Trump administration looks to Ford, GM in WWII-style weapons push: report
The Trump administration has quietly approached US industrial giants including Ford and General Motors about potentially boosting weapons production, according to a report.Senior Pentagon officials have held talks with Ford CEO Jim Farley and GM boss Mary Barra about whether the automakers could help the military replenish its weapons stockpiles, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.The discussions are part of a broader push by the administration to put military manufacturing on what War Secretary Pete Hegseth has described as a “wartime footing,” according to the report.The outreach echoes World War II-era efforts when Detroit automakers halted car production to churn out bombers, trucks and aircraft as part of the US’ “Arsenal of Democracy,” the Journal noted.Today, however, only GM maintains a dedicated defense arm, while Ford’s involvement is largely limited to adapting its commercial vehicles for military and government use.Administration officials believe Ford and GM could leverage their workforce and manufacturing capacity to support increased munitions output amid rising global demand tied to conflicts including Ukraine and Iran, the article stated.Defense officials held what the Journal described as “preliminary and wide-ranging” discussions with auto executives focused on whether the companies could pivot to defense work.The talks reportedly began before the outbreak of the Iran war and come as the Pentagon looks to expand production of key systems such as missiles and counter-drone technology.Executives from GE Aerospace and Oshkosh Defense have also been included in the discussions.Follow The Post’s live coverage of President Trump and national politics for the latest news and analysis“The Department of War is committed to rapidly expanding the defense industrial base by leveraging all available commercial solutions and technologies to ensure our warfighters maintain a decisive advantage,” a Pentagon official told The Post.�...