Ford & John Deere LEAVE America—Trump’s Response Will Leave You Speechless!
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May 3, 2025
7.07K subscribers ... 35,178 views ... 626 likes
Ford CEO Jim Farley and John Deere CEO John May recently made surprising pronouncements that have sent shockwaves across the American manufacturing industry. In two separate comments, both CEOs affirmed that they are closing all factories and production plants in the United States and shifting activities elsewhere. This momentous decision is in direct response to newly elected US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on America's worldwide trade partners, which have dramatically increased the cost of exporting goods created in the United States. The strong tariffs, which were supposed to safeguard American industry, have backfired, driving overseas purchasers to turn elsewhere owing to rising prices and pushing American companies such as Ford and John Deere to take extraordinary measures to remain competitive.
Ford, one of America's most iconic automakers, and John Deere, the global leader in agriculture and construction machines, both cite Trump's new trade policy as the primary reason for their unexpected international migration. Ford CEO Jim Farley expressed alarm about the incoming administration's unsustainable economic climate, claiming that production costs had escalated to the point that Ford cannot afford to produce vehicles in the United States. Meanwhile, John Deere CEO John May expressed similar thoughts, adding that global demand for Deere's equipment has dropped substantially due to rising export costs, forcing the company to relocate manufacture overseas to prevent further financial losses.
This abrupt shift is a watershed moment for American manufacturing, raising serious concerns about the long-term consequences of Donald Trump's economic and trade policies. With Ford shifting its automobile production out of the United States and John Deere relocating its farming and industrial machinery operations, thousands of American workers are facing employment instability. This revelation might have far-reaching consequences for the US economy, the auto industry, the agricultural sector, and America's worldwide trade relations. Stay tuned as we delve into the political, economic, and social consequences of Ford and John Deere departing the United States in the aftermath of Trump's contentious tariff policies.
Transcript
- 0:00
- you know the slogan nothing runs like a deer well now John Deere's running all
- the way to Mexico the announcement sent shock waves through American industry ford CEO Jim Farley and John Deere CEO
- John May two titans of American manufacturing separately revealed they are shutting down all their factories
- and plants in the United States and moving operations abroad their decisions came swiftly on the heels of a dramatic
- policy shift by the newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump who declared
- sweeping tariffs on America's trade partners designed to push for stronger American leverage in international trade
- the move had an immediate and for some devastating impact on the export competitiveness of US-based
- manufacturing before we start smash the like and subscribe buttons for more
- updates both Farley and May cited the same fundamental reason for their decision the newlyannounced tariffs had
- made it far too expensive for international buyers to purchase US- produced goods for companies that rely
- 1:04
- heavily on global sales particularly in regions like Europe Asia and South America the financial calculus changed
- overnight with profit margins already tight in industries like automotive and agricultural machinery the increased
- cost burden placed on foreign buyers led to a sharp decline in orders almost immediately after the tariffs were
- unveiled ford with its sprawling history woven into the fabric of American
- identity had always positioned itself as a symbol of domestic manufacturing
- prowess its factories in Michigan Ohio Kentucky and Missouri employed tens of
- thousands of workers its vehicles rolled off assembly lines that were often seen as a source of local pride yet even with
- its deeply American roots the company could not ignore the harsh economics of the new trade environment jim Farley
- known for his strategic instincts and deep understanding of global markets recognized that remaining competitive
- 2:04
- under the new regime would be virtually impossible from within US borders the company's future viability he decided
- hinged on relocation similarly John Deere a company synonymous with
- America's agricultural heartland found itself cornered by the sudden spike in
- export prices the company had long relied on a healthy overseas market for its tractors harvesters and other heavy
- machinery its equipment supported farmers from Argentina to Australia and much of that demand was fueled by price
- stability and dependable quality with the new tariffs adding steep cost to their machines deer's ability to sell
- competitively evaporated john May a leader who had carefully modernized the
- company while staying true to its rural roots concluded that maintaining manufacturing in the US would be a
- financial liability under the new trade framework the ramifications of both
- decisions were immediate and severe entire towns that had thrived for decades around Ford and deer factories
