CBC | World News
· collected 2026-07-31 · by Will Weissert, Jacqueline Ganun
Trump touts tariffs while in Michigan despite rising costs.
asserted
Trump → tout → costs
Even some supporters are worried
U.S. president says car companies are thriving because of the added levies
Flying to a rally at General Motors in Michigan this week, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that "car companies are doing better than they've ever done" thanks to his tariffs .
"All because of Trump," he said.
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he → say → Trump
It was a message the Republican president repeated while touring a collection of new vehicles, predicting that "it's amazing what tariffs will do for General Motors" before autographing a white Corvette commemorating America's 250th anniversary.
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tariffs → repeat → anniversary
He later told a crowd of cheering supporters that "Michigan is thriving."
That's not exactly true, according to many metrics.
uncertain
That → tell → metrics
Tariffs have cost businesses in Michigan and across the country billions of dollars while helping to stoke inflation that has continued to run hot — despite Trump's assurances his business background would wipe it out.
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background → cost → it
Many Americans believe tariffs have pushed prices higher and the war in Iran has increased gasoline prices, hurting consumer confidence in the economy while keeping Trump's approval ratings low.
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war → believe → ratings
There are few places where contradictions between the president's boasts and the economic reality of his tariffs are more likely to collide ahead of November's midterm elections than in battleground Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday.
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which → be → Tuesday
Trump won the state in 2016 and then again in 2024, after it had flipped to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.
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it → win → 2020
But even some of his ardent supporters said prices are too high and tariffs had caused short-term economic pain — even as they still support him overall.
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they → say → him
Lisa Scherer, a 64-year-old who used to run a landscaping company and work as a bus driver and union steward, acknowledged high gas prices are "hurting a lot" and it's "very rough" to afford things.
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it → use → things
"But I'm just hoping, if we hang in there," she said, emphasizing she still thinks the president is doing a good job.
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president → hop → job
Michigan and Canada have deep trade ties
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Michigan → have → ties
Though the Supreme Court struck down many of the tariffs Trump ordered upon first returning to the White House, his administration has launched new import taxes and recently invoked the Tariff Act of 1930 to accuse Canada of using discriminatory practices and plans to impose 50 per cent tariffs on many imports from that country.
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administration → strike → country
Michigan relies on supply chains that are heavily integrated with Canada after decades of policies that encouraged reducing bilateral trade barriers.
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that → rely → barriers
That included the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement from Trump's first term.
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That → include → term
Trump chose not to renew that trade pact, setting up years of negotiations.
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Trump → choose → negotiations
GM said it was "honoured to spend time showcasing our vehicles and facilities" for Trump.
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it → say → Trump
But automakers have long said tariffs increase production costs — so much so that the president offered them a reprieve from his auto parts tariffs, extending in October what was supposed to have been a short-term rebate until 2030.
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what → say → 2030
Veteran Michigan pollster Bernie Porn said Trump's rosy words can't hide how his tariffs are helping intensify voters' concerns about inflation and affordability.
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tariffs → say → inflation
"When I was listening to him, I said, ‘What planet are you on?'" Porn said.
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Porn → listen → planet
Porn noted that some Republicans nationally are worried their voters won't be motivated to turn out in November and "I doubt if Michigan is going to be very different."
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Michigan → note → November
- Video
Energy isn't the only bargaining tool Canada has with U.S.:
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Canada → have → U.S.
"He is like an anchor around Republicans," Porn said.
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Porn → say → Republicans
Trump's policies don't bother Joe Miskovich, the 57-year-old owner of an aerospace business from Fenton, about 32 kilometres north of Milford, Mich.
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policies → bother → Milford
He said of tariffs that "the American public needs to look at the bigger picture."
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public → say → picture
People need to see, Miskovich said, that "yes, granted, there might be a little higher increase in price.
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Miskovich → need → price
But the long-term effect is going to be absolutely positive to the nation."
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effect → go → nation
Trump is helping decide next week's primaries
As he's done in key midterm primary races nationwide, Trump has used his endorsements to help ensure candidates he sees as most loyal or potentially helpful to his policies prevail.
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he → help → policies
In Michigan's Republican gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, Trump has endorsed congressman John James over rival Perry Johnson.
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Trump → endorse → Johnson
Also speaking was former Rep. Mike Rogers, who's again running for Senate after narrowly losing to Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin two years ago.
More national attention has been focused on the state's Democratic Senate primary, which will decide if Rogers faces Rep. Haley Stevens or progressive favourite Abdul El-Sayed.
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Rogers → speak → Stevens
But Rogers said Michigan needs a senator who promotes Trump's agenda, not someone who works to stymie it.
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who → say → it
"This is the time that we will stand up and get Michigan up off of her knees," he said at Trump's rally.
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he → stand → rally
Scherer, who once ran the landscaping company, drove nearly five hours from her home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio, to see Trump's speech.
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who → run → speech
She's nonetheless worried the president has left behind some supporters like herself who helped get him back to the White House.
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who → worry → House
He's forgot about the people on a fixed income," said Scherer, who lives on Social Security benefits of $1,100 per month US.
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who → forget → month
"But I look at it like, I guess, no pain, no gain."
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I → look → pain
Automakers plan to increase domestic production — eventually
Republican Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall praised tariffs at Trump's rally, while also noting the president last year announced a new fighter jet mission that secured the future of the state's Selfridge Air National Guard Base .
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that → plan → Base
"This is what putting Michigan first looks like," he said.
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he → put → Michigan
Some auto companies have pledged to ramp up U.S. production, yet those benefits aren't being felt yet.
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benefits → pledge → production
GM announced in June 2025 it planned to invest $4 billion US to shift some vehicle production from Mexico to the U.S. starting next year.
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it → announce → year
…and 16 more, not listed.
