President Donald Trump during a speech at the General Motors Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan on July 27. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)
key takeaways:
- President Donald Trump visited a GM testing facility in Michigan on July 27 and said the tariffs had revived American manufacturing and helped automakers.
- The trip highlighted the debate over tariffs as Michigan businesses cite economic strain from new tariffs on Canada, a major trading partner.
- Tensions continue with Canada as new tariffs disrupt plans for a joint celebration of the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
Milford, Michigan – In a visit to Michigan on July 27, President Donald Trump argued that his economic policies have revived the auto industry and American manufacturing, even as many businesses argue that sweeping tariffs he has imposed against Canada and the rest of the world have hurt the state.
Trump defended his policies while visiting a General Motors facility in the Detroit suburb of Milford, which is a testing site for its vehicles. He got fist pumped after watching Corvette, Cadillac and Hummer vehicles compete in a series of drag races.
In a speech, Trump praised GM’s plans to expand production domestically in the coming years and declared himself a president who would “finally” stand up for auto workers.
“I’ve done more for you than your parents ever did, okay?” He joked.
After being taken on a tour of vehicles from different eras of GM, some of which he sat in, Trump claimed that the tariffs had helped the automaker.
“They’ve come a long way,” he told reporters about the Detroit-based automaker. “It’s amazing what the tariffs are doing for GM.” Trump said he has been good to the company, but declined to say anything else.
“The rest of the world doesn’t love me, but that’s OK,” he said, pointing to the tariffs. “It’s called ‘America first.’
President Trump visited CEO Mary Barra at the General Motors facility in Milford, Michigan and said that his presidency had improved the company’s situation: “It’s amazing what the tariffs will do for General Motors and what the election has done.” pic.twitter.com/fKRGjwYxtU
– CSPAN (@cspan) 27 July 2026
Trump’s new Canada tariffs could hurt Michigan
Michigan was one of the 2024 battleground states that Trump flipped after endorsing Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. But the state has seen parts of its economy hit by the president’s tariffs, including imported cars and auto parts.
A new round of hefty import tariffs is taking effect on dozens of US trading partners. But Trump has singled out Canada with tariffs of up to 50% on a wide range of its products, including cars.
From left: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Trump, GM CEO Mary Barra and GM President Mark Reuss. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)
The GM facility is in Oakland County, which includes most of Detroit’s northern suburbs. Once a Republican stronghold, it has leaned increasingly Democratic, supporting Biden against Trump in 2020 and Vice President Kamala Harris against Trump four years later.
GM says its facility is the oldest dedicated vehicle testing operation in the United States, where 4,200 employees work to refine nearly every vehicle the company makes before it reaches consumers.
However, Michigan’s economy depends heavily on Canada, meaning the new tariffs – with inflation still running high and gas prices rising again due to the already unpopular war in Iran escalating – have created additional economic concerns across the state.
These come at a time when voters across the country were already dissatisfied with Trump’s handling of the economy.
Jason Roe, former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party, who unsuccessfully tried to distance it from Trump’s “Make America Great Again” 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 to ensure James secures the nomination.
But Roe also said it was a risk for the president to align himself too closely with top Republicans before the general election, calling it “kryptonite for November voters.”
Trump, who won the White House on a promise to lower the cost of living, has also seen his approval ratings decline, meaning kitchen-table issues could be a liability for Republicans trying to take control of Congress in the November 3 elections.
Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel said, “We’re glad the president is here campaigning with Republicans. We think it highlights the fact that he only cares about Donald Trump and refuses to stand up against him.” “Every time the president comes here it’s good for us because he’s incredibly unpopular.”
Attendees held signs reading “American Jobs” and “American Cars” as Trump spoke. (Paul Sansya/Associated Press)
The Supreme Court struck down many of Trump’s sweeping tariffs, but his administration has tried to find ways to avoid them, including by arguing that he could impose them on Canada because that country is discriminating against American exports of products, including automobiles.
But Trump’s latest round of tariffs comes as he expressed frustration with Canada for retaliating and imposing its own tariffs on U.S. imports in response to Trump’s initial tariffs last year. The first round came after Trump accused Canada of doing more to stop fentanyl trafficking.
This is Trump’s third visit to Michigan in his second term.
In January, he visited a Ford plant in Dearborn and addressed the Detroit Economic Club, offering a defense of the tariffs, even as auto industry leaders blamed them for increasing the cost of doing business.
The president marked the first 100 days of his second term with a rally in Warren, where he mostly addressed grievances left over from the 2024 campaign.
There is a dispute between America and Canada regarding the new border bridge.
Trump’s latest visit coincides with tensions between his administration and Canada that have hindered the opening of a new bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
Canada held its own event commemorating the opening of the $4.7 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge on July 24 instead of a planned celebration with officials in the U.S. after Trump announced new Canadian tariffs.
Previously, a joint ceremony was scheduled for June, but it was canceled after Trump suggested the US wanted a “better” deal on the bridge, which it co-owns with Canada.
This eventually led to an agreement on toll sharing, which was supposed to allow for a rescheduled joint US-Canada festival – until new tariffs derailed that as well.
