Trump hypes robots as ‘big factor’ as Ford struggles to fill thousands of vacancies

Published January 13, 2026 10:38pm ET



President Donald Trump dismissed concerns about a labor shortage hindering the progress of a Ford factory, arguing that automation would resolve the issue.

Speaking to CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil on the floor of a Ford factory in Dearborn, Michigan, Trump was asked about the challenges of filling job openings. Dokoupil pointed to a recent quote from the CEO of Ford, who complained that he had 5,000 open mechanic jobs that he was unable to fill. Trump didn’t see it as a problem.

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