President-elect Donald Trump knows just about everything there is to know when it comes to automation, he boasted Thursday.
The curious brag came in a lengthy Truth Social post on Thursday afternoon, where the MAGA leader said he had just finished meeting with leaders of the International Longshoremen’s Association.
The prominent labor union represents between 45,000 and 85,000 dockworkers, who walked off the job on the East and Gulf coasts in October after failing to come to an agreement with port owners on a new contract. The dispute stemmed over wage increases and use of automation. The strike was suspended Oct. 3 and the current contract was extended until Jan. 15 to allow for further negotiations.
"There has been a lot of discussion having to do with 'automation' on United States docks," wrote Trump. "I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it. The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen."
ALSO READ: The reckoning: Plenty of hurts coming for the people who didn't care about their country
Trump asserted that companies abroad have "made a fortune" in the United States by "giving them access to our markets." He slammed these companies and accused them of behaving greedily.
"They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt. They’ve got record profits, and I’d rather these foreign companies spend it on the great men and women on our docks, than machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced."
Trump said these firms will see "no gain" in the end — and he hopes they understand the issue's importance to him.
"For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries," said Trump. "It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!"
