Donald Trump derided EVs as inefficient and “ridiculous” throughout a stump speech when South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, an EV advocate, stood behind him. The Republican governor invited the previous president to an occasion within the state capital on Saturday to unveil the Trump marketing campaign management workforce in South Carolina. This was Trump’s second marketing campaign occasion that day after a day speech in New Hampshire.
“They need obligatory electrical automobiles. The automobile takes about two hours,” Trump mentioned of the Democrats, whereas McMaster, who has backed his 2024 marketing campaign, stood behind him. However as Related Press nationwide coverage reporter Meg Kinnard famous in a tweet, simply months in the past, McMaster signed an government order to lure EV-related corporations to the state.
“What are you going to do? Everybody’s going to be sitting on the freeway. We’re all going to be searching for a little bit plug-in. ‘Anybody have a plug-in? My automobile simply stopped, we drove an hour and 51 minutes.’ It’s ridiculous,” Trump scoffed. At this level, McMaster began laughing.
However that needed to be a clumsy second for the governor, who has thrown his assist and political energy behind electrical automobiles lately. In October, he signed an government order to prioritize EV-related firm recruitment and arrange knowledgeable coaching program. He additionally created a working group to plan EV infrastructure. In 2021, South Carolina gained a $155 million contract for Oshkosh Protection to construct neighborhood supply automobiles for america Postal Service that may create greater than 1,000 jobs. BMW can also be investing $1.7 billion to increase its electrical car manufacturing capability in South Carolina.
“Because the business continues to maneuver towards electrical automobiles, South Carolina will observe swimsuit — working to make sure that our state stays acknowledged as an excellent place for producers and suppliers to do enterprise,” McMaster mentioned when he signed the order within the fall . “Together with these investments come well-paying jobs that our persons are prepared to tackle.”
However McMaster mentioned nothing about electrical automobiles when Trump invited him to talk on the rostrum on Saturday. As a substitute, the governor heaped reward on the previous president, saying, “In November 2024, we’ll re-elect Donald Trump, and we’ll see a burst of freedom and prosperity like we have by no means seen earlier than.”