Conway defends Trump over GM closure: ‘The president doesn’t run GM, he runs the country’s economy’

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway on Tuesday defended President Trump after General Motors announced the possible closure of five plants, four of which are in the U.S.

Conway said that Trump had created a “record number of manufacturing jobs” and he “doesn’t run GM. He runs the country’s economy.”

{mosads}”There’s a record number of manufacturing jobs created on his watch,” Conway said outside the White House. “Manufacturing was flat on its back, it was an industry that was not prioritized by the last administration, up there with mining, construction, manufacturing, and this president has prioritized them because they are the forgotten man or forgotten woman.”

“And the President doesn’t run GM,” she said. “He runs the country’s economy and that’s why the confidence and optimism numbers are up, the growth numbers are up, the unemployment is way down.”

“The message to them is that this president has created an economy where their skill sets can thrive,” she said.

GM announced Monday that it will close up to five manufacturing plants in North America, four of which are situated in Michigan, Maryland and Ohio. 

Trump blasted the automaker for the decision and said he would put “a lot of pressure” on the company.

He told The Wall Street Journal in an interview Monday that GM “better damn well open a new plant there very quickly.”

Conway pointed to Trump’s criticism of GM.

“He expressed his disappointment just yesterday in front of all of you on the south lawn,” Conway said. “I’ll let his statements speak for themselves.”

“I love Ohio,” Trump said, according to the Journal. “I told them, ‘you’re playing around with the wrong person.’ “

Conway emphasized Trump’s criticism of the company.

“He has expressed disappointment in GM and feels that this country has been very good to GM and that that is a particular vehicle that’s not selling, but he will not, he will not abandon or betray the forgotten men or forgotten women in manufacturing,” she said.

“That’s why the net number of jobs created in that field are way up,” she said.