President Donald Trump targeted both General Motors and an Ohio union official on Sunday over an assembly plant that the automaker closed earlier this month.
His tweet amplifies the public pressure on GM to restart operations at the Lordstown, Ohio facility. Trump has frequently used his platform to push companies to take his preferred actions. Earlier this year, he threatened to cut the company’s subsidies after it announced plans to slash production at several U.S. plants.
On Sunday, Trump said he spoke to GM CEO Mary Barra about the facility and “asked her to sell it or do something quickly.” He claimed she “blamed” the closure on the United Auto Workers union.
“I don’t care, I just want it open!” he wrote.
Donald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrump
Just spoke to Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors about the Lordstown Ohio plant. I am not happy that it is closed when everything else in our Country is BOOMING. I asked her to sell it or do something quickly. She blamed the UAW Union — I don’t care, I just want it open!83.7K12:27 AM – Mar 18, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy39K people are talking about this
Earlier, the president tweeted that “Democrat” UAW Local 1112 President David Green “ought to get his act together and produce.” The union represents workers at the Lordstown plant. The facility’s closure is resulting in the loss of 1,300 jobs, though about 417 of those positions will go to other plants, GM previously said.
Trump wrote that GM “let our Country down” by shutting down the plant, where it made the Chevy Cruze. He claimed that “other much better car companies are coming into the U.S. in droves.” It was not immediately clear which companies he was referring to, or if they were American or international automakers.
“I want action on Lordstown fast. Stop complaining and get the job done!” he wrote on Sunday.
Donald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrump
Democrat UAW Local 1112 President David Green ought to get his act together and produce. G.M. let our Country down, but other much better car companies are coming into the U.S. in droves. I want action on Lordstown fast. Stop complaining and get the job done! 3.8% Unemployment!55.3K7:38 PM – Mar 17, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy24K people are talking about this
On Saturday, the president tweeted that GM “must” reopen the plant, “maybe in a different form or with a new owner, FAST!”
Donald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrump
Because the economy is so good, General Motors must get their Lordstown, Ohio, plant open, maybe in a different form or with a new owner, FAST! Toyota is investing 13.5 $Billion in U.S., others likewise. G.M. MUST ACT QUICKLY. Time is of the essence!66.6K11:01 PM – Mar 16, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy21.8K people are talking about this
Green has written two letters to Trump asking him to save the plant and its jobs, local TV stations WKBN reported in February. In a February letter shared by the news outlet, Green implored Trump to make a case for the facility. Green noted that the president had not responded to a first letter he sent in July 2018.
“While this may not seem that important to you, it will have a devastating impact on many families, business and communities, especially here in the Mahoning Valley, a place that I call home,” the union official wrote to the president.
Neither Green nor GM immediately responded to CNBC’s requests to comment on Trump’s tweet.
Trump won the White House partly on promises to boost manufacturing jobs and U.S. auto production. He has set out to renegotiate various free trade deals, in part to encourage automakers to produce at U.S. facilities.
While Trump has previously criticized GM, Sunday appeared to be the first time that he targeted Green, a local union official, by name.
GM has faced substantial pressure from Washington to keep the facility running. Both U.S. senators from Ohio — Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Rob Portman — have pushed the company to maintain jobs at the plant. In a tweeted statement Sunday, Brown said Green and the union workers “have shown grit and determination.”
“Instead of attacking workers, it’s past time you stood up to GM and joined the fight,” he said.
Sherrod Brown✔@SenSherrodBrown
Mr. President, Dave Green and the workers at @UAW Local 1112 have shown grit and determination in the face of adversity, fighting for Lordstown from day one. Instead of attacking workers, it’s past time you stood up to GM and joined the fight.Donald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrumpDemocrat UAW Local 1112 President David Green ought to get his act together and produce. G.M. let our Country down, but other much better car companies are coming into the U.S. in droves. I want action on Lordstown fast. Stop complaining and get the job done! 3.8% Unemployment!2,92311:39 PM – Mar 17, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy805 people are talking about this
Brown has tried to pass legislation that aims to make production in the U.S. more appealing to automakers. He urged Trump to support the legislation, called the American Cars, American Jobs Act, if he wants to boost auto workers.
The legislation would give consumers a $3,500 discount on American-made cars and revoke a provision that Brown says encourages automakers to send jobs overseas.
BY CNBC NEWS
