Trump hints that Foxconn deal could hit $30 billion

MADISON, WIS. — President Donald Trump casually mentioned Tuesday that Foxconn’s chairman told him in confi- dence the electronics giant’s investment could reach $30 billion, triple the size of last week’s deal with Wisconsin that some already viewed as optimistically inflated.

Trump made the comments while addressing small-busi- ness leaders at the White House. He didn’t elaborate on how the figure could grow so high or even clarify whether he was referring to just Wis- consin or nationwide — includ- ing investments in other plants not yet announced.

“They’re going to spend $10 billion, but he is one of the great businessmen of our time,” Trump said in reference to Foxconn CEO Terry Gou. “And I think the number is going to be $30 billion. He told me off the record he thinks he may go $30 billion, $30 billion. Think of this. He may go 30 billion dollar invest- ment, but he told me that off the record so I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

This is the second time in a week that Trump has made public conversations he says he had in private with business leaders. Last week Trump told The Wall Street Journal that Apple CEO Tim Cook told him he was committed to building three big facilities in the U.S., plans Apple has not confirmed.

The deal Gov. Scott Walker and Foxconn signed Thursday called for the Taiwanese company to invest $10 billion in Wisconsin and employ 3,000 people by 2020, with up to 13,000 within six years.

Critics of the deal have questioned-whether Foxconn would come close to those lofty targets, noting that it’s promised to build other plants and not followed through.