Former President Trump on Sunday called United Auto Workers President Sean Fain a “fool,” deepening the rift between his campaign and the union while promising to revitalize the auto industry if re-elected.
In an interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo (first aired on “Sunday Morning Futures”), President Trump said the auto industry would be a top priority for a potential second term, referencing his controversial policy of imposing stiff tariffs on imported cars.
“We’re going to take a lot of money, but we’re going to put a tariff on those jobs. We want them to build car plants in the United States of America,” Trump said. “The people of Michigan, who love me and who I love, are going to give us a win, because if they don’t, in two years, their auto industry won’t exist.” [Kamala Harris] be elected.”
“They have to make it in America and hire American workers, union or not,” he continued. “The United Auto Workers, who I know well, are voting for me. They’re led by an idiot, but they’re voting for me. They’re going to love Donald Trump more than they ever have.”
“We’re going to create more auto jobs than ever before in our most traditional sector,” he added. “We’re going to revive the auto industry, and we’re going to do it with tariffs.”
Mr. Fain’s UAW endorsed Vice President Harris last week after endorsing President Biden. Mr. Trump has been at odds with Mr. Fain for months, with union leaders calling him one of the worst presidents for their members.
“Trump has never stood for working class people. He’s never stood for unions,” Fain said Friday, “but now he was certainly trying to win our votes.”
President Trump has previously called on UAW members to turn against and fire Fain, the popular union president who won a landmark contract with a major automaker for UAW members last year.
In an online post, the union said Trump was a “billionaire strikebreaker” and that the union was not on his side.
Economists have warned that President Trump’s plan for sweeping tax cuts and tariffs could significantly raise the cost of goods for average Americans and increase the national debt. An economic analysis earlier this year concluded that the proposals could cost the average household $1,500 a week.
