Speaking during a visit to General Motors’ (GM) Milford Proving Ground in Michigan on Monday, Trump said he had given US automakers “the right” to manufacture what he described as “tiny little” cars after seeing them across Europe.
“Today I’m giving all American car companies the right to build what are known as tiny little tiny cars. I go over to Europe and I see these little cars all over the place.”
Trump: Today, I’m giving all American car companies the right to build what are known as tiny little tiny cars. I go over to Europe and I see these little cars all over the place.
It’s a tiny little beautiful little car. I’m not sure I want to get hit by one of your Silverados… pic.twitter.com/7FeoCGz87k
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 27, 2026
Europe inspiration
Trump said he had asked Duffy to approve the proposal and claimed it was cleared immediately. Addressing GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra, he said the company could choose to build smaller cars while ensuring they met safety standards.
“It’s a tiny little beautiful little car. I’m not sure I want to get hit by one of your Silverados or one of your Cadillacs, but you’ll make them as safe as possible, right? You put a cocoon, you put a little cocoon around them.”
He also joked that he “would have been a wonderful automobile designer” and said there was a strong market for such affordable vehicles.
The remarks came during Trump’s visit to GM’s Milford Proving Ground in suburban Detroit, where he highlighted his administration’s automobile policies ahead of the US midterm elections.
He defended the 25% tariff on imported medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, saying it was intended to support American manufacturing.
Trump said GM had expanded domestic production because vehicles built in the US do not attract tariffs. He also claimed his administration was helping bring auto jobs back and that more auto factories were being built in the country than at any other time.
During the visit, Trump toured the GM facility, watched vehicle demonstrations, viewed models including a Corvette and a Cadillac, and signed a special-edition white Corvette built to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary.
His speech was briefly interrupted by protesters, whom he dismissed before continuing his remarks. He was joined on stage by GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra and several Michigan Republican leaders.
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