Trump takes credit for Ford’s return to U.S.
But the automaker says production move from Mexico was set in 2011.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Republican front-runner Donald Trump is taking credit for Ford Motor Co.’s moving some truck production from Mexico to Ohio. Problem is, Trump had nothing to do with it.
Trump issued a tweet Sunday night linking to a posting on a blog associated with a commercial printing company that bore the headline “Trump successfully pressures Ford to move Mexican plant to Ohio.” The blog post itself linked to a CNN story that mentioned Trump’s criticism of the company.
“Do you think Hillary, Ben or Jeb could do this?” Trump said in the tweet, a reference to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential rivals Ben Carson and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
The blog posting, and Trump, were referring to Ford’s 2011 decision to invest $168 million in its plant in Avon Lake, Ohio, and shift truck production there from Mexico.
While F-650/F-750 medium-duty trucks began rolling off the assembly line at the plant for the first time in August, the company made it clear that nothing has changed since 2011.
“Ford has not spoken with Mr. Trump, nor have we made any changes to our plans,” the company said in a statement. “We decided to move the F-650 and F-750 medium-du- ty trucks to Ohio Assembly in 2011, long before any candidates announced their intention to run for U.S. president.”
Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks didn’t reply to a request for comment.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who also is seeking the Republican nomination and backed tax breaks for the expansion in 2011, made it clear who he thinks actually deserves credit.
“Our country needs real leadership and not empty, false rhetoric,” Kasich’s campaign said in an email statement. “Working as a TEAM, we brought Ford production jobs back from Mexico to Ohio years ago. That’s how things really get done.”