Donald Trump and Kristen Welker
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WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump warned that U.S. auto staff’ jobs will transfer to China and accused the United Auto Staff’ management of failing its members, hundreds of whom went on strike Friday in opposition to General Motors, Ford and Stellantis.
“The auto staff won’t have any jobs, Kristen, as a result of all of those vehicles are going to be made in China. The electrical vehicles, mechanically, are going to be made in China,” Trump instructed NBC Information’ Kristen Welker in an unique, wide-ranging interview set to air Sunday on “Meet the Press.”
“The auto staff are being bought down the river by their management, and their management ought to endorse Trump,” the Republican presidential frontrunner added.
Workers sporting masks work on a automotive meeting line on the SAIC Normal Motors Co. The SAIC Normal Motors Wuhan Department has resumed manufacturing following epidemic prevention and management guidelines.
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Roughly 13,000 U.S. auto staff stopped making automobiles and went on strike following failed negotiations on a slew of points, together with increased pay.
The strike marked the primary time the United Auto Staff union focused the three automaker titans concurrently.
Staff walked out at GM’s midsize truck and full-size van meeting plant in Wentzville, Missouri; Ford’s Ranger pickup and Bronco SUV plant in Wayne, Michigan; and Stellantis’ Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator plant in Toledo, Ohio.
Learn extra: Why the United Auto Workers want big raises
Trump particularly criticized UAW president Shawn Fain. “I feel he is not doing a superb job in representing his union, as a result of he is not going to have a union in three years from now. These jobs are all going to be gone, as a result of all of these electrical vehicles are going to be made in China. That is what’s occurring,” Trump mentioned.
Fain has beforehand mentioned {that a} second Trump presidency can be a “catastrophe.” However he has additionally withheld his endorsement of President Joe Biden.
UAW (US Auto Staff) president Shawn Fain speaks with members of the media and members of the UAW exterior of the UAW Native 900 headquarters throughout the road from the Ford Meeting Plant in Wayne, Michigan on September 15, 2023.
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Talking from the White Home, Biden mentioned on Friday that he hopes all events are in a position to strike “a win-win settlement.”
“The businesses have made some vital gives,” Biden mentioned, including “However I consider they need to go additional to make sure document company earnings imply document contracts for the UAW.”
Biden mentioned that he additionally revered the proper of staff to “use their choices below the collective bargaining system.”
Learn extra: Biden says record profits should ensure record contracts as UAW strikes Ford, GM and Stellantis plants
Trump has sought to grab the mantle of essentially the most fervent China hawk within the U.S. presidential election. He additionally tried to make Biden’s electrical car push a key a part of his case in opposition to the president.
The crumbling relationship between Washington and Beijing, the world’s two largest economies, intensified below the Trump administration.
Trump positioned blame squarely on China for a variety of grievances, together with mental property theft, unfair commerce practices and the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden has sought to work rigorously with allies to be able to mount a extra united pushback in opposition to China.
He has additionally beforehand mentioned that in his political profession, he has spent extra time with Chinese language President Xi Jinping than some other world chief.
