President Barack Obama, who has taken several victory laps to celebrate the successful U.S. bailout of General Motors and Chrysler in 2009, is planning to attend the 2016 Detroit auto show.
The president touted the bailout's success during his weekly radio address on Saturday, reminding his audience that the industry nearly collapsed
"Seven years ago, auto sales hit a 27-year low. Last year, they hit an all-time high," he said.
"Later this month, I’ll visit the Detroit auto show to see this progress firsthand. Because I believe that every American should be proud of what our most iconic industry has done."
A White House spokesman told the Detroit Free Press that Obama would tour the show on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
The show opens to the media on Monday. Politicians often visit the show during the highly visible media days, so Obama's appearance during the public portion of the show the following week is a bit unusual.
Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton also will be in Detroit on Tuesday to host a fundraiser at the same hotel where many media members and auto executives will stay during the show.
Obama has made 18 visits to Michigan since he took office, the Free Press said. Several of those visits were to auto plants to celebrate the bailout with GM and Fiat Chrysler workers.
The political debate over the auto bailout has permeated much of Obama's two terms, with Republicans typically condemning government intervention in the private sector. Republican President George W. Bush, in late 2008, initiated the auto bailout before he left office. He has staunchly defended the decision despite opposition from his own party.
Obama made the bailout the central theme of his address today, noting the plan wasn't popular at the time.
"Critics said it was a 'road to socialism,' or a 'disaster' waiting to happen," the president said.
"But I’d make that bet again any day of the week. Because today, the American auto industry is back. Since our plan went into effect, our automakers have added more than 640,000 new jobs. We’ve cut the Detroit-area unemployment rate by more than half. The Big Three automakers are raising wages."
John Irwin contributed to this report.
