President Donald Trump is testing the limits of his presidential authority and political muscle by threatening to slash all federal subsidies to General Motors because of its planned job cuts in the U.S.
Trump unloaded on Twitter on Tuesday, a day after GM announced it would shutter five plants and slash 14,000 jobs in North America. Many of the job cuts would affect the Midwest, the politically crucial region where the president promised a manufacturing rebirth.
He tweeted: "Very disappointed with General Motors and their CEO, Mary Barra, for closing plants in Ohio, Michigan and White Marsh, Maryland. Nothing being closed in Mexico & China."
Very disappointed with General Motors and their CEO, Mary Barra, for closing plants in Ohio, Michigan and Maryland. Nothing being closed in Mexico & China. The U.S. saved General Motors, and this is the THANKS we get! We are now looking at cutting all @GM subsidies, including....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2018
He says his administration is "looking at cutting all GM subsidies, including for electric cars."
