President Donald Trump warned the Harley-Davidson company not to move part of its production overseas while visiting its home state of Wisconsin.
“We want to tell — by the way — Harley-Davidson, please build those beautiful motorcycles in the USA, please. OK? Don’t get cute with us. Don’t get cute. They don’t realize the taxes are coming way down,” Trump told an audience.
“Build them in the USA,” he continued. “Your customers won’t be happy if you don’t. I’ll tell you that.”
The company said Monday that it would be moving some production overseas to avoid the effect of retaliatory tariffs imposed by the EU in response to the Trump administration’s own tariffs. The move “is not the company’s preference, but represents the only sustainable option to make its motorcycles accessible to customers in the E.U. and maintain a viable business in Europe,” they said in a statement.
Trump has lambasted the company since the decision accusing them of lying about the motivation of their decision and accusing them of betraying him.
Harley-Davidson should stay 100% in America, with the people that got you your success. I’ve done so much for you, and then this. Other companies are coming back where they belong! We won’t forget, and neither will your customers or your now very HAPPY competitors!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2018