DONALD Trump has bizarrely ordered America to start building “tiny cars” after falling in love with the “really cute and beautiful” mini motors.
The president confessed an unusual soft spot for the micro cars after seeing Japan’s Kei compacts whizzing around on a recent trip to the country.
President Donald Trump has ordered manufacturers to produce tiny carsCredit: EPA
He gushed to reporters inside the White House on Wednesday, saying: “They’re very small, they’re really cute, and I said, ‘How would that do in this country?’
“It’s sort of like the Beetle used to be with the Volkswagen.”
The tiny vehicles have been banned in the USby federal transport regulators over safety concerns.
But Trump has now ordered Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to clear the way, saying: “We’re not allowed to make them in this country, and I think you’re gonna do very well with those cars, so we’re gonna approve those cars.”
DON’S WARNING
Trump warns Europe faces ‘civilisational erasure’ because of migration & EU
He then doubled down online today, posting a caps heavy rallying cry on Truth Social that he has “just approved TINY CARS to be built in America” and telling manufacturers to “START BUILDING THEM NOW!”
He added that they are “inexpensive, safe, fuel efficient and, quite simply, AMAZING!!!”
The move is a puzzling U-turn on America’s big is better attitude.
But Duffy backed Trump’s ruling, telling CNBC: “If there’s a market for those vehicles, I want to give our manufacturers the opportunity to build those cars.
“It’s going to clear the deck, clear the rules and let them build those small cars.
“Vehicles that work in cities, and if that’s where you drive, it could be a great solution for you.
“And by the way, much more affordable than other options that are on the market today.”
Although he was quick to add: “Are they going to work on the freeways? Probably not.”
No one has yet explained how the federal ruling will align with existing state laws.
Six states – Iowa, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont – ban the cars outright.
Many others impose strict limits on where and how compact models may operate.
In Alabama, for example, their speed is capped at 25 mph.
Duffy will need to work hard with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to figure out how the mini cars will meet crash standards in a country where the Ford F-150 – weighing up to two and a half tonnes – is king.
Trump’s public declaration comes just after he announced plans to “reset” Joe Biden’s fuel-economy standards “green scam”.
The president gathered leading auto industry executives at the White House on Wednesday to announce his latest plan, which will save Americans over $1,000 (£750) on buying a new car.
He announced: “From day one, I’ve been taking action to make buying a car more affordable.”
Under former President Biden, the fuel-economystandards were changedto promote the use of electric vehicles.
The Biden Administration wanted topush Americans to move toward EVsto helpcombat climate change; however, Trump now plans to roll backthose changes.
“This was a green new scam,” Trump said of the Biden Administration changes.
Ford CEO Jim Farley, who attended Wednesday’s conference, praised the president’s decision to roll back those changes, according toCNN.