Donald Trump just said: If I'm elected, no state will be able to ban gas powered cars

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump vowed on Thursday that, if elected in November, no state will be allowed to ban gasoline-powered cars or trucks, positioning the future of the auto industry as a central issue in his campaign.

Speaking at a rally in Saginaw, Michigan, Trump emphasized his commitment to protecting gas-powered vehicles. "When I'm president, no state in America will be permitted to ban gas-powered cars or trucks, and I guarantee it—no way," he declared. "You're going to make them right here."

Trump is focusing heavily on Michigan, a crucial swing state in the 2024 presidential election and home to the Detroit Three automakers. In August, he told Reuters that he is also considering ending the electric vehicle tax credit, signaling his opposition to the increasing shift toward electric vehicles.

California, in May 2023, requested a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Air Act, seeking to mandate that all new vehicles sold in the state by 2035 be electric or plug-in hybrids. Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign has not yet responded to requests for comment on Trump's remarks.