Manufacturing group takes Trump to task

WASHINGTON (Aug. 6, 2015) — The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) is bashing GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump over the origin of his Trump-branded goods, questioning where they're made.

In an email entitled “Donald Trump Doesn't Make It in America,” AAM President Scott Paul wrote that, “love him or hate him, Donald Trump is never shy in front of the camera, and his appearance at tonight's first big GOP presidential debate will be must-see TV — especially because he takes a hard line on unfair trade with China.”

Mr. Paul then poses “one question I'd love to hear him answer: Why aren't any of his Trump-branded goods made in America? Ask him on Twitter why he doesn't ‘Make it in America'….”

The AAM executive charges that during Mr. Trump's campaign announcement speech “and plenty of times since on the stump,” the presidential hopeful “has blamed China and Mexico for the loss of American manufacturing jobs. But, again, his own Trump-branded stuff is made overseas.”

Mr. Paul notes that Mr. Trump “certainly talks tough on China, jobs and trade, but he doesn't back it up with his own actions — while many manufacturers fight to ‘Make it in America' in spite of the odds.”

The email to AAM members, the media and others concludes with the warning that the alliance is “checking in on ALL of the 2016 candidates' campaign swag to make sure it's American-made.”

Mr. Trump — at center stage, leading in recent polls — and nine other GOP presidential candidates are scheduled to take the stage tonight in Cleveland for the first in a series of debates presented by the Fox Broadcasting Co.