Can the US auto industry bounce back again?

A bombshell announcement sparks fury from the White House, but is it too late?

By Mary Elizabeth Williams

Senior Writer

Published November 28, 2018 3:00PM (EST)

An exterior view of the GM Lordstown Plant on November 26, 2018 in Lordstown, Ohio (Getty/Jeff Swensen)
An exterior view of the GM Lordstown Plant on November 26, 2018 in Lordstown, Ohio (Getty/Jeff Swensen)

Salon introduces questions of the day, where we invite you to lead the conversation.

This week, General Motors announced the closure of several plants and the end of production for six car models, slashing its workforce by 15%. In response, Trump says he's putting "a lot of pressure" on the company. But can the White House really intervene change the course of a business decision? The US auto industry has come back from the brink once before — can it happen again in 2019?


By Mary Elizabeth Williams

Mary Elizabeth Williams is a senior writer for Salon and author of "A Series of Catastrophes & Miracles." Follow her on Bluesky @maryelizabethw.

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Auto Industry Donald Trump General Motors Layoffs Manufacturing