- 3:06
- were suddenly facing economic collapse local suppliers many of them small and
- medium-sized businesses were thrust into existential uncertainty in the Midwest
- where both companies had concentrated much of their production the economic ecosystem built around the manufacturing
- giants began to unravel logistics firms parts manufacturers cafeteria workers
- machine shops training schools all began preparing for layoffs or closures as the industrial backbone they depended on
- pulled up stakes across the political spectrum the reaction was intense some
- viewed the company's departures as a betrayal of American labor an abandonment of the very communities that
- had supported them through downturns and recessions others blamed the policy shift itself arguing that the tariffs
- had triggered a predictable response in an era where global markets are intricately interconnected what was
- 4:02
- clear to everyone however was that this marked a turning point in US industrial history one not born of slow decline but
- of sudden policy whiplash as news of the factory shutdown spread stock markets
- shuttered investors who had counted on the stability and domestic loyalty of these corporations re-evaluated their
- assumptions financial analysts scrambled to revise earnings projections and long-term valuations although both Ford
- and John Deere made clear that their corporate entities would remain American the symbolism of their manufacturing
- flight cut deep in the boardrooms of other major US manufacturers urgent
- meetings were convened would they be next could they weather the cost shock without taking similar steps ford's
- shift abroad was comprehensive the company announced it would be relocating its major production facilities to
- regions where export relationships were not complicated by trade penalties southeast Asia Eastern Europe and Mexico
- 5:02
- were all floated as new homes for its manufacturing footprint in these areas
- Ford would benefit from lower labor costs and the absence of retaliatory tariffs farley also saw the opportunity
- to align the company with rising markets that had long demanded more attention and investment from his perspective the
- transition could even become a strategic advantage in the long run john Deere's plan was equally bold with much of its
- global demand coming from emerging agricultural economies the company began mapping a strategy that would
- decentralize its manufacturing instead of centralizing operations in large US
- plants Deer would build a network of regional factories closer to its international customers this model
- promised faster turnaround times reduced shipping costs and immunity from trade
- conflict for John May it was a painful but necessary evolution a way to ensure
- the company's long-term survival and relevance in an increasingly fragmented world economy the social impact of the
- 6:02
- announcements was immediate labor unions that had historically partnered with both companies were blindsided many had
- believed that years of collaboration wage concessions and retraining efforts had earned them security the sudden exit
- felt like a betrayal not just of workers but of an entire American ideal that
- hard work loyalty and innovation would keep domestic manufacturing alive worker
- protests broke out in several cities and union leaders gave somber press conferences lamenting the end of an era
- educational institutions also began to feel the ripple effects community colleges and vocational schools that had
- tailored their programs to train workers for Ford and Deer jobs were left scrambling partnerships with the
- companies evaporated overnight career paths that had been stable and predictable became obsolete guidance
- counselors and teachers once confident in recommending industrial careers to students were suddenly left without
- answers local governments faced a growing fiscal crisis municipal budgets
- 7:04
- that had been bolstered by industrial tax bases were thrown into disarray infrastructure projects were delayed or
- cancelled public services were scaled back economic development offices long
- reliant on the presence of anchor employers like Ford and Deer to attract smaller businesses found themselves
- trying to explain why anyone should invest in a region that had just lost its manufacturing lifeblood despite the
- backlash both CEOs held firm they reiterated that the decision to relocate
- was not taken lightly but was necessitated by the changed economic landscape while some critics accused
- them of prioritizing profits over patriotism others noted that the companies had a fiduciary responsibility
- to shareholders and that remaining competitive meant adapting quickly to new realities in global markets where
- speed cost efficiency and strategic positioning determine success sentimentality offered little defense
- 8:02
- against market forces the broader industrial community watched closely other major American manufacturers from
- Caterpillar to General Electric began conducting internal audits of their export vulnerabilities the underlying
- question was not just whether they could survive in the new tariff era but whether they could justify staying in
- the US if their primary customers resided overseas corporate strategists dusted
- off contingency plans that had once seemed too drastic to consider the actions of Ford and John Deere had
