Trump Praises Plan to Boycott Harley-Davidson

Plans for a boycott of Harley-Davidson are "great," President Trump said Sunday, the day after he met with 180 bikers at a "Bikers for Trump" event. Many Harley owners "plan to boycott the company if manufacturing moves overseas," Trump tweeted. "Great! Most other companies are coming in our direction, including Harley competitors. A really bad move! US will soon have a level playing field, or better." Trump has been feuding with the American motorcycle maker since June, when it announced it would shift production of some bikes destined for the European Union from the US to overseas to avoid tariffs the EU introduced as a response to Trump's steel tariffs.

Harley—which has plants in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania but is planning to close one in Missouri by the end of next year—says it stands to lose $100 million a year from the tariffs, though Trump accuses the company of using tariffs as an excuse to move production out of the US, CNN reports. Harley-Davidson declined to comment on the latest remarks from Trump, who welcomed bikers to his golf course in Bedminster, NJ, on Saturday, the AP reports. CEO Matt Levatich told CNBC last month that Trump's remarks were "unfortunate attention" at a time when the company is being forced to make tough choices because of stagnant motorcycle sales in the US. (More Harley-Davidson stories.)