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Trump in Milford
President Donald Trump visited the General Motors facility in Milford, Mich., on Monday to tout his economic agenda and defend his sweeping tariffs as he watched drag races that included a Corvette Z06, Cadillac Escalade V, and EV Hummer at an event the announcer promised were “all America First power.”
Trump told reporters on Air Force One that Iran had requested a meeting, while Senate Republicans warned that confidence on Capitol Hill in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership is waning as the war in Iran drags on without an end in sight.
At the GM proving ground, Trump pumped his fist after the drag races ended and later declared himself a president who was standing up for auto workers “at long last.”
The visit came ahead of Michigan’s Aug. 4 primary, where the winner will face off against former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers, and it also featured a debate between Michigan Democratic Senate candidates Rep. Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed at 8:30 p.m. Monday.
Trump’s remarks in Michigan ended at 4:15 p.m. ET after he spoke for about one hour and five minutes, while the crowd stayed engaged and there were at least three protest disruptions during his remarks.
Tariffs and Canada
Trump defended his tariffs in Michigan as Canada tax hikes loomed, saying the rule was straightforward: “Build your trucks or cars outside the United States and you'll pay a fee for the right to sell them here and profit.”
He added that “Build your plant in Michigan or anywhere else in America and produce the vehicles right here at home, and you'll face no tariff at all,” framing the policy as forcing production to stay in the United States.
The BBC reported there is a 25% levy on non-US parts on Canadian-assembled passenger vehicles, and it also described steel tariffs that indirectly affect the industry.
The BBC said Canada responded with 25% tariffs on US vehicles and parts not compliant with the USMCA, while the Associated Press said automakers have long said tariffs increase the cost of doing business, which leads to higher prices for consumers.
The BBC also reported Michigan’s unemployment rate at 5.1% in May and said Michigan gained just 500 jobs in the 12 months leading up to June this year, compared to Texas, which added 177,900 jobs.
Politics and next votes
As Trump’s Michigan stop previewed the state’s Aug. 4 primary, the Associated Press said his visit included calls on stage to Republican Reps. Lisa McClain, Tom Barrett and Tim Walberg, as well as gubernatorial candidate John James and Senate candidate Mike Rogers.
“Trump defends tariffs in hard-hit Michigan as Canada tax hike looms US President Donald Trump has vigorously defended his economic policies in Michigan - a state hit hard by his tariffs, particularly in the automobile sector”
The Hill reported that when the Senate returns later Monday, it is set to take a procedural vote on the nomination of Jay Clayton to be director of national intelligence, and it said Michigan’s Democratic Senate candidates Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed would debate at 8:30 p.m. Monday.
NBC News said the Senate voted 51-43 to advance Jay Clayton’s nomination to be director of national intelligence, with a final confirmation vote expected tomorrow evening.
The Hill also reported Senate Majority Leader John Thune reacted cooly to President Trump’s demand for the chamber to cancel its five-week August recess to debate and pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also called the SAVE America Act.
In the same coverage, NBC News quoted Thune rejecting Trump’s calls to cancel the August recess, saying, “For me, it’s all about: Show me a path to passage,” and it added that Thune warned about “wasting senators’ time with unproductive procedural votes.”