- pierced the veil of stability everything was now on the table economists began revising their models the assumption
- that American manufacturing would always remain anchored at home had to be rethought predictions about job growth
- inflation GDP contribution and regional economic health were recalibrated
- university think tanks convened emergency panels to study the ripple effects political scientists speculated
- that the move could realign voting patterns in key states as economic pain took root industrial policy experts
- 9:06
- warned that the country might be entering an era of rapid de-industrialization global competitors
- sensed an opportunity automotive and agricultural machinery companies in Europe China and India began ramping up
- production and marketing efforts hoping to seize market share that Ford and Deer might temporarily vacate during their
- transition international buyers wary of volatile US policy looked elsewhere for
- dependable suppliers trade alliances among other nations deepened as they sought to insulate themselves from
- future shocks tied to US decisions within the United States a cultural reckoning began to unfold for more than
- a century companies like Ford and John Deere had stood as pillars of the American dream a promise that industry
- and innovation could coexist with community and national identity their departure wasn't just an economic blow
- 10:00
- it was a psychological one it challenged deeply held beliefs about resilience loyalty and the role of business in
- society in coffee shops union halls and family kitchens Americans debated what
- the future would hold for the working class for small towns for the very concept of made in America meanwhile
- overseas governments welcomed the decisions several nations quickly offered incentives to attract the
- relocating plants tax breaks infrastructure support expedited permits
- ford and Deer were given VIP treatment and local press heralded the arrival of
- new jobs and high-tech facilities for countries long positioned as junior partners in global trade this was a
- moment of validation and leverage their industrial futures were being rewritten in real time though both companies
- maintained that the US would continue to be an important market their actions spoke volumes product pipelines were
- redirected engineering teams were relocated partnerships with foreign universities and suppliers were expanded
- 11:02
- the center of gravity was shifting america once the undisputed home of industrial modernity was watching its
- giants leave not because of economic decay but because of deliberate policy decisions that altered the balance of
- trade the scale and speed of these moves also raised logistical and operational
- challenges dismantling large-scale US production facilities required precision
- equipment had to be transported permits canceled employees compensated new sites
- had to be built or retrofitted abroad entire supply chains were re-imagined and reconstructed yet both companies
- demonstrated formidable agility they moved with the urgency of institutions that new delay could lead to greater
- losses and instability through it all one theme became clear the global
- economy rewards those who adapt and punishes those who cling too long to the past ford and John Deere in their own
- ways chose survival over symbolism their choices would leave scars but they also
- 12:03
- reflected a world where geography no longer dictated destiny and where the lines between national and corporate
- interests had blurred beyond recognition the long-term implications remained uncertain what was undeniable though was
- that a chapter had closed american manufacturing once defined by permanence and pride had entered a new era an era
- shaped by geopolitics volatility and relentless global competition the shock
- waves that rippled through the United States following the relocation announcements by Ford and John Deere
- were only the beginning of a much deeper shift as the initial dust began to settle the scale of what had occurred
- started to reveal itself not merely in headlines but in daily life across countless communities it wasn't just
- that two massive companies had left it was that their departure signaled a potential exodus a domino effect that
- began to redefine America's place in the global economic order while the closure of factories made the biggest headlines
- 13:01
- the more profound transformation was happening in the underlying infrastructure that had long supported
- these industrial behemoths entire logistical networks that had evolved around Ford and Deer were abruptly
- thrown into disarray rail lines optimized for delivering steel to their plants suddenly had no destination ports
- that had seen regular shipments of components and finished goods had to readjust their scheduling losing
- valuable revenue and causing ripple effects in everything from trucking companies to warehouse operators these
- were not small adjustments they represented the unraveling of systems that had been fine-tuned over decades
- built upon predictability and scale suppliers were among the first to feel the full force of the relocation from
- companies producing complex engine parts to firms making the tiniest of screws the demand from Ford and Deer had
- provided a lifeline to thousands of small and midsized American manufacturers many of these businesses
