GOP presidential primary front-runner Donald Trump has the Democrats in panic as he plans to visit auto workers striking against General Motors (GM), Ford, and Stellantis in Detroit, Michigan.
United Auto Workers (UAW) members are currently striking against the Big Three, pushing for a new labor contract for increased wages against the soaring inflation and commitments that they won’t lose their jobs under Joe Biden’s Electric Vehicles (EVs) agenda.
Last year, Ford announced it would lay off approximately 3,000 workers to save money while it ‘transitions’ to electric vehicles.
As the Wall Street Journal reported, the company’s internal email to employees announced it would begin notifying the affected salaried and agency workers in the next few days.
“The workforce reduction mostly targets employees in the U.S., Canada, and India. About 2,000 of the targeted cuts will be salaried jobs at the Dearborn, Mich., automaker,” the article said.
“The remaining 1,000 employees are working in contract positions with outside agencies, the company said,” the outlet added.
According to sources via Breitbart News, the 45th President will skip the second GOP primary debate and visit the striking auto workers in Detroit.
Politico reported that Trump’s planned visit now has Democrats in panic mode, with one union adviser describing the move as “kinda genius.”
“We should not underestimate Donald Trump. He’s a survivor, and this is going to be a very hard-fought campaign,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) told Politico.
“We need a message to working-class Americans,” Khanna said.
“Right now, they’re still hurting in terms of gas prices, food prices, housing costs, utility costs, and they don’t feel like their wages are going up fast enough, and they feel like the very wealthy are getting too much of the rewards. That’s what I heard on the picket lines,” Khanna added.
Meanwhile, a Democrat strategist told Politico that “Trump scooped us with his visit to striking auto workers, noting that Biden has yet to make a stop.
Biden planned to send two administration officials to broker a contract between the Big Three and auto workers; however, the trip was canceled after pushback from the UAW.
“Now if we announce we’re going, it looks like we’re just going because of Trump,” the strategist said. “We waited too long. That’s the challenge.”
Trump’s visit to the striking auto workers will likely gain support from union households and the white working class, similar to what he did in 2016.
Even as polls now show, the average Republican voter is siding with union workers over company executives.
When UAW members led a strike against GM in 2019, just 25 percent of Republicans said they backed the union.
However, today, that number has jumped to 35 percent.
This will be the second debate Trump skipped after ditching the first primary debate last month, opting for a pre-taped interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
Trump’s statement posted to Truth Social:
“New CBS POLL, just out, has me leading the field by “legendary” numbers. TRUMP 62%, 46 Points above DeSanctimonious (who is crashing like an ailing bird!), Ramaswamy 7%, Pence 5%, Scott 3%, Haley 2%, Sloppy Chris Christie 2%, “Aida” Hutchinson 1%. The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had, with Energy Independence, Strong Borders & Military, Biggest EVER Tax & Regulation Cuts, No Inflation, Strongest Economy in History, & much more. I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”
Although the workers fear that Electric vehicles could be the catalyst that puts them out of work, it seems they may not have to worry given that buyers are not convinced of the transition to EVs.
The Ford Motor Company recently projected a $4.5 billion loss for electric vehicles in its second-quarter financial results for 2023.
The figure is nearly twice its $2.1 billion loss on its Model E division in 2022.
Despite the EV losses, Ford posted a $1.9 billion net income, bringing in $45 billion in net revenue.
The company also earned $2.4 billion in its commercial division, Ford Pro, while its gas and hybrid division, Ford Blue, earned $2.3 billion.
Ford CEO Jim Farley said, “The near-term pace of EV adoption will be a little slower than expected, which is going to benefit early movers like Ford.”
READ: Unsold Electric Cars Are Piling Up in Their Thousands on Dealer Lots
