The White House held a dinner on Wednesday night with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his delegation, and invited a total of 52 guests to attend, including a host of American and Mexican CEOs. The dinner, held in the White House’s East Room, was the most prominent social event hosted by the Trump administration since COVID-19 lockdowns began back in March. However, a number of CEOs decided to skip it, including Ford CEO Jim Hackett, according to Reuters.
Hackett wasn’t the only Big 3 Detroit CEO to decline his invite, as he was joined in absence by both GM CEO Mary Barra and Mike Manley of Fiat Chrysler. Representatives for all three companies said that they were simply not available to attend.
It’s worth noting that some officials said they did not receive their invitations until Monday. Ford did send its North American operations chief, Kumar Galhotra, to the dinner, and GM sent its general counsel, Craig Glidden.
There’s no word on why, exactly, Jim Hackett and the remainder of the Big 3 leaders didn’t show up for the dinner, but most automakers are in the middle of their summer shutdown schedules, which is a time many auto company executives take vacation.
Their absence is noteworthy, however, as all three automakers figure to benefit from the launch of a new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal designed to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement that has remained in place for the last 26 years.
A number of other CEOs from several notable American and Mexican companies were in attendance at the dinner, however. The event was closed to the media, though a list of attendees was made available by the White House.
We’ll have much more on the status of Ford’s executives soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford business news and around-the-clock Ford news coverage.
Comments
President Trump has been the only POTUS since Ronald Reagan expressing a strong agenda to bring more jobs over here so this snub only shows the globalist crapola this CEO subscribes to.
^^^^^THIS!!!^^^^^
The Big 3 auto CEO’s should be ashamed of themselves! Buy American, hire american and ignore the President. I’m embarrassed to own a Lincoln.
Oh, Ford Foundation gives to BLM (a marxist group)! Not affiliated in any way with Ford Motor Co. Live that one down too.
This company will remain in the crapper until this Hackett team is gone. He’s the worst CEO his company has ever had. Stock price is a joke, no dividend, and now we don’t even make cars. Quite a performance. I’m sure he would have tripped all over himself getting to a Biden dinner. Gutless people. Afraid to take a stand for America.
Oh Please! Get a life! All 3 of you.
Where’s Lee Iacocca when you need him, instead of these current spineless CEOs?
Unfortunately, ALL three CEOs are cowards. With all the good that’s been done, by this Whitehouse, for the automotive industry and US trade their behavior is shameful. No respect and definitely no guts. With quality ratings this low, Ford should be embarrassed. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/best-car-brands
Unfounded arrogance. Pathetic.
The father the big three CEOs distance themselves from this Incompetent Corrupt Clown Cult Racist Psychopath the better off they are 116 days and counting. I wouldn’t get on that list either so “I Don’t Blame Them”
Shows that these CEOs have some brains! Makes me want to stick with North American automakers!