AP fact check: GM and Ford are not yet making ventilators.--as Trump claimed!!

[riversedge]

Another day, another LIE from our #LiarInChief!!


Trump: GM and Ford are making ventilators "right now."

AP fact check: GM and Ford are not yet making ventilators.

Link to tweet

?s=20


AP FACT CHECK: Trump hype on auto industry and ventilators


DETROIT (AP) — President Donald Trump is falsely asserting how quickly automakers including GM, Ford and Tesla can manufacture ventilators to help fill an acute U.S. shortage of the medical equipment for coronavirus patients.

Ford and GM have yet to start production, and it would take them months, if not longer, to begin production, if it’s even possible.

A look at the claim:

TRUMP: “Ford, General Motors and Tesla are being given the go ahead to make ventilators and other metal products, FAST! @fema Go for it auto execs, lets see how good you are?” — tweet Sunday.

TRUMP, on addressing a shortage of ventilators: “General Motors, Ford, so many companies — I had three calls yesterday directly, without having to institute like: `You will do this’ — these companies are making them right now.” — briefing Saturday.

THE FACTS: No automaker is anywhere close to making medical gear such as ventilators and remain months away — if not longer. Nor do the car companies need the president’s permission to move forward.

Neither GM or Ford is building ventilators at present, while Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted Friday that his company was “working on ventilators” but he didn’t specify how long it might take. His tweets also questioned the need and said it couldn’t be done immediately.

Unless automakers can move with unprecedented speed, redirecting plants to make completely different products will take a long time — possibly too long to help with medical gear shortages.
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[dchill]

1. You callin' Trump a liar?

[denem]

3. I'm calling water wet.

[Takket]

2. he is supposed to be a "businessman" and he is completely clueless as to how manufacturing takes

place

[Midnightwalk]

4. More details

It must have been dumbed down for trump. It didn’t make sense that a car company could start cranking out medical equipment without any expertise. GM is working with a medical vendor.

According to a joint statement, Ventec will leverage GM's logistics, purchasing and manufacturing expertise to build more of its critically important ventilators.

"We are working closely with Ventec to rapidly scale up production of their critically important respiratory products to support our country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," said Mary Barra, GM Chairman and CEO. "We will continue to explore ways to help in this time of crisis."

[link:https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/03/22/819831024/trump-urges-car-companies-to-make-ventilators-without-imposing-defense-productio|]

This is not the time to have a stand offish attitude. Trump is told something is happening jumps to the wrong conclusion then gets on tv to spread misinformation.

Hopefully no one who could actually produce ventilators listens to a word he said.

Then ignores what’s happening because it was perfect.