The following is an excerpt from the transcript of the Vice President’s remarks about auto jobs, manufacturing and the economy at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan on Friday, Oct. 4. At this particular campaign rally, Kamala Harris blasted her opponent as a ”loser” who makes big promises but always fails to deliver, and emphasized her unwavering commitment to delivering for working Michigan families, marking a stark contrast with Trump’s history of broken promises.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Look, let me say this: I will always put the middle class and working families first. I come from the middle class, and I will never forget where I come from. (Applause.)
And we know we cannot have a strong middle class without American manufacturing. So, over the last three and a half years, we have brought manufacturing back to America, creating 730,000 manufacturing jobs. (Applause.) We announced the opening of more than 20 new auto plants in the United States. (Applause.) And we did it by investing in American industry and American workers. (Applause.)
And I will make sure that America—not China—wins the competition for the 21st century—(applause)—which is why, under my plan, we will invest in the industries that built America, like steel, iron, and the great American auto industry. (Applause.)
And we will ensure that the next generation of breakthroughs, from advanced batteries to electric vehicles, are not only invented but built right here in America by American union workers. (Applause.)
And, Michigan, let us be clear: Contrary to what my opponent is suggesting, I will never tell you what kind of car you have to drive. (Applause.) But here’s what I will do. I will invest in communities like Flint,—(applause)—which helped build the auto industry and the UAW. (Applause.)
We will retool existing factories, hire locally, and work with unions to create good-paying jobs, including jobs that do not require a college degree—(applause)—because we understand a college degree is not the only measure of whether a worker has skills and experience to get the job done. (Applause.)
In fact, part of my plan is to outline all of the federal jobs that should not require a college degree and make that clear. And when I’m elected, I’m going to challenge the private sector to take on the same approach. (Applause.)
And then there’s Donald Trump.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, Donald Trump has a very different approach. So, Donald Trump makes big promises, and he always fails to deliver. (Applause.)
He said he was the only one who could bring back America’s manufacturing jobs. Remember that?
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: And then America lost nearly 200,000 manufacturing jobs when he was president —
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: — including tens of thousands of jobs in Michigan. And those losses started before the pandemic, making Donald Trump one of the biggest losers—(applause)—of manufacturing jobs in American history.
And his track record for the auto industry was a disaster. He promised workers in Warren that the auto industry would, I’ll quote, “not lose one plant” during his presidency. And then American automakers announced the closure of six auto plants when he was president, including General Motors in Warren and Stellantis in Detroit.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thousands of Michigan autoworkers lost their jobs. And when it came to building the cars of the future, Donald Trump sat on the sidelines and let China dominate.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: And then he talked down to American workers, saying we can’t compete with Chinese workers.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: And make no mistake, Donald Trump is no friend of labor. He encouraged automakers to move their plants out of Michigan so they could pay their workers less.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: And when the UAW went on strike to demand higher wages that they deserved, Donald Trump went to a nonunion shop—don’t forget—and he attacked the UAW. And he said striking and collective bargaining don’t make, quote, “a damn bit of difference.”
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Remember how he’s talked about striking workers, that you should fire them. That’s how he talks about union labor. That’s how he talks about workers.
But, Flint, we know—we know: Strong unions mean higher wages, better health care, and greater dignity—(applause)—for union members and for everyone. (Applause.)
And on top of all of that, Donald Trump signed a $2 trillion tax cut that mostly went to the wealthy and big corporations, not to working people.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: And now he is making the same empty promises to the people in Michigan that he did before. But we will not be fooled. We will not be gaslighted. Donald Trump’s track record is a disaster for working people. (Applause.)
And if he wins again, it will be more of the same. Check this out. So, two days ago, Donald Trump’s running mate suggested that if Trump wins, he might let the Grand River assembly plant in Lansing close down —
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: — the same plant that our administration helped save earlier this year, along with 650 union jobs. (Applause.)
Michigan, we together fought hard for those jobs. And you deserve a president who won’t put them at risk. (Applause.)
(End of transcript)
With each campaign stop in Michigan, Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz are showing Michiganders a better, brighter version of the future than the MAGA Project 2025 horrors that Donald Trump and J.D. Vance offer.
“A future with President Harris and Vice President Walz will bring more jobs, opportunities, and rights for workers and their families,” said Lavora Barnes, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. “Just this week it became clear that Trump and Vance won’t even commit to creating jobs or even protecting the ones we already have. As she always has been, Vice President Kamala Harris will continue to be a champion for middle-class Michigan families.”
