduation ceremony.

A few days ago, former President Donald Trump made a stop in Pickens, South Carolina, for a July 1 presidential campaign rally.

Biden’s visit took place at 1000 Technology Drive in West Columbia, about a mile from the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, where Biden flew into. The event was not open to the general public. A no-fly zone was in place from 11:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

1 p.m.

Biden took the stage Thursday, leading his remarks with kind comments about longtime colleague U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat who was influential in Biden’s 2020 election victory. He then quickly pivoted to discussing his economic plan, dubbed Bidenomics, which focuses on boosting the middle class.

Trickle-down economics has failed Americans, Biden said. Instead, he hopes to build up the middle class from the bottom-up. Biden’s support for clean energy manufacturing is a part of that mission.

Biden said California-based energy technology company Enphase’s $60 million investment nationwide to make microinverters and batteries for solar arrays is a direct result of the Inflation Reduction Act. Part of Enphase’s investment includes partnering with Flex LTD, which has a manufacturing facility in West Columbia, to create up to 600 jobs in South Carolina. Biden also listed several other large manufacturing investments across the U.S. as examples of the Inflation Reduction Act’s success.

Biden skimmed over specifics when it came to the creation of the 600 jobs in South Carolina and what would happen after the partnership between Flex and Enphase. Most of his speech included overarching points about Bidenomics and figures on U.S. job creation.

He said Bidenomics is about access to the “American dream.”

“Forty years of trickle down limited the dream to those at the top, but I believe that every American willing to work hard should be able to get a good job, no matter where they live,” Biden said.

In addition to his support for manufacturing, Biden discussed the need to invest in infrastructure nationwide. He invoked the dreaded Malfunction Junction, a web of interstate interchanges outside Columbia that has long been a headache to Midlands motorists. Work to overhaul the roadways is underway. Biden said his economic policies and Clyburn’s support for them are also to thank for that work.

He ended his speech saying he’d never been “more optimistic about America,” and said “let’s continue to work together.”

Before 1 p.m., leading up to Biden’s remarks

Before Biden made his speech, Revathi Advaithi, CEO of Flex, and Badri Kothandaraman, President and CEO of Enphase Energy, spoke about the opportunities and success that would come from the partnership and thanked President Biden for investing in clean energy.

“We are pleased to be part of creating new jobs in the U.S,” Kothandaraman said. “We are fortunate to have a very strong partner like Flex.”

About 250 people sat in the audience, with various business owners, local and state political representatives, Flex and Enphase employees, college students and members of the public waiting to hear Biden speak.

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, a longtime supporter of the president who helped propel Biden to victory in South Carolina in 2020, spoke before Biden and sang praises of the president’s economic strategy and its impact in the Palmetto State.

“High-paying jobs are being created by South Carolinians doing work that is contributing to the future greatness of America. That’s what Bidenomics is all about,” Clyburn said. “Thanks to Bidenomics, South Carolina communities will no longer be left out of the digital world, but instead, every single resident and business in South Carolina will have broadband access within the next three years.”

Flex employee Nicole Hicks spoke after Clyburn to introduce the president and shook Biden’s hand as he walked on the stage.

Hicks grew up in the Georgetown area and moved to Columbia for work after high school, she said. She worked in retail before joining Flex in 2015. She currently works as an automation engineer and has a two-month-old son, she said.

“I am grateful we have a president who understands these aspirations, a president who gets it, a president who cares ... about good paying jobs and about families like mine,” Hicks said before introducing the President.

12:30 p.m.

The room at Flex LTD has been filling up. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison, who formerly served as head of South Carolina’s Democratic party, was in attendance Thursday posing with members of the public. Local politicians, university representatives and more member of the public have been invited to hear Biden’s remarks, which are scheduled to begin around 1 p.m.

Part of Biden’s remarks will include the announcement of a new solar energy collaboration between Flex LTD and Enphase Energy, part of a nation-wide investment by the California-based energy tech company to create 1,800 new jobs across the U.S. and 600 in South Carolina.

South Carolina Republicans have been reacting to Biden’s visit throughout the day.

Gov. Henry McMaster issued a statement saying South Carolina’s success “originates from our people,” seeming to contrast with Biden’s pronouncement that his economic policies have helped boost manufacturing in the state.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is currenty running for president, also issued a statement about Biden’s visit, writing on Twitter “If Joe Biden really thinks Bidenomics is working, he definitely needs to take a mental competency test.”

11:45 a.m. until about 12 p.m.

Air Force One touched down at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Biden greeted about a dozen members of the public and spoke with a few people momentarily. Biden also spent some time chatting with Rep. Clyburn and Mayor Rickenmann on the tarmac before getting into his vehicle “the Beast” and taking off for Flex LTD.

11:40 a.m.

Local and state dignitaries talk with members of the public waiting to see President Biden. Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and Rep. James Clyburn both greeted the public at the airport Thursday morning.

The crowd at Flex LTD, where Biden will speak later today, continues to grow. People are setting up yard signs supporting Biden at Flex LTD.

11:15 a.m.

The motorcade that will take Biden from the Columbia Airport to Flex LTD arrived at the airport.

A crowd began gathering outside Flex LTD, where Biden will give remarks about “Bidenomics,” his economic plan that focuses on making investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and job training geared toward uplifting the middle class.

10:30 a.m.

President Biden left Joint Base Andrews outside Washington D.C. around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, arriving via Marine One before boarding Air Force One without taking questions.

A reporter for Bloomberg News tweeted a photo of Air Force One at 10:35 a.m. with the caption “Off to South Carolina.”

Meanwhile, South Carolina dignitaries, including Rep. James Clyburn, were beginning to arrive at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport ahead of Biden’s landing as members of the media set up their equipment.

The secret service, military personnel, Lexington County SWAT and South Carolina Highway Patrol were all present Thursday.