Trump tells Michigan crowd they'll see economic results 'soon'

MILFORD, Mich. — President Donald Trump touted his administration's efforts to boost manufacturing and combat inflation during a speech in Michigan on Monday, telling people they will "see results very soon."

Trump's remarks came eight days before the battleground state's Aug. 4 primary election and 99 days before the November general election, in which Michigan voters will pick a new governor, a new U.S. senator and candidates to fill a handful of key U.S. House seats.

The Republican president spoke inside the General Motors Proving Ground facility in front of a crowd of about 3,000 people in Milford. He contended that when Democrats take things over, they become "disgusting and dirty."

"We're having the single greatest year we've ever had as a country," Trump argued. "We're not going to let these people destroy it."

Trump is 18 months into his second term in the White House. As he spoke inside a building at GM's Milford Proving Ground, blue and white banners behind the stage said, "American jobs," and "American cars."

However, Michigan Democrats see the November election as a referendum on Trump.

They contended on Monday that Trump hadn't done enough to bring down the costs of groceries and utility bills. They also cited the ongoing war in Iran, which has led to increased gas prices. The average price of a gallon of gas was about $4.21 in Michigan as the president spoke, according to AAA.

"Trump promised lower costs and no wars — but all he’s delivered are higher prices and more wars,” said Michigan House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri, D-Canton Township. "This November, Michiganders will reject Trump and Republicans’ disastrous agenda — and elect Democrats who will fight for working people.”

There were signs of political turmoil at Trump's event Monday. He criticized absentee voting, calling "mail-in ballots inherently corrupt." At another point, demonstrators in the crowd yelled and held signs in opposition to data center projects. They were escorted out of the venue as Trump continued with his speech.

Trump has been generally supportive of data center developments across the country.

Republicans welcome Trump campaigning in Michigan

Cindy Young, 70, of Milford was on the verge of tears as she entered the venue for Trump's remarks. Young said she hadn't slept for two days in anticipation of the event.

"I'm very excited, thankful that he's going to help the country along for my grandkids," she said.

She cited "camaraderie" within the conservative political movement as one of Trump's major accomplishments.

"It wasn't like that 20 years ago," she said.

Trump's visit to Michigan on Monday came as the $4.54 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit opened for vehicles. He didn't discuss the bridge during his remarks.

Key Michigan Republicans embraced Trump's economic agenda at the event, as Democrats blamed him for high prices.

State House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, said he wants Trump to spend time campaigning in the state as his Republican caucus seeks to defend its 58-52 majority this fall.

“We leaned in and embraced Trump," Hall said of the 2024 election. "And we’re going to continue to do that because we need to get those Trump voters out that don’t traditionally vote in midterms.

"We need to get them out. There’s probably 2,000 to 3,000 of those in every single state House district.”

On the GOP side of the upcoming primary, U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township, who received Trump's endorsement on July 22, is competing with businessman Perry Johnson of Bloomfield Hills for the gubernatorial nomination. Johnson has spent nearly $31 million of his own money on the race, according to campaign finance disclosures.

James spoke on stage before Trump did Monday. The congressman told the crowd the November election was a choice between freedom and socialism.

"The Democratic Party you used to know is gone," James said. "In its place is a movement of radical extremism."

Michigan's current governor, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, can't run for reelection because of term limits.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson of Detroit and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson of Fenton are seeking the Democratic nomination to replace her.

Michigan's most closely watched primary contest is the Democratic battle for the U.S. Senate nomination between U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens of Birmingham and former health official Abdul El-Sayed of Ann Arbor. The winner of that race will take on Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake Township in the general election. Trump has already endorsed Rogers.

Republicans haven't won a U.S. Senate race in Michigan since 1994.

Trump carried Michigan in the 2016 presidential election over Democrat Hillary Clinton, lost the state in 2020 against Democrat Joe Biden and then won it again in his 2024 race against Democrat Kamala Harris.

On the Michigan campaign trail in 2024, Trump promised that the auto industry would have "a renaissance the likes of which we have never seen before" if he scored a second term and that Michigan would be the biggest beneficiary of his economic policies.

However, the number of auto manufacturing jobs in Michigan has dropped from 2024 — Biden's final full year in office.

As of December 2024, Michigan had about 166,000 auto manufacturing jobs, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of June 2026, the state had about 156,000, a decrease of about 6%.

Democrats hit Trump on Iran war, higher prices

On Monday, Curtis Hertel, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, said he welcomed Trump to make as many visits to Michigan as possible, labeling him a good spokesman for Democrats' campaigns.

"Americans are catching on: they know Republicans have put a rubber stamp on Trump’s cost-raising agenda, and they’re ready to kick their asses out in November," Hertel said.

However, Rogers, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate, said he believes there is a "manufacturing renaissance" happening in the country.

"We're running on Michigan issues, and a lot of what the president is doing is going to help Michigan," Rogers said when asked if he would run his campaign closely aligned with Trump.

Rogers also described the November vote as a "change election." Having two Democratic U.S. senators has been "a disaster" for Michigan, Rogers contended.

"They broke this place," Rogers said. "We're going to fix it."

Sporting a Trump rally button on his shirt, Shawn Jones, 62, of Commerce Township, appeared to disagree with the Democrats' assessments as he entered the General Motors building for the president's speech.

Jones said he liked Trump's efforts to cut taxes and to remove immigrants who entered the U.S. without authorization.

"He's started rooting out all of the illegals," Jones said.

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