Update: Trump Tweets Plus this morning on GM Plant

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – President Donald Trump again tweeted this morning about the closure of the General Motors complex in Lordstown, calling on United Auto Workers International and GM to get to the negotiating table now rather than wait for September. to negotiate a new agreement.

The latest tweet follows Trump's release over the weekend of a pair of glasses for GM's president and 1112 UAW, Dave Green, who represents workers at the unused Trumbull County mill. almost two weeks ago.

"General Motors and the UAW will start" talks "in September / October. Why wait, start now! I want jobs to stay in the United States and that I wish Lordstown (Ohio), one of the best economies in our history, to be open or sold to a company that will open it quickly! "Trump m said Monday morning.

"All car manufacturers are coming back to the United States, as are all the others. We now have the best economy in the world, the envy of all, "he said. continued. "Open this big and beautiful plant in Ohio now. Shut down a factory in China or Mexico, where you have invested a lot before Trump, but not in the United States. Take home jobs! "

Trump's Sunday tweet – his second of the weekend about the future of the plant, in which he specifically called Green – sparked strong reprimands from Democrats. It was a tweet storm during which the president had sent more than 50 messages.

"UAW Local 1112 Democrat President David Green should prepare and produce," said the president. tweeted. "G.M. to drop our country, but other much better auto companies are coming in droves to the United States. I want a quick action at Lordstown. Stop complaining and do the work! 3.8% unemployment! "

An article published today in the Washington Post has linked Trump 's tweet targeting Green with a discussion on Fox News about the political implications of closing the plant.

"This tweet arrived a few minutes after a segment of Fox News Channel hinted that Trump might have problems with his re-election campaign in the Rust Belt. Fox News aired footage of a Trump rally in Youngstown, Ohio, very close to Lordstown, where the president told the crowd in July 2017: "Do not sell your house" because the jobs "come back," the Post reported. .

Drive It Home Ohio, a campaign launched by Local 1112 and the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber to convince GM to continue production at the Lordstown plant, issued its own statement in response.

"We are doing everything we can with the Drive It Home Ohio campaign to convince General Motors CEO Mary Barra to reinvest in GM Lordstown, "Green said in his campaign statement. said, GM plans to discuss our fate with the UAW in the fall and we are focusing on getting a new product in Lordstown.

A few hours later, Trump tweeted that he had spoken to Barra:

"We just talked to Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, of the plant in Lordstown, Ohio. I am not happy that it is closed when all the rest of our country is in full swing. I asked him to sell it or do something quickly. She blamed Union UAW: I do not care about that, I just want it to be open!

US representative Tim Ryan, whom Green was accompanying as a guest at Trump's State of the Union speech in February, called the president's tweet "counterproductive and insulting" in a statement released Sunday after -midday. Green and the workers at the Lordstown plant "deserve better," he added.

"They worked tirelessly to build award-winning cars and dedicated their lives to GM. They are incomparable. Since it was announced that GM would close Lordstown, Dave has worked tirelessly to help save those jobs, families and the community, "said Ryan, D-13 Ohio.

The congressman also referred to a pair of letters that Green sent to Trump on July 6 and February 1, asking for help but receiving "no response" from the president.

"The president's tweet today is offensive and does nothing to help bring back the manufacturing jobs he promised my district," said Ryan. "We all deserve better."

US Representative Bill Johnson, R-6 from Ohio, said Trump "is passionate about getting people back to work in Lordstown," adding that Green "is working hard for him."

"In the end, everyone in Mahoning Valley does what it can to ensure the best possible outcome to all affected Ohio workers," Johnson said.

General Motors reiterated in a statement released Sunday night that the future of the plant would be determined during this summer's negotiations with the UAW.

"We remain open to discussion with all relevant stakeholders, but our main focus remains our employees and offer jobs in our factories where we have growth opportunities," the company said.

In response to the President's tweets, US Senator Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, stated that Local 1112 members "showed courage and determination in the face of adversity and fought from the very first moment. day for Lordstown. Instead of attacking the workers, it's time to oppose GM and join the fight. "

US Senator Rob Portman, R-Ohio, who, along with Brown and Ryan, met Barra last year to discuss the Lordstown plant, said through the intermediary of a spokesman that he "would continue to press GM for the new production to reach the factory".

Sunday's tweets followed a message on the GM Lordstown complex the day before:

"Because the economy is so good, General Motors has to open its plant in Lordstown, Ohio, perhaps in a different form or with a new owner, FAST! Toyota invests $ 13.5 billion[[[[sic]in the United States, others as well. G.M. MUST ACT FAST. Hurry up!

Johnson tweeted that he was in agreement with the president after Saturday's statement.

"I hope that GM will quickly rethink its plan for the Lordstown plant. Otherwise, they will make a big mistake by letting go of this highly skilled workforce from the car manufacturing sector, "he said. "Other automakers should consider moving in if GM does not."

David Pepper, chairman of the Democratic Party of Ohio, issued a statement Saturday night that the last Cruze had left the command line almost two weeks ago.and only today Donald Trump realized what had happened. "

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump "promised the Mahoning Valley workers," said Pepper, but on the day of his inauguration, GM completed his third shift at the Lordstown plant. At a rally in Youngstown in 2017, Trump told people not to sell their homes because jobs that had left Ohio would come back.

"After GM announced its intention to close the Lordstown factory, Trump showed no sympathy for the plight of those workers," he continued. He said, "It does not really matter" and promised that these jobs would be replaced "in two minutes. The Lordstown workers wrote to the president, but they never received a response.GM workers attended the president's speech on the state of the union, but Trump did not say a word to reassure them. "

Posted by Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.

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