Key facts
- Audi CEO Gernot Döllner appeared at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Georgia.
- Trump announced Audi plans to invest $4 billion in a new U.S. factory.
- German politicians criticized the appearance as politically unacceptable and damaging to German industry.
German politicians have sharply criticized Audi CEO Gernot Döllner's appearance alongside U.S. President Donald Trump at a campaign rally on Saturday in Perry, Georgia. The appearance came as Trump announced Audi's plans to invest around $4 billion to build a new factory in the U.S. state. Critics, including lawmakers Isabel Cademartori and Dennis Radtke, and union leader Christiane Benner, condemned Döllner's actions as politically unacceptable and a violation of the company's neutrality, especially given Trump's trade policies that negatively impact German industry. Audi stated the U.S. offers significant growth potential and that the investment is a long-term commitment.