MILFORD, Mich. (AP) 鈥� President plans to tout his handling of the economy during a visit to suburban Detroit on Monday, defending in a swing state where their effects have hurt many businesses as season heats up.
Trump is visiting a General Motors facility in Milford, home to tracks and proving grounds for new models and vehicles. Early voting is underway for Michigan’s Aug. 4 primary, which features fierce nomination fights in both major political parties.
Republican is unopposed in the Senate primary, but the GOP gubernatorial contest pits Trump-backed Rep. John James against , a businessman turned politician who has launched unsuccessful campaigns before, including for president in 2024.
Johnson is now trying to style himself in the president’s mold 鈥� despite missing out on his endorsement. He’s even holding a “Trump Tailgate鈥� outside the president’s GM event.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Senate primary between Rep. and progressive has drawn national attention for the right to face Rogers, who was narrowly defeated by Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin in 2024.
Trump’s new Canada tariffs could hurt Michigan
Michigan was one of the 2024 after it backed Democrat in 2020. But the state has also seen parts of its economy affected by the president’s tariffs, including on imported cars and auto parts.
A new round of is taking effect on dozens of U.S. trading partners. But Trump has singled out Canada with tariffs as high as 50% on a wide array of its products, including cars.
The president is visiting Oakland County, which encompasses much of Detroit’s northern suburbs. Once a Republican stronghold, it has increasingly leaned Democratic, backing Biden against Trump and Vice President against Trump four years later.
The White House says Trump will talk up having generated manufacturing jobs and foreign investment in the U.S. while making the case that his policies and leadership have boosted the auto industry.
鈥淭he President pledged to put Michigan workers back to work, and he鈥檚 doing it,鈥� White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in a statement.
Michigan’s economy relies heavily on Canada, however, meaning the new tariffs 鈥� coupled with and gas prices as the already in escalates 鈥� have created additional economic concerns statewide.
Those come at a time when voters across the country were already .
Jason Roe, a former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party who tried unsuccessfully to distance it from Trump’s 鈥淢ake America Great Again鈥� movement in 2021, said that more than coinciding with his new round of tariffs, Trump’s visit is a function of Michigan’s relatively late primary and is meant to ensure that James secures the nomination.
But Roe also predicted that it was a risk for the president to tie himself too closely to top Republicans ahead of the general election, calling it 鈥渒ryptonite to November voters.鈥�
Trump, who won the White House on a promise to lower , also has seen his , meaning kitchen table issues could be a liability for Republicans trying to hold control of Congress after Election Day on Nov. 3.
鈥淲e鈥檙e happy to have the president here, campaigning with Republicans. We think it highlights the fact that the only thing they care about is Donald Trump and refuse to stand up to him,” said Curtis Hertel, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party. “It鈥檚 good for us every time the president is here because he鈥檚 incredibly unpopular.鈥�
The US and Canada have squabbled over a new border bridge
The Supreme Court many of Trump鈥檚 sweeping tariffs, but his administration has tried to find ways around that, including by arguing that he can impose them on Canada because that country is discriminating against American exports of products including automobiles.
But Trump鈥檚 latest round of tariffs came after he voiced frustration with Canada for having retaliated and imposed its own levies on U.S. imports in response to Trump鈥檚 initial tariffs last year. Trump launched the first round after alleging Canada should do more to stop fentanyl smuggling.
It is Trump’s third trip to Michigan in his second term.
In January, he in Dearborn and addressed the Detroit Economic Club, offering a defense of tariffs even as auto industry leaders blamed them for increasing the cost of doing business. The outcry is part of the reason Trump to domestic car companies on some tariffs on imported auto parts.
The president with a rally in Warren, where he mostly mentioned grievances left over from the 2024 campaign, even scoffing at what Biden might look like in a bathing suit.
His latest visit coincides with tensions between his administration and Canada that have marred the opening of a new bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
Canada on Friday hailing the opening of the $4.7 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge with officials in the U.S. after Trump announced the new Canadian tariffs.
An earlier, joint ceremony had been set for June but was scrapped after Trump suggested the U.S. wanted a 鈥渂etter鈥� deal on the bridge it co-owns with Canada.
That eventually led to an agreement on splitting tolls that was supposed to allow for the rescheduled joint U.S.-Canada celebration 鈥� until the new tariffs derailed that, too.
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