President Donald Trump has made it abundantly clear that a revitalized U.S. economy, featuring a strong manufacturing sector, is a top priority of his administration, and he has worked hard to create an economic climate favorable to American manufacturing jobs.
Thus, the president almost takes it personally when plants are closed and workers are laid off. He took to Twitter multiple times over the weekend to express his thoughts on the recent closure of a General Motors plant in Lordstown, OH, calling out both the CEO of GM and local union leader for their failure to reach a deal to keep workers employed.
Trump praises Toyota, scolds GM
On Thursday, Trump celebrated the news that Toyota would be investing more than $13 billion in U.S. auto manufacturing jobs that would employ at least 600 American workers.
The president referenced that development in a tweet on Saturday aimed at GM.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2019
In a tweet the following day, Trump singled out the local president of the United Auto Workers union for his role in the failure to keep the Lordstown plant open.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2019
Open the plant, or sell to someone who will
But the president wasn’t done just yet. Later in the day, he increased the pressure by specifically referencing a conversation he had with the CEO of GM, Mary Barra, in which he urged her to either reopen the Lordstown plant or sell it to someone else who would make use of it.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2019
The president’s direct critique of GM and the UAW over the shuttering of the Lordstown plant continued into Monday morning, with a two-part tweet that seemed to issue something of an ultimatum to GM: close a factory in China or Mexico, if necessary, in order to reopen the plant in Ohio.
General Motors and the UAW are going to start “talks” in September/October. Why wait, start them now! I want jobs to stay in the U.S.A. and want Lordstown (Ohio), in one of the best economies in our history, opened or sold to a company who will open it up fast! Car companies…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2019
….are all coming back to the U.S. So is everyone else. We now have the best Economy in the World, the envy of all. Get that big, beautiful plant in Ohio open now. Close a plant in China or Mexico, where you invested so heavily pre-Trump, but not in the U.S.A. Bring jobs home!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2019
There can surely be disagreement about whether it is appropriate for a president to make such demands of a private business, but nobody can dispute the president’s heartfelt concern for the thousands of American workers who are now without a job because GM and the local union couldn’t reach an agreement to keep the auto plant open.
Even if the propriety of his tactics is debatable, the honorable nature of Trump’s priorities is beyond question.