WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump warned that U.S. auto employees’ jobs will transfer to China and accused the United Auto Employees’ management of failing its members, 1000’s of whom went on strike Friday in opposition to Basic Motors, Ford and Stellantis.

“The auto employees is not going to have any jobs, Kristen, as a result of all of those vehicles are going to be made in China. The electrical vehicles, robotically, are going to be made in China,” Trump instructed NBC Information’ Kristen Welker in an unique, wide-ranging interview set to air Sunday on “Meet the Press.”

“The auto employees are being bought down the river by their management, and their management ought to endorse Trump,” the Republican presidential frontrunner added.

Roughly 13,000 U.S. auto employees stopped making autos and went on strike following failed negotiations on a slew of points, together with greater pay.

The strike marked the primary time the United Auto Employees union focused the three automaker titans concurrently.

Employees walked out at GM’s midsize truck and full-size van meeting plant in Wentzville, Missouri; Ford’s Ranger pickup and Bronco SUV plant in Wayne, Michigan; and Stellantis’ Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator plant in Toledo, Ohio.

Learn extra: Why the United Auto Employees need large raises

Trump particularly criticized UAW president Shawn Fain. “I feel he isn’t doing a great job in representing his union, as a result of he isn’t going to have a union in three years from now. These jobs are all going to be gone, as a result of all of these electrical vehicles are going to be made in China. That is what’s occurring,” Trump mentioned.

Fain has beforehand mentioned {that a} second Trump presidency can be a “catastrophe.” However he has additionally withheld his endorsement of President Joe Biden.

Talking from the White Home, Biden mentioned on Friday that he hopes all events are in a position to strike “a win-win settlement.”

“The businesses have made some vital gives,” Biden mentioned, including “However I imagine they need to go additional to make sure file company income imply file contracts for the UAW.”

Biden mentioned that he additionally revered the fitting of employees to “use their choices underneath the collective bargaining system.” 

Learn extra: Biden says file income ought to guarantee file contracts as UAW strikes Ford, GM and Stellantis crops

Trump has sought to grab the mantle of essentially the most fervent China hawk within the U.S. presidential election. He additionally tried to make Biden’s electrical automobile push a key a part of his case in opposition to the president.

The crumbling relationship between Washington and Beijing, the world’s two largest economies, intensified underneath the Trump administration.

Trump positioned blame squarely on China for a variety of grievances, together with mental property theft, unfair commerce practices and the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden has sought to work rigorously with allies as a way to mount a extra united pushback in opposition to China.

He has additionally beforehand mentioned that in his political profession, he has spent extra time with Chinese language President Xi Jinping than another world chief.