BREAKING: Trump slams Biden’s 'government assassination' of American industry in energetic speech to Michigan auto workers

Speaking to a crowd at auto parts manufacturer Drake Enterprises in Clinton Township, Michigan on Wednesday evening, 2024 GOP frontrunner President Donald Trump slammed Biden’s electric vehicle mandate, equating it to an "assassination" of the American automotive industry.

"Biden, his mandate isn’t a government regulation. It’s a government assassination of your jobs and of your industry," Trump told autoworkers. According to CBS News, the rally was held at a non-union factory, while the crowd featured a mix of union and non-union workers.

"The auto industry is being assassinated."

Trump told the crowd that "the happiest day when you buy an electric car is the first 10 minutes you’re driving it. And then after that, panic sets in because you’re worried, 'where the hell am I going to get a charge to keep things going?'"

Trump called out major American automakers, citing billions of dollars lost on electric vehicles, asking, "why are they all agreeing to this?" The Biden administration has set forth a goal of having 50 percent of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2030.

Noting these losses, Trump said, "they’re going to be closing up and they’re going to be building those cars in China and other places. It’s a hit job on Michigan and on Detroit, and that’s not sustainable, these numbers are not sustainable. No company can afford to lose $60,000 per car."

"if you want to buy an electric car, that’s absolutely fine. I’m all for it. But we should not be forcing consumers to buy electric vehicles."

Trump noted the push toward electric truck fleets to move products across the country, saying that "they’re going to destroy the supply chain."

"They’re forcing the truckers to go all-electric, all-electric trucks. Now the trucks probably don’t have the power. They only go about 300 miles whereas a diesel fuel truck foes 2,000 miles. That’s a big difference."

"They want to do it with boats too," he said, joking "what happens if the boat is in an accident and starts sinking? Do you get electrocuted?"

Trump addressed his speech occurring at the same time as the second GOP primary debate, saying "they don’t have a crowd like we have," and noting the "thousands of people outside that couldn’t get in."

Addressing the children and grandchildren of Drake Entreprises founder Benny Stemple, Trump said, "we’re here to help you get that work done. And I want to congratulate you on three generations of American auto parts proudly made in Michigan."

"Bad things are happening in Michigan, your crime rates are through the roof, you got a lot of businesses moving out now."

"Today’s radical Democrat Party wants to legalize drugs, shoplifting, and sexual mutilation of your children but they want to allow your gas-powered Suburbans, Silverados, and Ford F-150s to die… Under a Trump administration, gasoline engines will be allowed and sex changes for children will be banned, is that okay?" Trump said, which was met with cheers from the crowd.

Citing estimates regarding Biden’s electric vehicle mandate, Trump said that "40 percent of all US auto jobs will disappear," later adding that "the real number will be 100 percent, because under Biden’s mandate, the entire car industry will be packed up and shipped to China, which controls over 80 percent of the supply chain for electric vehicle batteries."

"Get your union guys, your leaders, to endorse me and I’ll take care of the rest."

"To the striking workers, I support you and your goal of fair wages and greater stability and I truly hope you get a fair deal for yourselves and your families. But if your union leaders will not demand that crooked Joe repeal his electric vehicle mandate immediately then it doesn't matter what hourly wages you get, it just doesn't make a damn bit of difference because in two to three years, you will not have one job in this state."

"For autoworkers, Biden’s forced transition is a transition to hell. It's a transition to hell. It's a transition to unemployment and to inflation."

"Joe Biden is surrendering our auto industry to China just like he surrendered our borders to the cartels and he surrendered Afghanistan in the most embarrassing week, day, time period in the history of our country."

Listing his day one priority if he is returned to office in 2024, Trump said of the countries that the US spends billions on their military defense, "if they do not massively increase their purchases of Fords, Chevys, GMs, and jeeps, our troops are packing up and we're coming home. You gotta buy our products gotta buy our product."