GM CEO Mary Barra makes appearance in Oval Office with Trump

Normal Motors CEO Mary Barra missed a White Home occasion in early December when President Donald Trump introduced plans to dramatically roll again miles-per-gallon requirements for U.S. automobiles and vehicles, however was on website this week as Trump rolled out one other initiative.

Barra — who had a scheduling battle when the proposed gas requirements have been introduced on Dec. 3 and despatched a plant supervisor in her place — was current on Monday, Feb. 2, when Trump introduced a $12 billion plan to a strategic reserve of critical minerals to assist American business within the occasion of a scarcity.

Throughout and after the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing shutdowns, provide chain points brought about damaging shortages of sure uncommon minerals and the elements they’re used for, akin to semiconductor chips important to manufacturing, together with automotive manufacturing. China, which controls a lot of the world’s uncommon earth processing, has additionally tightened its exports, impacting essential elements wanted by automakers akin to uncommon earth magnets.

Saying the initiative on February 2, Trump mentioned the proposal, known as Challenge Vault, will convey collectively about $2 billion in personal funds and $10 billion in funds from the Export-Import Financial institution of the US to create the strategic stockpile, akin to that for petroleum. One other strategic reserve of essential minerals for nationwide safety and protection has additionally been created.

“It is superb, they have been speaking about it for years,” Trump mentioned.

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Invited by Trump to talk, Barra thanked the president for his efforts to strengthen American auto manufacturing.

“Having a resilient provide chain is important for our nation and for all industries, particularly the automotive business,” she mentioned.

“Not solely does it assist American manufacturing, it helps job creation. It additionally helps customers,” Barra added.

Pressed by Trump to speak about GM’s actions, she mentioned they have been “very sturdy.” “We proceed to see sturdy shopper power, so I am enthusiastic about 2026,” she mentioned.

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Normal Motors reported a web loss in its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report because the automaker wrote down vital prices on unused electrical car manufacturing tools and restructuring prices in China.

The Detroit automaker on Tuesday, Jan. 27, reported earnings for the interval ending Dec. 31, 2025, and launched its full-year steerage for 2026.

In late January, GM posted a web lack of greater than $3 billion for the fourth quarter of 2025, recording a $6 billion improve in prices for unused electrical car investments. The Detroit automaker has suffered a complete of practically $8 billion in misplaced EV investments within the final two quarters of the 12 months.

Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Observe him on X @tsspangler.