The executive chairman of Ford Motor company said that Donald Trump’s attacks against the automobile giant are “infuriating” and said he aired his frustrations with the Republican presidential nominee in a recent one-on-one meeting.
During an appearance at The Economic Club of Washington, D.C., Bill Ford defended his company’s announcement last month that it is moving small-car production to Mexico, saying the move will no impact the 26,000 jobs that Ford Motor has added in the United States since 2011.
“Well, I had a very good meeting with him,” Mr. Ford said when asked if he had a chance to address the issue with Mr. Trump. “He was a very good listener and he knows the facts, but who knows what the campaign trail is all about.”
Mr. Trump has slammed American companies for moving outside of the United States and has repeatedly railed Ford’s investment in Mexico.
On the campaign trail, Mr. Trump has called the decision “horrible” and promised voters that “we’re not going to let it happen.”
“To think that Ford is moving its small car division is a disgrace. It’s disgraceful. It’s disgraceful that our politicians allow them to get away with it. It really is,” Mr. Trump said last month at the Economic Club of New York. “It used to be, cars were made in Flint and you couldn’t drink the water in Mexico. Now, cars are made in Mexico and you can’t drink the water in Flint.”
Mr. Ford suggested Mr. Trump’s comments are misleading and said he is overlooking all the investments the company has made in the United States.
“We are not losing any jobs in Michigan because we are putting new vehicles into those plants,” he said of the Mexico move. “So that is what is so frustration — and at a certain point infuriating about this — because I feel like we have not only invested heavily in this country and are adding lot of new jobs in this country. I think he and others should look at us and say that is how you do business. You pay back your loans, and you hire people and you invest.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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