President Donald Trump says GM and Ford may help expand U.S. missile manufacturing capacity.
The Trump administration is exploring an unusual new role for Detroit’s biggest automakers. According to President Donald Trump, General Motors and Ford could soon contribute to the production of military equipment, including Patriot air defense systems and Tomahawk cruise missiles, as Washington seeks to bolster the nation’s defense manufacturing capabilities.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said the two companies are preparing to make use of idle production capacity and have already reached agreements involving missile-related components.
“We are building a lot of factories across the country. They are holding talks with General Motors and Ford. As far as I know, General Motors is very interested in this initiative and could reopen several plants,” Trump said.
The remarks come as reports indicate that the Pentagon has been in discussions with major automakers as part of a broader effort to ramp up weapons production and strengthen U.S. stockpiles.
“We have plenty of weapons, but we always want to ensure that we maintain even larger stockpiles,” he added.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has described the initiative as operating in a “wartime mode,” with the goal of tapping into the capabilities of commercial manufacturers to reinforce U.S. military readiness.
The Journal noted that the United States has relied on civilian industry during previous crises. American factories were converted to military production during World War II, and automakers were enlisted to manufacture ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The renewed focus on missile production comes amid concerns about U.S. inventories of key munitions. Earlier this year, the Financial Times reported that large numbers of Tomahawk cruise missiles and other weapons had been consumed during the conflict with Iran, raising questions about long-term stockpile levels.
Bloomberg previously reported that Trump is also interested in encouraging American defense contractors to establish licensed missile production facilities in Europe and Ukraine, expanding manufacturing capacity beyond U.S. borders.
While no specific timeline has been announced, Trump's comments suggest that some of the country's largest automotive manufacturers could once again find themselves supporting national defense efforts, echoing a role they played during earlier periods of American history.