U.S. President Donald Trump has backed away from a September threat to block Bombardier sales in the U.S. after learning of the company's operations in Kansas.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
U.S. President Donald Trump appears to be backing away from his threat to shut Canadian aerospace giant Bombardier out of the U.S. market, following a visit to Kansas where he learned about the company’s significant operations in Wichita.
In September, amid a growing trade dispute with Canada, Trump threatened to block sales of Bombardier jets in the United States. On Sept. 7, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES! Their products aren’t good enough!" He added, "If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a ‘piggybank.’"
However, while visiting Kansas on Monday, Trump struck a dramatically different tone after learning about Bombardier’s operations in Wichita, where the company employs about 1,500 people. "We’re going to take care of Bombardier," Trump told 12 News in Kansas. He repeated the sentiment on stage at a rally later in the day.
Trump was in Kansas to campaign for Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who is locked in an unusually competitive re-election fight against Democrat Adam Hamilton. Kansas has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since 1932, but polls have shown a close race this year.
Trump’s September threat against Bombardier had become a political issue in Kansas because of the company’s 1,500 jobs in Wichita. Marshall was among the Kansas lawmakers who contacted the White House after Trump threatened to block Bombardier from the U.S. market. Trump specifically cited Marshall’s involvement when he told local television Monday that his administration would "take care of Bombardier."
Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, has argued for months that Bombardier is deeply embedded in the American economy. "Bombardier has many hundreds and thousands of employees in the United States and has had for a long time," said LeBlanc. "I had seen a number of legislators in the United States, including Republicans, express concerns this summer when President Trump had made those comments about Bombardier."
Bombardier employs about 3,500 people across the United States, with more than 40 per cent of those jobs in Wichita. The company last week announced a US$50-million investment in Wichita, home to its U.S. and defence headquarters.
The reversal highlights the influence of domestic employment figures on U.S. trade policy decisions, particularly in politically competitive states. It also underscores the complex integration of Canadian aerospace companies within the U.S. economy, a factor Canadian officials have emphasized in ongoing trade negotiations. "We’re going to find a deal with the United States at some point that’s in the interest of the entire Canadian economy," said LeBlanc.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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