Donald Trump Slams President Biden’s Electric Car Agenda During Michigan Speech amidst Autoworkers’ Strike

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — As the second Republican primary debate took place in California, Donald Trump was in Michigan appealing to blue-collar voters by criticizing President Biden and his support for electric cars during an ongoing autoworkers’ strike. Speaking at Drake Enterprises, a nonunionized auto parts supplier in Clinton Township, just outside Detroit, Trump made it clear that he would not allow the American automobile industry to perish.

Trump’s visit coincided with Biden’s recent visit to Detroit, where he became the first sitting U.S. president to join United Auto Workers on a picket line. The dueling appearances had the aura of a preview of the expected 2024 general election rematch between Trump and Biden, despite primary voting being a year away.

While Biden’s support for electric vehicles is a key component of his clean-energy agenda, Trump warned that such a shift would lead to job losses, echoing the concerns of autoworkers worried about the potential loss of manufacturing jobs and the absence of unionization in electric vehicle factories. Trump used extreme language, claiming that the industry was being “assassinated” by Biden.

Trump’s speech also downplayed the autoworkers’ strike, as the United Auto Workers demand higher wages, shorter workweeks, and guarantees that new electric vehicle jobs will be unionized. Although Trump expressed his support for the workers, he suggested that pollution limits could nullify any deal reached. He accused Biden of betraying the working class by aligning with China, environmental extremists, and the radical left.

Despite positioning himself as pro-worker, Trump has clashed with union leadership in the past and tried to turn union members against their leaders. As he sought endorsement from the union, the UAW posted a video before Trump’s visit, showcasing the closure of the GM assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, after Trump promised that auto jobs would return to the area.

Trump’s visit attracted a mixed audience, including UAW members, plumbers, pipefitters, and non-union workers supporting the former president. Some attendees were invited by Autoworkers for Trump, while others were allowed to attend after arriving at the factory. The attendees expressed their disillusionment with union leaders and echoed Trump’s skepticism towards electric vehicles.

Michigan played a crucial role in Trump’s unexpected victory in 2016, as he resonated with voters in Democratic strongholds by promising to support manufacturing and challenge global trade deals. While Biden won Michigan in 2020 by emphasizing his working-class background and support for organized labor, the auto industry remains divided on the impact of electric vehicles on union jobs.

While some executives argue that EVs will result in job losses due to their simplified manufacturing process, others maintain that the industry will still require a comparable amount of labor. The Trump campaign defends his record as pro-worker, but union leaders dispute this, citing unfavorable labor rulings, unfulfilled promises, and plant closures during his term.

The ongoing autoworkers’ strike is directed at General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford, demanding higher pay and benefits, reduced work hours, and representation at electric vehicle battery factories. Although Biden has not mandated electric vehicles, he aims for electric vehicles to make up half of all new vehicle sales by 2030. His administration has also proposed stricter pollution limits that would require a significant increase in electric vehicle sales by 2032.