US President Donald Trump on Tuesday mounted a vigorous defence of his sweeping tariff regime during a visit to Michigan, arguing that import taxes are revitalising American manufacturing even as economists warn they are pushing up consumer prices and voters remain anxious about jobs and the cost of living.
Trump toured a Ford Motor Company plant in Dearborn, inspecting production lines for the F-150 pickup truck — the bestselling vehicle in the US — including gas, hybrid and high-performance Raptor models. He spoke with assembly line workers and Ford executive chairman Bill Ford, telling them that “all US automakers are doing great” under his policies.
Later, addressing the Detroit Economic Club, Trump credited tariffs as a central pillar of what he called an emerging “Trump economic boom.” He claimed that “historic” tariffs were generating revenue for Michigan and the country at large and insisted that critics’ warnings had not come true.
“The results are in, and the Trump economic boom has officially begun,” he said, adding that tariffs were “overwhelmingly” paid by foreign nations and middlemen. Economists, however, consistently argue that import taxes are largely passed on to US consumers, adding to inflationary pressures.
The Michigan stop was Trump’s third visit to a swing state in recent weeks as Republicans seek to reassure voters following weak performances in off-year elections in states such as Virginia and New Jersey. Concerns about household finances, inflation and job security have weighed on the party despite Trump’s claims of economic momentum.
The president also used the speech to veer into unscripted territory, boasting about his off-teleprompter style, mocking former president Joe Biden, and repeating the false claim that he won Michigan three times — despite losing the state in 2020.
Trump promised to unveil a new “health care affordability framework” later this week and said more measures aimed at easing living costs were on the way, while blaming Democrats for what he described as an affordability crisis.
Despite his strong rhetoric in favour of tariffs, Trump has partially eased them in the auto sector. After initially announcing 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts, his administration later relaxed those levies to shield domestic manufacturers from higher production costs.
Even so, Ford announced in December that it was abandoning plans to produce an electric F-150, following the administration’s rollback of electric vehicle targets, elimination of EV tax credits and moves to weaken emissions and fuel-efficiency standards.
During the visit, Trump also suggested that the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, negotiated during his first term, was no longer necessary, though he did not elaborate on what might replace it.
As Trump continues to champion tariffs as a tool for growth and manufacturing revival, the debate over their real economic impact — on prices, jobs and competitiveness — remains a central issue heading into a volatile election year.
