“I’d be okay with that”
On September 11, 2026, President Donald Trump went on record saying he’d “be okay with” Chinese brands coming into the United States to build cars, provided they opened a manufacturing plant and hired U.S. workers.
President Trump made his stance clear in an interview, saying he would not oppose Chinese automakers building cars in the United States. While it’s one thing to hear it from the man himself, the U.S. auto industry has, thus far, opposed the entry of Chinese brands in the country. Opponents include American automakers and lawmakers.
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“The big thing is they hire our people.”
Reuters reported Trump’s statement from an interview on the Fox News program, “The Ingraham Angle.” Therein, the President stated: “If China wanted to come in and open a plant to build their cars here, I’d be okay with that.”
In this interview, he also brought up other practices done by other countries to get access and a strategic advantage in the United States. “Japan does it, but they hire our people. The big thing is they hire our people,” he continued.
President Trump also did not want Chinese automakers to build cars in neighboring countries, like Mexico and Canada, and ship them to the United States. “I’m not knocking Chinese cars,” he said.
“A Strategic Mistake”
While Trump makes his statements, automakers and lawmakers are urging him not to push through the decision. The President of the United States is set to meet with President Xi Jinping in Washington in the coming weeks. During this time, U.S. automakers are urging Trump not to allow Chinese automakers access to the U.S. market.
U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, stated that there were “rumors that Trump is planning to allow Chinese cars to be sold in the U.S. as part of a larger deal he is putting together. That would be a strategic mistake.” President Trump has since denied this statement and called it a “total phony rumor,” and stated that he has kept Chinese vehicles out of the United States thus far.
While President Trump appears “okay” with Chinese brands coming into the United States and setting up shop, the American auto industry still remains adamant. According to Reuters, “last week, a group representing nearly all major automakers urged Congress to quickly pass legislation permanently barring Chinese vehicles from the U.S. market.” The group is also known as the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and represents brands like General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Honda, Stellantis, and more. These brands hope to pass the bill by the end of the year, in December 2026.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation’s CEO, John Bozzella, said in a letter: “Right now, Chinese automakers are dumping subsidized vehicles with connected software and hardware around the world.”
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Earl Lee
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