According to German media reports, Trump and his staff are currently looking for an excuse or legal rationale to completely ban luxury cars produced by German automakers.
Trump reportedly told French President Emmanuel Macron that he's tired of seeing them in front of Trump Tower.
President Donald Trump is preparing to impose a total ban on German luxury carmakers from the U.S. market, according to an exclusive report by German magazine WirtschaftsWoche.
Citing several unnamed U.S. and European diplomats, the weekly business magazine reported that Trump told French President Emmanuel Macron last month he would maintain his trade policy with the aim of stopping Mercedes-Benz models from driving down Fifth Avenue in New York. The report didn't give any further details on what policies would be used to effectively ban the premium carmakers.
Mercedes-Benz is a German-owned brand, yes, but they have production facilities inside the United States where Americans build their luxury vehicles.
For example, Mercedes-Benz has a several facilities in South Carolina. Trump won South Carolina so there's a fairly high chance that a significant portion of Mercedes-Benz employees voted for him.
Moreover, there's a fairly high chance that your average Mercedes-Benz dealership owner voted for and even donated to Trump's campaign or the Republican party in the name of tax cuts.
A total ban on German luxury cars would also harm downstream industries that service and maintain those cars and possibly car owners who can no longer find service.