Trump talks auto industry, ruffles feathers with Detroit diss during Michigan campaign stop

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump visited the Detroit Economic Club (DEC) on Thursday. The crowd of mostly business leaders provided a more formal setting than the former president’s usual campaign rallies.

Trump told the crowd that, if elected, he wants to make interest rates on car loans fully deductible to promote buying. Currently, that benefit only exists for certain businesses and individuals who are self-employed.

The former president also vowed to lower the corporate tax rate by 6% if he returns to office.

“Cutting it from 21% all the way down to 15%,” says Trump, “but only for those who make their product in the USA.”

During his roughly two hours on stage, Trump talked a lot about wanting to introduce new tariffs for manufacturing abroad. However, he did not offer much detail on what those numbers could look like.

Detroit remark

Trump sprinkled in a number of jabs at his political opponents throughout his speech. At one point, he took aim at the city of Detroit while criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris.

“You want to know the truth?” Trump said. “It will be like Detroit. Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she’s your president. You’re going to have a mess on your hands.”

That comment sparked backlash from a number of Michiganders, including Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. He responded to Trump in a social media post, saying: “Crime is down and our population is growing. Lots of cities should be like Detroit. And we did it all without Trump’s help.”

While outside perceptions of Detroit are often fueled by memories of automotive bailouts and a 2013 bankruptcy filing, the city’s recovery over the last decade is a point of pride for many locals. Last year, violent crime fell to its lowest level since 1966 and the population rose for the first time since 1957.

In a statement to WDET, Trump’s campaign commented its stance that poverty and violent crime rates are too high in the city — adding that the auto industry isn’t what it once was.

“As President Trump emphasized in his speech, his policies will usher in a new era of economic success and stability for Detroit, helping the city reach its fullest potential,” said Victoria LaCivita, Trump’s Michigan communications director.

“This guy is calling us ugly and then asking us out on a date.”

-Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

With the Presidential Election less than a month away, Democrats from around the state have jumped on the opportunity to defend Detroit.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called the city, “the epitome of ‘grit,’ defined by winners willing to get their hands dirty to build up their city and create their communities,” via social media.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Dana Nessel questioned the wording of Trump’s remark, posting: “This guy is calling us ugly and then asking us out on a date.”

Auto industry

Republican vice presidential pick JD Vance was recently non-committal on whether the Republican ticket would honor the $500 million in government money earmarked to help General Motors’ Lansing plant transition to electric vehicle production.

That came after Trump made remarks about revoking some of the money promised to businesses under the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act during past campaign stops. However, Trump did not mention this topic at the DEC and it remains unclear where Trump and Vance stand on GM’s Lansing factory.

Donald Trump did frequently tell the audience he wants to repeal a so-called nationwide “EV mandate.” While the Biden Administration has legislated future guidelines on tailpipe emissions, there are no federal-level laws to outright ban the sale of gas vehicles.

Read more:

• Metro Detroiters lay out the issues and candidates shaping their vote
• Vance, Republicans stress voting during Eastern Market stop in Detroit
• Harris rallies supporters in Redford Township, Flint