- 14:02
- had no contingency plans they were too specialized too reliant on a handful of
- large contracts to pivot quickly within weeks of the announcements suppliers began to announce mass layoffs closures
- or desperate attempts to find overseas buyers to fill the sudden gap in orders then came the financial institutions
- regional banks that had extended credit to businesses tied to the manufacturing sector began to reassess their
- portfolios credit lines were tightened or frozen loans that had once been considered safe were now liabilities
- businesses that had previously enjoyed strong banking relationships found themselves under scrutiny or cut off
- entirely economic contraction began feeding upon itself as uncertainty bred more caution and caution led to further
- slowdown the educational and training sectors often overlooked in the manufacturing conversation suffered a
- quiet but critical blow many high school vocational programs and technical colleges had invested heavily in
- 15:02
- industrial training aligned with the needs of Ford and Deer from CNC machining to diesel engine repair these
- programs were tailored to ensure students could step directly into well-paying jobs with major employers
- when those employers vanished the curriculum lost its relevance enrollment dropped funding shrank a generation of
- students especially those in rural and bluecollar communities found the pathways they were preparing for no
- longer existed local governance especially in counties and towns with limited economic diversity entered a
- period of crisis management city councils that had relied on consistent revenue from business taxes and worker
- income suddenly had to re-evaluate their budgets police departments fire stations
- public libraries and road maintenance all faced cuts emergency funds often modest at best were quickly depleted
- some towns began actively lobbying smaller manufacturers or even foreign firms to fill the void often offering
- 16:03
- generous tax breaks and real estate to attract attention however in the short
- term these efforts bore little fruit as the shadow cast by the recent exits loomed too large on a national level the
- story was more than just economic it was existential political discourse took a
- darker tone lawmakers were forced to address questions they had long avoided what is the purpose of American
- industrial policy can free market capitalism coexist with national economic resilience is globalization an
- irreversible tide or something that can still be navigated differently these debates once confined to think tanks or
- academic papers spilled into televised town halls campaign rallies and congressional hearings corporate America
- watching closely began its own quiet recalibrations while Ford and Deer were the headline acts many other companies
- had already been contemplating similar moves the dramatic nature of the announcements provided both cover and
- 17:01
- precedent internal strategy teams at major firms like Boeing General Motors Whirlpool and Honeywell convened daily
- to assess the evolving cost benefit equations legal departments reviewed international treaties and bilateral
- trade agreements corporate boards began approving exploratory initiatives to establish or expand overseas production
- facilities even in sectors that had been considered too American to fail
- internationally the realignment created an unexpected moment of opportunity governments in developing nations moved
- quickly to secure new manufacturing agreements they revised labor laws invested in industrial zones and
- launched media campaigns positioning themselves as the new centers of global production countries like Vietnam Poland
- and Brazil aggressively courted American corporations emphasizing not just cost advantages but political stability and
- improved logistics in a world increasingly wary of relying too heavily on China many of these countries found
- 18:00
- themselves suddenly at the center of strategic conversations us allies too responded with caution the sweeping
- tariffs introduced by President Trump not only affected America's adversaries but also strained longstanding
- relationships with partners like Canada the United Kingdom Germany and Japan in
- trade meetings and diplomatic summits there was a noticeable chill american goods once regarded as aspirational
- became symbols of unpredictability european and Asian buyers began emphasizing regional
- alternatives not out of preference but as a form of insurance against future policy volatility the reputational cost
- for American manufacturing extended beyond economics it altered perceptions of reliability and commitment consumer
- behavior also began to shift in subtle but important ways domestic buyers aware
- of the controversy and perhaps influenced by patriotic sentiment started to favor products that still
- bore the made in USA label but those products were increasingly difficult to find particularly in categories like
- 19:05
- automobiles and farm equipment some consumers turned to smaller niche producers but those companies often
- could not match the scale or pricing of larger brands others resigned to the
- globalized nature of commerce adapted without much fuss but in parts of the country where identity and pride had
- long been linked to homegrown manufacturing a quiet disillusionment began to grow within the corporate
