Trump's Michigan Visit Met with Expressions Regarding Local Economic Issues from a Democratic County Executive
On Trump's 100th Day of His Second Term, Residents of Macomb County Feel the Heat
Last Tuesday, President Donald Trump blew into Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan, marking the 100th day of his second term with a fiery rally. Known as a traditional working-class swing area, Macomb County has a Manufacturing and Defense history, voting for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 before flipping to Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Yet, despite supporting Trump, voters also re-elected Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2022 and Democratic county executive Mark Hackel in 2024.
In a candid interview with Morning Edition, Hackel voiced his concerns about Trump's early policies. "There's a lot of anxiety across the board, whether it's education departments, people who provide support to others, issues dealing with DEI, there's concerns with our manufacturers, automotive, even defense," Hackel said. "Some of his policies, I think, had a lot of people up in arms and concerned, and I think it wasn't weighing in his favor during that time."
In a county where manufacturing and defense products are the lifeblood of its economy, with nearly 70,000 workers across 1,600 manufacturers, residents are closely watching as tariffs, economic predictions, and political shifts take shape.
This past summer, President Trump signed executive actions aimed at providing relief to the struggling automotive industry by easing certain tariffs, including offering rebates to domestic automakers. This move was meant to mitigate the costs associated with imported vehicle part tariffs. However, manufacturers in Macomb County are grappling with the potential implications and making adjustments, just in case Trump's policies push through.
UAW workers have shown mixed reactions to the tariff changes, with some expressing hope that the measures might save jobs, but others remain worried about job security and the lack of communication from management. In fact, even the United Auto Workers are backing the tariffs, which is a surprising turn of events since they traditionally oppose policies like these.
Despite the potential challenges that could arise from a recession, Macomb County is expected to weather the economic storm relatively well due to its robust industrial base and diversified economic sectors. However, the long-term impact of Trump's policies on the automotive industry and jobs remains unclear.
It seems that folks in Macomb County are playing a waiting game, keeping a wary eye on the future, while trying to stay afloat in the ever-shifting political and economic sands.
Copyright 2025 NPR
Enrichment:According to recent reports, President Trump’s executive actions aimed at offering relief to the automotive industry include a rebate program for domestic automakers, which is intended to help mitigate the costs associated with tariffs on imported vehicle parts.
Manufacturers and workers in Macomb County are cautiously observing the potential effects of these tariff changes, with concerns about the costs and the burden on the consumer.
UAW workers display mixed feelings, with some optimistic that the tariff changes might help protect jobs, while others remain concerned about job security and communication from management.
Although concerned about the potential economic challenges, experts predict that Macomb County’s economy will fare relatively well due to its strong industrial base and diversified economic sectors.
- The residents of Macomb County are closely watching as tariffs, economic predictions, and political shifts take shape in 2025, especially those related to the automotive industry.
- As the county's manufacturing and defense products are the lifeblood of its economy, with nearly 70,000 workers across 1,600 manufacturers, they are grappling with the potential implications of President Trump's policies.
- In a county where politics often lean toward traditionally working-class candidates, voters re-elected Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2022 and Democratic county executive Mark Hackel in 2024, despite supporting President Trump.
- In a candid interview, Hackel voiced his concerns about Trump's early policies, stating that there's a lot of anxiety across various sectors, including education, DEI, manufacturing, automotive, and defense.
- This past summer, President Trump signed executive actions aimed at providing relief to the struggling automotive industry by easing certain tariffs and offering rebates to domestic automakers, which could help mitigate the costs associated with imported vehicle part tariffs.
- Although experts predict that Macomb County’s economy will fare relatively well due to its strong industrial base and diversified economic sectors, UAW workers and manufacturers remain cautious about the long-term impact of Trump’s policies on jobs and expenses.
- Recent reports suggest that President Trump’s executive actions aimed at offering relief to the automotive industry include a rebate program for domestic automakers, meant to help mitigate the costs associated with tariffs on imported vehicle parts.
- In both personal-finance and general-news spheres, the ongoing war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation discussions in politics, as well as sports-betting regions, continue to make headlines, but the economy of Macomb County seems to dominate local discourse and concerns.
