Donald Trump claimed credit on Sunday for pressuring Ford to cancel its plans in Mexico and move production to the U.S.
Word is that Ford Motor, because of my constant badgering at packed events, is going to cancel their deal to go to Mexico and stay in U.S.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2015
Do you think I will get credit for keeping Ford in U.S. Who cares, my supporters know the truth. Think what can be done as president!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2015
The problem with these claims is that they’re completely inaccurate.
Trump believes he “embarrassed” Ford by talking about its Mexico plant so many times, causing them to move production to the U.S. In reality, Ford’s plans have not changed. CNN reports that the carmaker is continuing production at its engine and transmission plant in Mexico.
Trump is referring to Ford moving production of pickup trucks from its Mexico plant to its Ohio plant, just one aspect of the Mexico plant that will be transferred, a decision that was made before Trump threw his Make America Great Again hat into the presidential race.
Ford told CNN that the company “decided to move the F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks to Ohio Assembly in 2011, long before any candidates announce their intention to run for U.S. president.” Since then, Ford has invested $10.2 billion in U.S. plants, which is over four times what it has invested in plants based in Mexico and Canada.
This decision was part of a deal with the United Auto Workers union to create more U.S. jobs, which the company has accomplished. In the past four years, Ford has created upwards of 12,000 hourly jobs.
Trump’s concentration on Ford is completely unfounded considering two other major U.S. car manufacturers, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler, continue to invest abroad as well. FCA announced two years ago that it would invest over $1 billion in Mexican plants, and GM expects that it will invest $5 billion in the country between 2013 and 2018, or $1 billion per year. It’s notable that each of these three U.S. automakers continues to invest in the U.S. and create jobs at home.
If any presidential candidate deserves credit for transferring some Mexican production to the U.S., it’s Ohio Governor John Kasich. Kasich actually did have a hand in passing legislation providing tax cuts for Ford’s Ohio plant, making it easier for the company to transfer production and subsequently create more U.S. jobs.