- cultures of Ford and Deer the transitions were complex while public-f facing messaging emphasized pragmatism
- and growth internal communications were more fraught longerving employees
- particularly those who had worked their way up through the ranks felt a deep sense of loss executives tasked with
- overseeing the transition faced morale challenges not just among US staff but
- also in integrating new teams abroad cultural differences labor standards and
- 20:00
- logistical hurdles added layers of complexity even as production lines were rebuilt elsewhere the spirit and
- cohesion that had once defined these companies remained in flux one of the most striking consequences of the
- relocations was the ideological fragmentation it exposed traditionally
- support for manufacturing had been a bipartisan issue yet now fault lines opened within both political parties
- some Republicans though aligned with President Trump's economic nationalism found themselves torn between tariff
- support and the loss of major employers in their districts some Democrats long critical of globalization struggled to
- articulate a vision that balanced worker protections with economic realism think
- tanks and advocacy groups flooded the public sphere with opeds and position papers each offering divergent
- explanations and proposed solutions amid the noise clarity remained elusive the
- human impact deepened with time families who had built their lives around steady factory jobs found themselves forced to
- 21:01
- reconsider their futures some moved to other states or even abroad to follow the work others attempted to retrain for
- different industries often with limited success the emotional toll anxiety
- depression identity crises became a major issue in affected communities mental health clinics churches and
- community centers reported increased demand the social fabric woven through generations of shared purpose and
- collective stability began to fray meanwhile the automation debate gained new urgency many industry watchers noted
- that even as Ford and Deer moved abroad they were unlikely to recreate their US employment levels in foreign markets
- instead new facilities would likely be built with automation in mind smaller workforces higher efficiency and fewer
- human interventions the long-standing hope that reshoring might one day bring back jobs now faced a different problem
- even if companies returned they would do so with robots not workers this added
- 22:00
- another layer of concern for policymakers and labor advocates it wasn't just about location anymore it
- was about the fundamental future of work environmental concerns also entered the conversation environmentalists had long
- criticized US industrial practices but the new reality prompted a rethink while
- some celebrated the potential reduction in domestic emissions from shuttered factories others warned that moving
- production to countries with laxer environmental regulations could ultimately worsen global pollution the
- net effect they argued might be a shift in pollution not a reduction additionally the longer transportation
- distances involved in global supply chains could increase carbon footprints unless mitigated by changes in logistics
- or technology as Ford and Deer set up new headquarters for their manufacturing operations in countries with more
- favorable trade dynamics they also began reinvesting in R&D centers closer to
- emerging markets this raised another long-term concern the potential hollowing out of American innovation
- 23:04
- traditionally manufacturing and R&D had a synergistic relationship engineers
- benefited from being near the production floor designers could rapidly prototype
- test and iterate with these elements now geographically separated some industry
- veterans worried that the US might lose its edge not only in production but in invention as well the press initially
- caught up in the sensational aspects of the story eventually shifted focus to
- deeper investigative journalism stories emerged of small towns on the verge of
- bankruptcy family businesses wiped out overnight and school districts left with
- shrinking enrollments and reduced funding long- form documentaries and feature pieces highlighted the stories
- of individual workers many in their 50s or 60s who found themselves forced back
- into job markets with limited demand for their skills these human portraits brought a level of urgency and poignency
- 24:01
- to the national conversation reminding the public that behind every corporate decision were thousands of lives in
- transition universities long thought of as immune to industrial change began
- revisiting their own policies engineering schools adjusted their curriculum to reflect more international
- case studies business schools updated courses on supply chain strategy and geopolitical risk some institutions
- launched new research centers dedicated to studying the implications of de-industrialization and transnational
- corporate behavior philanthropic foundations recognizing the moment's gravity began funding fellowships and
- scholarships for students affected by the factory closures despite all the upheaval the relocation sparked a wave
- of entrepreneurship in some corners displaced engineers and managers launched startups focused on additive
- manufacturing sustainable agriculture or next generation mobility venture capital
