U.S. President Donald Trump softened his previously aggressive stance toward Bombardier Inc., signaling at a campaign rally in Kansas on Monday that he would not pursue earlier threats to restrict the Canadian aerospace company’s operations in the United States. Speaking in Wichita, home to a major Bombardier facility and its U.S. headquarters, Trump acknowledged the company’s local presence and indicated he would support its continued activity in the state.
During a speech aimed at boosting Republican Senator Roger Marshall ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, Trump reiterated criticisms of Canada’s trade practices but noted that Bombardier’s footprint in Kansas warranted a changed approach. While he did not name the company directly, his references to an aircraft manufacturer with operations in the Midwest made it clear he was addressing Bombardier. “Because of Roger and his phone call to me, I’m gonna be helping a certain air company get themselves straightened away,” Trump said. “I always viewed them as a Canadian company… But now I find out they have a presence here, and we’re not hurting them if they’re in Kansas. So we’ll take care of those people, alright? And the jobs.”
The president’s remarks follow weeks of tensions between the United States and Canada over trade. After the collapse of bilateral negotiations in August, the relationship has deteriorated, marked by tariffs, import restrictions, and hostile rhetoric. Trump has repeatedly criticized Bombardier, including a social media post last month in which he threatened to ban the company’s jets from the U.S. market unless production moved more fully onto American soil. He argued that Bombardier’s products were not competitive and accused Canada of exploiting the U.S. economically.
Bombardier, based in Montreal, employs roughly 1,500 workers at its Wichita site and has recently announced a US$50-million investment there to expand capabilities, including the opening of a new learning centre for aircraft technician training. The company also directly employs 3,500 workers across more than 20 U.S. states and sustains thousands more jobs through a network of 2,800 suppliers. Major American suppliers include GE Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace, Parker Aerospace, Collins Aerospace, and GKN Aerospace.
Kansas’s congressional delegation has expressed concern over Trump’s earlier threats. Both Republican senators from the state have highlighted Bombardier’s significant local role and urged the White House to consider the company’s contributions when discussing trade policies. Senator Roger Marshall, in particular, has encouraged Bombardier to further increase its U.S. footprint, noting the state’s historical ties to the aerospace industry.
Bombardier CEO Éric Martel has suggested Trump’s focus on the company partly stems from its rivalry with Gulfstream Aerospace, a Georgia-based competitor, and Bombardier’s strong U.S. market presence, with over half of its sales made to American buyers. Martel characterized the company as “top of mind” in discussions of the industry.
In response to the latest developments, Bombardier spokesperson Mark Masluch emphasized that the company’s growing workforce and recent investments reflect its commitment to the U.S. aerospace sector. The company maintains that it is a significant economic contributor and remains poised for future growth amid ongoing trade uncertainties.