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Audi chief under pressure after Trump campaign rally appearance

The CEO of Volkswagen's Audi subsidiary appeared at a Donald Trump campaign event in Georgia to announce investment plans, triggering fierce backlash in Germany.

26 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Audi chief under pressure after Trump campaign rally appearance — Archive photoPhoto: Fabrice Pluchet · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5

At a campaign rally in Georgia, US President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced plans for Audi to build a factory in Perry. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner then took the stage to thank the US president for his support. The VW subsidiary plans an investment of four billion US dollars in the United States.

The appearance triggered a wave of criticism in Germany. SPD member of parliament Cademartori called it a disgrace given Volkswagen's history and accused Döllner of providing campaign help to an autocrat. SPD General Secretary Klüssendorf also demanded consequences from parent company Volkswagen.

Employee representatives also sharply criticized the appearance. VW group works council chair Daniela Cavallo identified Trump's several minutes of remarks as full of racism, sexism, xenophobia, transphobia and contempt for democracy. The works council and union IG Metall also exercised sharp criticism of Döllner.

Lower Saxony's Minister-President Stephan Weil joined the criticism. A campaign rally was not the right venue for announcing an investment of this scale, the SPD politician said. He also pointed out that the Audi plant in the United States has not yet been finally decided.

Döllner rejected the criticism in a statement to employees. He wrote that he and Production Board Member Walker had been asked to present the investment plans and that he had acted in the company's interest. Audi itself thus defended its CEO's appearance.

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