Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump rebuked General Motors Co. Tuesday, widening his criticism of American companies that have invested in Mexico, Reuters report. 

Trump has made criticism of Ford Motor Co. a staple of his campaign speeches for more than a year, repeatedly suggesting that the Dearborn, Michigan, automaker would back down from plans to expand in Mexico or face a 35 percent tariff on vehicle exports.

Trump also has criticized Carrier, a manufacturer of air conditioning units, which is owned by United Technologies Corp and Mondelez International Inc, the owner of Nabisco, for shifting jobs to Mexico.

"I am fighting hard to bring jobs back to the United States. Many companies – like Ford, General Motors, Nabisco, Carrier – are moving production to Mexico. Drugs and illegal immigrants are also pouring across our border. This is bad for all Americans, regardless of their heritage," Trump said in a statement defending his comments about a Mexican-American judge overseeing civil lawsuits against Trump University.

His view of an ethnically biased judiciary has drawn criticism, including from within his own party.

A spokeswoman for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment on why Trump had decided to criticize GM.

GM spokesman Jim Cain declined comment on Trump's criticism.