DETROIT (AP) — President donald trump He toured a Ford F-150 pickup truck assembly line Tuesday as part of a visit to Michigan aimed at boosting efforts to revitalize U.S. manufacturing and counter concerns about U.S. manufacturing. Weakening of the job market and Prices still rising It hurts Americans’ pockets.
President Trump visited the River Rouge plant in Dearborn to see the various stages of production of the F-150, America’s best-selling domestic vehicle. He got a first-hand look at how gas and hybrid models are built, as well as all-gas Raptor models designed for off-road use.
The president chatted with assembly line workers wearing reflective vests, some of whom praised his arrival, and also met with automaker Chairman Bill Ford.
“All American automakers are doing a great job,” Trump said, later adding, “The quality is unbelievable.”
Later, as he headed to the Motor City Casino to speak to members of the Detroit Economic Club, he declared, “This is the easiest speech I’ve ever given,” since all he was doing was “venting what we’ve been doing.”
“I feel pretty good right now,” Trump said.
But recent history suggests voters are less impressed. Tuesday’s trip was his third trip to the battleground state since last month to discuss economic policy and follows a poor performance by Republicans. November off-year election Concerns over kitchen table issues persist in states like Virginia and New Jersey.
The White House has since promised that President Trump will take to the streets more often and speak directly to the nation about what he is doing to ease their economic worries.
The president has previously suggested that concerns about affordability are a “misinformation” unnecessarily fueled by Democrats. Yet, despite being imposed on him; high customs duties President Trump has made cuts to some U.S. trading partners around the world when it comes to auto manufacturing, including increasing import taxes on foreign auto parts. Until 2030.
Speaking at the factory, he emphasized that the administration has imposed heavy tariffs on cars imported from China and said he hoped to prevail in the Supreme Court. Considering the legality of his wide-ranging tariff policy.
President Trump also suggested that the main North American trade deal he negotiated during his first term, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, was irrelevant and no longer needed by the United States. This agreement, known as USMCA, Under review this year.
Good news for Trump came before he left Washington. New data from December Inflation fell slightly last month as gasoline and used car prices fell, indicating cost pressures are gradually easing. According to the Labor Department, consumer prices rose 0.3% in December from the previous month, the same as in November.
“Inflation is very low,” Trump told reporters on the White House lawn before heading to Michigan, adding: “The growth rate is going up. Our growth rate is phenomenal.”
Meanwhile, Americans across the country remain concerned about inflation and rising costs of daily living.
President Trump’s attempts to shift public attention to his efforts to stimulate the economy have been criticized by the Justice Department. criminal investigation To Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, Powell said the move was a blatant attempt to undermine the central bank’s independence in setting interest rates. Critics of the move include the former Fed chair, economic officials and even some Republican lawmakers.
Asked about the Powell investigation on the White House lawn, the president, an oft-repeated critic of the Fed chairman, did not comment on the matter.
Ford announced it in December. F-150 electrification plan scrappedThis comes after the Trump administration lowered its goal of electrifying half of all new car sales by 2030, despite pumping billions into widespread electrification. Eliminate EV tax credit and proposes to weaken emissions, fuel efficiency rules.
The Michigan stop follows an economy-focused speech Trump gave in Pennsylvania last month, complaining about immigrants arriving in the U.S. from that state. “unclean” countries garnered more attention than his pledge to fight inflation — and his claim that North Carolina his fee Stimulated the economy despite residents’ complaints Pressure from rising prices.
As in Michigan, Trump spoke about the economy in Pennsylvania with casinos in the background. His speech there took place at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono.
Trump won Michigan in 2016. 2024after swaying and endorsing the Democratic Party. joe biden He celebrated his first 100 days in office in 2020. April speech in assembly format In the Detroit suburbs, he focused more on past campaign grudges than on the administration’s economic and policy plans.
During the visit nearly nine months ago, President Trump also spoke at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, announcing a new fighter jet mission and allaying fears the base would be closed. This meant a victory for Michigan’s Democratic governor. Gretchen Whitmer — And the two of them are sae hugged.
This time, Democrats slammed the president’s visit and singled out Republicans across the country. Opposes extension of medical subsidies And he remembered the moment in October 2024, when President Trump, also speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, said it would make sense for Democrats to keep the White House. “Our entire country will look like Detroit.”
“It’s going to be crazy,” Trump said at the time during a campaign stop.
“After months of claiming that affordability is a ‘hoax’ and creating a health care crisis for Michiganders, Donald Trump is now in Detroit — the city he hates — to tout his billionaire-first policies while working families suffer,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel.
“Michiganders are feeling the effects of the Trump economy every day,” Hertel said in a statement.
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Weissert reported from Washington.
