Trump's claims that GM, Ford making ventilators 'right now' not true

[Mrs. Overall]

Source: Grand Rapids Press

President Donald Trump’s assertion that automakers can quickly manufacture ventilators and that some are already is false, according to fact-checkers from the Associated Press.

During a briefing on Saturday, March 21, Trump said, "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."

Trump on Sunday tweeted, "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?"

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. 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, while Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted Friday that his company was "working on ventilators" but he didn't specify how long it might take, AP reports.

Read more: https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/2020/03/trumps-claims-that-gm-ford-making-ventilators-right-now-not-true.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=grandrapidspress_sf

[zonkers]

1. So is his claim that he lost "billions and billions" of dollars by becoming president.

At first he said ( in last night's presser, it was just billions... and then he repeated it as billions and billions". Maybe he was channeling Karl Sagan?

[Ohiogal]

2. Do you really think he knows who Carl Sagan is?

[zonkers]

3. He knows Carl Ichan, though.

[Bengus81]

10. Doubt it,Sagan dabbled in that "science" stuff

[Turbineguy]

4. Lie every day

all day long.

[duforsure]

5. When trump claims something

Like he's recently claimed he's going big helping the workers will in reality be he'll screw over the workers and ignore helping most of the people , and he is trying to stiff us just like he does to contractors. When he accuses people of things it's things he's doing or has done, and that's how you know what he's really up to. Trump if he does stiff the American people , he and the GOP will drive this country into a very serious depression, and from trump and the gops lack of stimulus, and by not nearly enough to the people. We're in this crisis because trump and the gops failure response when they had the chance and knew about it..

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Trump is growing a new wig too! /nt

[IronLionZion]

7. 25th amendment, throw him out

Come on Congress, censure him or something. If they try impeachment again it might pass this time considering how gleeful he is that Romney is in quarantine.

[Bayard]

8. Big surprise there

Got a text from my brother this morning that the company he works for as a machinist has been declared essential, so not shutting down. They make parts involving HVAC. That includes the parts for the clean rooms that make ventilators.

He was hoping for time off.

[truthisfreedom]

9. How do you know trumpiepoo is lying?

[Lonestarblue]

11. If he's breathing, he's lying.

This task force has done nothing that I can see to get ventilators and protective gear to medical staff. Trump needs to appoint someone with experience, like Ron Klain, the ebola czar, to be the single point person and then get the hell out of the way. Of course Trump would never appoint Klain since he worked for Obama, but Trump and his merry band of sycophants are clearly incapable of improving this situation.

[iluvtennis]

12. When he never provided specific details during the pressers, I knew it was just hyperbole. nt

[patphil]

13. Ford and GM, being auto makers, know all about supply chain and start up times.

You have to create an assembly line, train workers, and then, when the supply chain is in place, and you have all the parts you need, you can begin to make product.
Even a crash program is going to be several months, providing the parts are available.
So, that means all the suppliers have to ramp up first.
It only happens "right now" in Trump's alternate reality.
In the actual world, there is something called time that has the final say.

[Botany]

17. Auto makers also know all about tool and die and production

Just because you have a plant that can stamp out and auto body or put together
a car engine that does not mean you can make a plexiglass face shield for medical
use. Auto makers had their factories set up to make cars/trucks/auto parts not
medical equipment. Now if Trump had declared an emergency in Jan. then America
would have had the capacity to make the needed "stuff" now.

[RobinA]

14. He Obviously Thinks

we're as stupid as he is. It's just not believable that suddenly a car company has ventilators rolling off the line. Did they make ventilators before? If not they don't even have the knowledge to make them, let alone the infrastructure. Please. I find this lie particularly egregious, even for him. A ventilator is life saving medical equipment. You don't lie about that.

[amcgrath]

15. The logistics of switching production are fraught with problems

However, there are tens of thousands of CNC machines across the country. Medical suppliers could send the data digitally and those machines could go to work immediately to create the needed parts. This would allow medical equipment manufacturers to switch most of their workforce to assembly rather than machining.

It is probably wiser to have these sorts of machines assembled and checked by experts. With many companies shutting down, airlines not needing parts etc. Many of the CNC around the globe machines will be standing idle. Allowing their use would be a huge benefit to the country, with little cost to machine owners.

[rickford66]

16. The CPAP manufacturers seem to be the most ready to adapt their product for use.

A YouTube video was posted here recently where a guy modified one for that purpose. There's even disinfection systems for them advertised constantly. An auto production line was great for tanks and planes in WWII, but not now.

[cstanleytech]

18. Pretty much most every word out of Trumps mouth is a lie.

Example can be seen at how many times he has said "I do" at his many weddings when he was asked if he would be faithful to his wife.