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It may be some time before President-elect Trump steps into the Oval Office, but he and his team are already making an impact on business leaders. Ford Motor Company Chairman Bill Ford, whose great-grandfather Henry Ford founded the iconic American auto giantBelieve Trump and Elon Musk are trying to help the industry.
“[Trump is] Very secure in the importance of a strong American industry. He not only wants to keep it strong, but to make it stronger from here.” Ford told reporters At the Detroit Auto Show.
The all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E is on display during the 2024 LA Auto Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center on November 22, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
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Ford added that Trump is not only focused on boosting automakers, but that he “aims to help the workers in the industry. He cares a lot about the people in the plants.”
Autoworker Brian Pannebecker listens as presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Suburban Collection showroom on October 26, 2024 in Novi, Michigan. (DrawU Angerer/AFP via Getty Images/Fox News)
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Touching on Trump's close relationship with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Ford said he wasn't too worried it would hurt the electric vehicle company's competitors. In fact, Ford is optimistic that Musk's position Car manufacturers will benefit.
“We've come together on a lot of different things,” Ford said, referring to Musk.
Elon Musk speaks with President-elect Donald Trump. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images/Getty Images)
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During his first term, Trump butted heads with the US auto industry over regulations, trade deals and tariffs. Ford admitted to having an affair with Trump during the then-president's first term “It had its ups and downs.” However, after speaking with Trump for a “long, long time,” Ford expressed optimism about the president-elect's approach to the auto industry in his second term.
“I feel very confident that, going forward, Ford will have a voice and a seat at the table,” Ford said.
Axios and Bloomberg contributed to this report.