Former President Trump called United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain a “stupid person” on Sunday, deepening a divide between his camp and the union while promising to revitalize the industry if reelected.
Trump said in a Fox News interview with Maria Bartiromo first aired on “Sunday Morning Futures” that the auto industry will be a top priority for his potential second term, referring to his controversial policy to enact harsh tariffs on imported cars.
“We’re going to take in a fortune, but we’re going to tariff those jobs. We want them to build auto plants in the United States,” Trump said. “Those people in Michigan that love me and that I love, and then they’re going to give us a victory because their auto industry won’t exist in two years if [Vice President Harris] gets elected.”
“They’ve got to build in the United States, and they have to hire U.S. workers and whether it’s union or nonunion,” he continued. “Look, the United Auto Workers I know very well, they vote for me. They have a stupid person leading them, but they vote for me. They’re going to love Donald Trump more than ever before.”
“We’re going to create in that area, the most traditional area, we’re going to have more auto jobs that we’ve ever had,” he added. “We’re bringing back the automobile industry, and we’re going to do that with tariffs.”
The UAW, led by Fain, endorsed Vice President Harris last week after previously endorsing President Biden. Trump has feuded with Fain for months, with the union leader denouncing Trump as one of the worst presidents for union workers.
“Trump has never supported working class people. He has never supported unions,” Fain said Friday. “But he sure as hell was trying to pander for our votes now.”
Trump has previously called on UAW members to rise up against Fain and have him removed from his post. The popular union president won a landmark contract with major automakers for UAW members last year.
In a post online, the union said Trump is “a scab and a billionaire,” saying they are not on his side.
Economists have warned that Trump’s plan to radically cut taxes and implement tariffs could significantly increase product costs for the average American and increase the national debt. An economic analysis earlier this year found that the proposal would cost the average household $1,500 per year.