Donald Trump Proposes Substituting Blue-Collar Workers with Child Laborers

In a recent bewildering speech, Donald Trump asserted that jobs typically held by blue-collar workers are so uncomplicated they could easily be performed by children.

As the election draws near, Trump’s erratic behavior has raised eyebrows among voters. Known for his outlandish conspiracy theories and chaotic monologues, his recent antics appear even more concerning. At one rally in Arizona, the hashtag #TrumpIsNotWell started trending after he mistakenly referred to Arizonians as “Azerasians” and rambling about fabricated news and Hannibal Lecter. Another puzzling moment occurred during a town hall meeting in Pennsylvania, where high temperatures caused two audience members to faint. After making light of these medical incidents, Trump opted not to take questions, instead choosing to play personal favorite songs for 40 minutes while dancing solo on stage.

Adding to the bizarre series of events, he visited the Economic Club of Chicago, where he demeaned autoworkers and controversially suggested they could be replaced by child labor.

Trump Discusses Child Labor in a Confounding Interview

Speaking at the Economic Club of Chicago, Trump addressed a gathering of local business and civic leaders. In an interview with John Micklethwait, editor-in-chief of Bloomberg, Trump was pressed about his economic strategies for the nation, along with inquiries regarding his foreign policies and tariff implementations. Micklethwait raised alarms that Trump’s economic proposals could inflate the federal deficit by an estimated $7.5 trillion to $15 trillion. However, rather than clarifying his position, Trump diverged into a passionate defense of tariffs while engaging in an argument with Micklethwait.

He then launched into a baseless tirade against American autoworkers, claiming their roles at international automotive companies entail little more than unboxing and assembling parts. According to Trump, these workers do not genuinely manufacture vehicles. He stated, “Mercedes-Benz will begin its operations in the United States, and they have done so to an extent. But do you know what these operations really entail? Assembly, like in South Carolina. However, everything is completed in Germany, and then it’s merely assembled here.” He took his comments a step further by implying that children could effectively replace these workers, concluding with, “They don’t build cars. They take ’em out of a box and assemble ’em. Our kids could do that.”

For starters, the assertion that blue-collar positions in America are so trivial that they could be performed by children is a gross oversimplification that undermines the skilled labor these workers provide. Furthermore, child labor remains illegal, making it impossible for children to assume the roles of blue-collar workers. It’s particularly baffling that Trump chose to disparage autoworkers at a time when Michigan—a pivotal swing state in determining electoral outcomes—is recognized as the Auto Capital of the World, housing a significant number of workers in the automotive sector. Insulting the importance of their contributions and suggesting a return to child labor is unlikely to resonate positively with these individuals.

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