President Donald Trump greets U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik on stage during an event at Fort Drum in August 2018. (Photo — Sydney Schaefer, Watertown Daily Times)

WATERTOWN — President Donald Trump arrived this afternoon at Fort Drum to sign H.R. 5515, the John McCain National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2019.

“At ease,” he told the soldiers assembled in a hangar near the Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield at Fort Drum. “You got seats; sit down.”

With his audience sitting comfortably, Trump hit the highlights of the bill’s appropriations. The bill covers the $717 billion that the U.S. will spend on defense in fiscal year 2019, as well as a number of policies, acquisitions and goals for the military. Among these was a 2.6 percent pay raise for troops, the highest raise in nine years, and appropriations for military hardware from ships to fighting vehicles and base construction.

“No better place to celebrate its passage than at Fort Drum, no better place,” Trump said, repeatedly praising the 10th Mountain Division soldiers.

Vice President Mike Pence was also in attendance and introduced the president. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, who helped write the bill as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, joined Pence to greet the president as he deplaned from Air Force One and delivered a few brief comments in the hangar.

It was Stefanik who invited Trump to Fort Drum. During his speech the president made note of her persistent invitations.

“She didn’t give up,” he said.

Stefanik said the president’s comment complimented the work of her office.

“I think it shows … I am the strongest advocate for Fort Drum in Congress,” she said.

Air Force Two, carrying Pence, arrived at 1:34 p.m., and he quickly deplaned. Air Force One, carrying the president, arrived at 2:15 p.m.; Trump watched an air assault exercise with troops dismounting from helicopters and taking up firing positions. Then Chinooks lowered two cannons to the tarmac. The soldiers fired off volleys of cannon fire within minutes of the artillery hitting the ground.

“I witnessed your remarkable capabilities firsthand,” Trump told the soldiers after the demonstration. “Nobody stands a chance against you folks.”

State Senators Patricia Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, and Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, as well as Jefferson County Legislature Chairman Scott Gray and other members of the Legislature were seen around noon at a reception on Fort Drum for various North Country elected officials at the air base ahead of the president’s arrival. Demonstrations of everything from maple syrup to ghillie suits were offered.

On Sunday, Democratic congressional candidate Tedra Cobb, who is running against Stefanik, sent out a news release welcoming the president and inviting him to a health care roundtable at 4:30 p.m. at the Masonic Temple. Cobb was meeting with residents who are struggling with health care coverage or work in health care, according to the release.

After visiting Fort Drum, Trump was to travel to Utica to hold a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-New Hartford. The $1,000-a-plate minimum event was to begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Hotel Utica, according to syracuse.com. Tenney’s Democratic opponent, Anthony Brindisi, was holding a $10-a-ticket fundraiser at the same time. Pence’s schedule did not have him attending the Tenney fundraiser.