President Donald Trump criticized General Motors and CEO Mary Barra on Friday for their response to producing life-saving ventilators amid the coronavirus pandemic and wanting "top dollar" for doing so.

"As usual with 'this' General Motors, things just never seem to work out," Trump tweeted. "They said they were going to give us 40,000 much needed Ventilators, 'very quickly'. Now they are saying it will only be 6000, in late April, and they want top dollar. Always a mess with Mary B. Invoke 'P'."

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In the initial tweet, the meaning of "Invoke P" wasn't immediately clear. But Trump followed up with a second one, saying he was referring to invoking the Defense Production Act that would force companies to produce needed equipment.

GM is "in the blocks, ready to start" production of ventilators but is awaiting regulatory approval, sources told CNBC's Scott Wapner. A deal, according to the sources, could be announced as soon as Friday.

Shorty after Trump's lambasting, GM announced it has agreed to build critical care ventilators at one of its components plants in Indiana with Washington-based Ventec Life Systems. GM said it is donating its resources at cost.

A spokesperson for the White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. GM was not immediately available for comment.