Trump threatens Harley-davidson with heavy taxes

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump sought Tuesday to avoid blame for Harley-davidson’s decision to move some motorcycle production overseas and threatened to tax the manufacturer “like never before!” as punishment for the planned production shift.

The Milwaukee-based company said Monday it came to its decision because of retaliatory tariffs it faces in an escalating trade dispute between the U.S. and the European Union. The company had no immediate response Tuesday to the president’s assertions.

Trump warned the iconic American brand that any shift in production “will be the beginning of the end.”

“The Aura will be gone and they will be taxed like never before!” Trump said in one of several tweets Tuesday morning about Harley-da- vidson.

Trump offered no clarity later in thedaywhenhewasaskedabout tariffs during a White House photo-op with Congress members.

“Harley-davidson is using that as an excuse and I don’t like that because I’ve been very good to Harley-davidson and they used it as an excuse,” he said in response. “And I think the people who ride Harleys aren’t happy with Harley-davidson and I wouldn’t be either.”

The company reiterated Tuesday that it was moving some production of motorcycles destined for sale in the EU to its existing international facilities to “address the additional tariffs imposed by the EU.” It did not respond directly to Trump.