Trump has made Foxconn a favorite talking point on U.S. manufacturing, but that narrative may be in doubt

John Fritze | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump touts economy at Wisconsin ground-breaking Amid a feud with Harley Davidson, an iconic American company, President Trump highlighted his economic policies at a groundbreaking for a massive $10 billion factory complex that may bring thousands of jobs to a state he barely carried in 2016. (June 28)

WASHINGTON – For President Donald Trump, few companies have illustrated what he describes as a resurgence in U.S. manufacturing like Foxconn Technology Group.

Trump has mentioned the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer’s plan to build a plant in Wisconsin more than two dozen times in the past six months, according to a USA TODAY analysis of his official White House statements.

That doesn’t include campaign rallies, media interviews and Twitter.

But a Foxconn executive told Reuters on Wednesday that the company is now reconsidering its plan to build liquid crystal display panels in the state, potentially undermining the president's narrative that his administration's policies have encouraged a resurgence in the manufacturing industry.

“In terms of TV,” the executive said, “we have no place in the U.S.”

Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn Chief Executive Terry Gou, told Reuters the company wants to create a “technology hub” in Wisconsin rather than focusing on manufacturing.

More: Report: Foxconn reconsidering plans to build LCD panels at huge Racine County campus

The president announced Foxconn deal at a White House ceremony in 2017, visited a Foxconn facility a year later and has frequently mentioned the company – as recently as last fall.

“We have a lot of companies moving into our country,” Trump said during an event in Mississippi in November. “Tremendous car companies and Foxconn, and a level like we've never seen before.”

“We have a lot of companies, period,” Trump said during a White House event at the end of October. “Foxconn, in Wisconsin, as an example.”

The new plant being built by Foxconn in Wisconsin is incredible. Congratulations to the people of Wisconsin and to Governor Scott Walker @GovWalker and his talented representatives for having pulled it off. Great job! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2018

In the wake of the Reuters report, Foxconn on Wednesday pledged again – as it has repeatedly amid earlier developments – to create 13,000 jobs in Wisconsin. In return for its promises in 2017 to spend up to $10 billion on the facility and hire 13,000 workers in Wisconsin, state and local governments promised public subsidies totaling $4 billion.

U.S. manufacturing jobs have increased slightly since the recession but are still well below their peak in the late 1970s. There were 12.8 million U.S. manufacturing jobs in December, according to Department of Labor data, up from 11.4 million in 2010.