- The Washington Times - Thursday, October 10, 2024

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain cast the presidential election in dire terms ahead of former President Donald Trump’s Thursday speech at the Detroit Economic Club.

The union leader told reporters that Mr. Trump’s economic proposals could be a disaster for Michigan workers.

“The job-killer in chief is once again back in Michigan to do what he does best: He’s going to lie about bringing our jobs back, and it’s nothing new,” Mr. Fain said. “We’ve seen this same song and dance from Trump over and over, but the reality is, Trump never brought back squat.”

Mr. Fain also criticized Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Mr. Trump’s running mate, for refusing to commit to maintaining $500 million in funding to help General Motors convert one of its auto plants into an electric vehicle facility.

“It’s a lot bigger than just the Lansing Grand River investment. It’s factories all over the United States, and it’s supply chain factories all over the United States that are being put in place now,” Mr. Fain said. “So you’re taking hundreds of thousands of jobs that Donald Trump is just writing off.”

The Trump campaign denied Mr. Fain’s allegations, claiming that the working people of Michigan support the former president’s economic plan.

“All of the nation’s working men and women know that President Trump is the candidate looking out for them, which is why nearly 6 out of every 10 Teamsters support his candidacy,” Trump campaign senior adviser Brian Hughes said. “He has an economic plan that will allow workers to keep more of the money they earn, increase American manufacturing and drive down energy costs.”

Mr. Trump and Mr. Fain have traded blows before, with the former president calling for the union leader’s firing in July after the UAW endorsed President Biden.

Mr. Trump has continually hammered Mr. Fain, saying at rallies that the UAW’s support of the White House’s electric vehicle mandate is suicide for the American car industry since EVs will be made in China.

The union’s leadership has since pushed its weight behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.

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