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.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
which → be → Tuesday
Trump won the state in 2016 and then again in 2024, after it had flipped to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
president → hop → job
Michigan and Canada have deep trade ties
asserted
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.
asserted
administration → strike → country
Michigan relies on supply chains that are heavily integrated with Canada after decades of policies that encouraged reducing bilateral trade barriers.
asserted
that → rely → barriers
That included the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement from Trump's first term.
asserted
That → include → term
Trump chose not to renew that trade pact, setting up years of negotiations.
asserted
Trump → choose → negotiations
GM said it was "honoured to spend time showcasing our vehicles and facilities" for Trump.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
tariffs → say → inflation
"When I was listening to him, I said, ‘What planet are you on?'" Porn said.
asserted
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."
asserted
Michigan → note → November
- Video
Energy isn't the only bargaining tool Canada has with U.S.:
asserted
Canada → have → U.S.
"He is like an anchor around Republicans," Porn said.
asserted
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.
asserted
policies → bother → Milford
He said of tariffs that "the American public needs to look at the bigger picture."
asserted
public → say → picture
People need to see, Miskovich said, that "yes, granted, there might be a little higher increase in price.
uncertain
Miskovich → need → price
But the long-term effect is going to be absolutely positive to the nation."
asserted
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.
asserted
he → help → policies
In Michigan's Republican gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, Trump has endorsed congressman John James over rival Perry Johnson.
asserted
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.
asserted
Rogers → speak → Stevens
But Rogers said Michigan needs a senator who promotes Trump's agenda, not someone who works to stymie it.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
who → forget → month
"But I look at it like, I guess, no pain, no gain."
asserted
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 .
asserted
that → plan → Base
"This is what putting Michigan first looks like," he said.
asserted
he → put → Michigan
Some auto companies have pledged to ramp up U.S. production, yet those benefits aren't being felt yet.
asserted
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.
asserted
it → announce → year
…and 16 more, not listed.
The Aporia
