Brian Pannebecker, the founder of Auto Workers for Trump 2024, asserted that Rust Belt autoworkers, typically a core part of the blue voting bloc, are not supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. Pannebecker made this claim while addressing a lively crowd of former President Trump’s supporters at a rally in Warren, Michigan, on Friday.
During his speech, Pannebecker declared that United Auto Workers (UAW) members are backing Donald Trump for president, urging the audience not to believe narratives suggesting otherwise. He emphasized that their choice was based on dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris administration’s policies, particularly concerning electric vehicle mandates.
Pannebecker highlighted recent layoffs by Ford Motor Company, affecting workers who assemble the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning in Dearborn, Michigan. According to him, these layoffs have left many people unemployed during the holiday season, with no return date anticipated until the following year.
Ford announced the temporary closure of the plant responsible for producing the F-150 Lightning from mid-November to January 6, citing adjustments to optimize sales growth and profitability. Recently, the company has shifted its investments from electric vehicles to hybrid models due to financial losses and lukewarm consumer demand for EVs.
This development coincides with the approaching presidential election, which has focused attention on Michigan as a key battleground state. Both Trump and Harris are directing efforts and resources toward influencing voters in this region.
In July, the United Auto Workers’ governing board endorsed Kamala Harris, with UAW President Shawn Fain stating their goal to defeat Donald Trump in favor of Harris due to her track record on working-class issues. Fain positioned Harris as a partner in combatting corporate greed as opposed to Trump, whom he characterized as aligning with billionaire interests.
Amidst these political dynamics, Trump is actively courting support from autoworkers by promising to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. and imposing tariffs to curtail vehicle imports from China and Mexico.
The race between Trump and Harris remains closely contested, with polls indicating a tight competition ahead of the November 5 election, as Michigan and other battleground states are expected to play a pivotal role in determining the outcome.
