Donald Trump 'takes credit' for 150 car jobs first announced under Barack Obama

Donald Trump has been accused of taking credit for new car industry jobs that were first announced during Barack Obama’s administration.

The US President wrote, in a tweet, that Ford would imminently announce major investment in three Michigan plants.

The American auto giant later that day outlined details of the $1.2bn (£963m) investment and 130 jobs in keeping with plans mooted in 2015.

“Big announcement by Ford today,” wrote the 70-year-old property magnate.

“Major investment to be made in three Michigan plants. Car companies coming back to US. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!”

Steve Rattner, who was an automotive policy adviser under Mr Obama, was quick to call him out.

“The big news ended up being only 130 jobs in MI that were announced back in 2015. When will he stop misleading ppl?” said the 64-year-old Democrat and financier.

Brian Klaas, a London School of Economics fellow and former US campaign adviser, said: “Every time Trump plugs these ‘announcements’, headline writers should pause, and look up when it was announced. This one, for example: 2015.”

In January, Ford scrapped plans to build a $1.6bn car factory in Mexico and instead added 700 jobs in Michigan following Mr Trump’s criticism surrounding investment in America.

The car manufacturer today said it will invest in the plants in Flat Rock, and Wayne, and that its investment in Romeo will create the 130 jobs.

The Romeo and Wayne projects were both part of 2015 negotiations with the United Automated Workers (UAW) about a $9bn investment in US plants over four years.

“We're optimistic that we'll continue to see good economic growth for the U.S. in the near term,” said Ford president Joe Hinrichs.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after Mr Trump visited Detroit to promise more auto jobs for Michigan and other Midwestern US states.

His adviser Kellyanne Conway was quick to point this out, and said on Twitter: “Two weeks after @POTUS met with auto execs… Ford plans ‘significant’ investments in 3 plants’.”

Mr Trump earlier this year celebrated job creation revealed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, despite calling its statistics as "total fiction" during Mr Obama's tenure.