President Donald Trump toured the River Rouge plant in Dearborn, Michigan, on Tuesday, examining F-150 pickups on the assembly line as part of a swing-state push to highlight his manufacturing agenda and ease voter anxiety over rising prices and job security.
At a Glance
- Trump viewed gas, hybrid, and Raptor F-150 models during the factory walkthrough
- He later told Detroit Economic Club members the speech was “the easiest” because he was “spewing off what we’ve done”
- December inflation data showed a 0.3% monthly rise, matching November, as gas and used-car prices dipped
- Why it matters: The visit is the president’s third in a month to battleground states where affordability concerns have dented Republican support
The president, wearing safety goggles, stopped at several workstations, chatting with workers in reflective vests-some of whom applauded-and spoke with Ford executive chairman Bill Ford. “All U.S. automakers are doing great,” Trump said, praising the “unbelievable” quality of the trucks.
From the plant he headed to MotorCity Casino, addressing Detroit Economic Club members and declaring, “Right now I’m feeling pretty good.” He reiterated that growth is “tremendous” and told reporters earlier, “We have very low inflation.”
Tariffs, Trade, and Legal Battles
On the factory floor Trump noted steep tariffs on Chinese vehicles and said he hopes the Supreme Court will uphold his broader tariff regime. He also shrugged off the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement-negotiated in his first term and up for review this year-calling it “irrelevant” and “no longer necessary.”
The administration has extended import levies on foreign-made auto parts through 2030, while cutting EV mandates and tax credits. Ford responded in December by canceling plans for an electric F-150, shifting billions earmarked for electrification elsewhere.
Political Headwinds
Tuesday’s trip follows Republican losses in Virginia, New Jersey, and other off-year contests where pocketbook issues dominated. The White House has pledged more travel so Trump can speak “directly” about easing financial fears, though the president has previously called affordability concerns a “hoax” stirred by Democrats.
The visit also coincides with a Department of Justice criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who calls the investigation an attempt to undermine central-bank independence. Trump repeated his usual criticism of Powell on the White House lawn but declined to address the case itself.
Mixed Reception
Michigan Democrats criticized the trip, pointing to GOP opposition to health-care subsidies and recalling Trump’s 2024 campaign remark that the country would “end up being like Detroit” if Democrats retained the White House. Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel said Trump “created a health-care crisis for Michiganders” and is now “touting his billionaire-first agenda while working families suffer.”
Trump won Michigan in 2016 and 2024, lost it to Joe Biden in 2020, and used a Selfridge Air National Guard Base rally last April-his first 100-days event-to announce a new fighter-jet mission for the base, sharing a stage (and a hug) with Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Key Takeaways
- The president is betting on factory tours and tariff talk to blunt voter frustration over living costs
- December’s inflation report offered modest relief, yet Americans remain worried about everyday expenses
- With the USMCA review looming and legal challenges to his tariff policy under way, Trump’s trade stance faces both political and judicial tests