- firms began investing cautiously in regions previously considered flyover country hoping to discover the next wave
- 25:06
- of innovation not every story ended in despair there were seeds of resilience
- and reinvention although their success would depend on broader economic support and time while the answers remained
- elusive the need for dialogue had never been clearer the old assumptions that
- American manufacturing was immovable that global trade would always bend in favor of the US that patriotism and
- profit would neatly coexist had all been broken in their place stood uncertainty
- but also possibility as the world watched and adapted one truth emerged
- unmistakably from the turmoil the choices of a few leaders can reshape the destiny of millions and in an era
- defined by speed complexity and interconnection those choices would continue to echo long after the factory
- lights went dark as the economic tremors continued to widen another front of impact began to emerge one that struck
- 26:02
- not at machinery or markets but at the idea of what it meant to work to produce and to belong ford and John Deere's
- departure from the United States ushered in not just a new economic reality but also a cultural reckoning for more than
- a century these companies had helped define the working identity of millions their factories were more than
- production centers they were institutions of American life with their exit a void opened not merely of jobs
- and tax revenue but of meaning sociologists cultural commentators and
- anthropologists began documenting the subtle shifts in daily life in regions affected by the closures in small towns
- and industrial suburbs a deep sense of loss permeated even mundane routines
- bars that had served shift workers saw sharp declines in patronage weekend softball leagues disbanded for lack of
- participation union halls once bustling with collective energy and camaraderie
- fell quiet these spaces which had once anchored communities socially as well as
- 27:03
- economically were becoming relics of a fading era one of the most poignant transformations unfolded in the rhythms
- of time itself factory work had long given structure to life in many towns
- morning whistles lunch breaks and shift changes punctuated the day children grew
- up aligning their routines to the factory schedules of parents and neighbors when those jobs vanished so
- too did the communal clock with no shared temporal anchor days became more
- fragmented unpredictable and in many ways less purposeful for older workers
- especially the disintegration of routine contributed to a sense of dislocation that no amount of government assistance
- could truly address a concurrent change unfolded in America's educational psychology parents who had encouraged
- their children to follow in their footsteps into trades supported by industrial giants began to second-guess
- those aspirations guidance counselors who once directed students toward apprenticeships or vocational
- 28:02
- certifications in welding electrical systems or heavy equipment repair had to recalibrate the advice shifted be
- flexible learn digital skills consider service work or remote careers this
- advice though well-intentioned often clashed with the deeply ingrained values of craftsmanship and physical labor
- passed down through generations this generational divergence introduced tensions within families parents who had
- built lives through manual labor were now encouraging children to enter unfamiliar worlds tech healthcare gig
- work out of necessity some younger people embraced the pivot eagerly seeing
- an opportunity to escape the constraints of industrial labor others felt conflicted even guilty about leaving
- behind the identity their communities had been built upon the shifting narrative of success created both
- opportunity and alienation as old measures of pride and achievement no longer applied religious institutions
- and community organizations attempted to fill the void churches long a source of stability in times of economic hardship
- 29:07
- saw increases in attendance as people sought meaning and guidance sermons began to reflect the anxieties of
- de-industrialization themes of resilience reinvention and faith amid uncertainty became central to
- congregational life some clergy began organizing job fairs resume workshops or
- even spiritual support groups tailored to laid-off workers yet even these efforts though wellreceived could not
- stem the undercurrent of collective grief the psychological toll deepened further among long-term employees who
- found themselves unequipped to compete in the modern labor market many lacked college degrees and their skills though
- highly specialized and honed through years of experience were not easily transferable they faced a double bind
- overqualified for entry-level positions yet underqualified for new industry roles a surprising number began
- withdrawing from the workforce entirely disability claims rose early retirements
- 30:05
- spiked the American labor participation rate saw localized declines that defied
- broader national trends drawing attention from demographers and economists alike if you like this video
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- on Ford and John Deere moving factories abroad after Trump tariffs we want to
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