Trump says Ford leaving America, but company fires back

During last night's presidential debate, Donald Trump's opening statement included his remark that Michigan is losing thousands of jobs and that Ford is leaving Michigan for other countries like Mexico. 

“So Ford is leaving. You see that their small car division [is] leaving. Thousands of jobs leaving Michigan, leaving Ohio. They’re all leaving. And we can’t allow it to happen anymore,” he said.

But both statements — about Ford and jobs in general — are wrong. 

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Michigan has seen consistent declines in the unemployment rate since June 2009 when unemployment was 14.9%.

Comparatively, August 2016's preliminary unemployment is estimated at 4.5% -- lower than pre-recession rates like 7.1% in August 2006. 

Then there's Trump's statement about Ford. 

Last night, the company took to Twitter to fact check him.

"Ford’s investment in the U.S. and American jobs remains strong." says Ford spokesperson Christin  Baker. "In the past five years alone, the company has invested $12 billion in U.S. plants and created nearly 28,000 U.S. jobs. Ford has more hourly employees and produces more vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker."

Furthermore, Baker says that Ford is moving production of the Ford Focus to Mexico, though this is to "achieve financial success" and this will have "absolutely no impact on U.S. jobs." 

"Ford is moving two new vehicles to the Michigan plant where the Focus is produced" Baker adds. "The company’s U.S. workforce at that plant will be making those new vehicles." 

Following Trump's Ford comment, some took to Twitter to express their thoughts on the situation.

Want to fact check more statements by both candidates? Then check out NPR's thorough transcript that includes fact checks from the debate.