Brent Snavely and Nathan Bomey

Detroit Free Press and USA TODAY

DETROIT -- With the tweeted blessings of President Trump, Ford Motor announced Tuesday it will create 130 jobs as it invests $1.2 billion in Michigan to make the revived Ford Ranger pickup truck and Ford Bronco SUV.

Trump tweeted ahead of the announcement, saying "car companies are coming back to the U.S." -- even though Ford executives said the plant investments were planned long before Trump took office. He also wrote, "JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!"

Ford said it will add the jobs at its engine plant in Romeo, Mich., where it will spend $150 million to expand capacity to make engine components for the midsize Ranger and Bronco. The $1.2 billion will also go into revamps at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., and in building an advanced data center adjacent to its assembly plant in Flat Rock, Mich.

The new Bronco is one of Ford's most anticipated vehicles, a rugged SUV with off-road capability made famous in O.J. Simpson's slow-speed chase that preceded the famed murder trial in the 1990s.

More on the Ford Bronco and Ranger:

Ford to revive Bronco SUV, Ranger pickup and make them in Mich.

Why we love the Ford Bronco

The Ranger pickup, which is currently sold globally, will hit U.S. showrooms and have new styling and powertrain options in 2019. Originally part of Ford's F-150 pickup truck line, the Ranger became available as a compact pickup in the U.S. in 1982 and was sold there until 2011.

"These Michigan Assembly Plant and Romeo Engine plant announcements are consistent with what we agreed to and talked about with the UAW in 2015 negotiations," said Joe Hinrichs, Ford's president of the Americas.

Even though the moves were in the works before the change of administrations, Ford's announcement and Trump's tweet would appear to work for all concerned. Trump can tout his emphasis on growth in U.S. jobs while automakers can point to their patriotic progress. For automakers, the attitude is "why not buy everybody a beer and say, 'Look at what we're doing,'" says Alexander Edwards, president of consultants Strategic Vision.

Ford CEO Mark Fields told USA TODAY in January that the company would make both vehicles at its assembly plant in Wayne, Mich., to replace production of the Focus sedan, which is moving to Mexico. The choice of the Wayne plant preserves 3,600 jobs.

Launching production of new models at an assembly plant typically involves hundreds of millions of dollars in investment in retooling.

Ford also recently announced plans to invest $700 million and convert 700 temporary jobs into permanent positions at its Flat Rock, Mich., factory. That move was paired with a decision to abandon plans to construct a $1.6 billion new plant in Mexico.

Trump has sought credit for Ford's announcements, most of which were already in motion before he took aim at American companies that manufacture goods in foreign markets for sale in the U.S.

"Car companies coming back to U.S.," Trump tweeted Tuesday.

That's not accurate. Car companies are continuing to move U.S. small car production to foreign markets while maintaining plans to make bigger vehicles in the U.S.

Snavely reported from Detroit andBomey from McLean, Va.