Michigan
In Michigan Trump calls for slashing corporate taxes, hiking tariffs on foreign products
RFK Jr. asks supporters to back Trump, Republican party
Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urges his supporters to vote for Donald Trump, claiming his campaign hurt the Republican party.
WALKER, Mich. ― Former President Donald Trump returned to west Michigan on Friday, telling a crowd of supporters he plans to slash corporate tax rates for companies making products in the U.S. while raising tariffs on products —namely cars — manufactured in foreign countries.
During his more than hour-long remarks to a crowd of supporters at a manufacturing plant just outside Grand Rapids, Trump said he would reduce the federal corporate tax rate to 15%, down from 21% currently, for any manufacturer so long as they build their products within the U.S.
He also said he would institute a 100%-200% tariff on cars made in Mexico. Currently, many automakers build cars in Mexico due to lower labor costs. Production costs are also lower due to incentives instituted in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement negotiated during Trump’s presidency.
More: Watch replay: Former President Donald Trump to speak in Walker
“If you don’t make your product here, you will have to pay a tax or tariff when you send your product into the United States … and (we’ll) use that money to benefit the American citizen,” Trump said.
The rally, held at metal-panel manufacturer FALK Productions in the Grand Rapids-suburb of Walker, was Trump’s first scheduled stop in Michigan on Friday. Following the event, he was scheduled to hold a town hall at Macomb Community College in Warren.
Michigan is one of a handful of states considered key to determining the outcome of the presidential election between Trump and the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. Opinion polls currently show a narrow margin in the battleground state, with the RealClearPolling average currently showing Harris holding a lead of 1.8 percentage points in Michigan.
Speaking in front of a backdrop that read “jobs, jobs, jobs,” Trump pitched supporters on returning Michigan, and the U.S., to manufacturing prominence.
“We will be the most competitive in the world,” he said, adding Michigan’s manufacturing sector will be “hotter than it ever was in its heyday.”
During Trump’s first term in the White House, manufacturing jobs grew slightly before falling at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to figures made available by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The figures show manufacturing jobs rebounding in 2021 and 2022, the first two years of President Joe Biden’s tenure, before plateauing.
Trump argued Harris’ policies would harm the manufacturing industry in Michigan.
The Biden administration has called on automakers to produce more electric vehicles to combat rising greenhouse gas emissions, something Trump derided as a mandate.
“The electric car has a great place, but (it’s) not for everybody,” Trump said. He argued it didn’t make sense for the U.S. to compete with China in producing electric vehicles, saying China is richer in minerals needed to make batteries to power the cars.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has suspended his campaign to support Trump, also spoke at the rally.
Democrats, earlier in the day, pushed back on Trump’s claims that he would be a better president for manufacturers. During a virtual press call, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, pointed to announcements of new manufacturing projects in Michigan. The Biden administration has announced billions in federal funding to manufacturers, including hundreds of millions to electric vehicle battery manufacturers in Michigan last week.
“We know that Trump is full of broken promises, and if Trump is in the White House again, our workers, our manufacturers, will pay the price,” Stabenow said.
Trump also continued to criticize Harris’ record at the U.S. southern border with Mexico, blaming her for rising migrant crossings there this year. Trump, throughout his campaign, has made the border and immigration a focus of his remarks, repeatedly painting migrants as violent criminals. He said Harris “should resign in disgrace” for the state of the southern border.
In a departure from his stance during his 2020 reelection campaign, Trump encouraged his supporters to cast their votes through absentee ballots, which are now available in Michigan. However, he continued to say there wasn’t a legitimate way for him to lose the election to Harris, telling supporters “They cheat, that’s the only way we’re going to lose.”
“If you have your ballot, return it as soon as possible,” Trump said as he concluded his remarks.
Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com
Looking for more on Michigan’s elections this year? Check out our voter guide, subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor.
Michigan
Michigan Football S Jordan Young enters transfer portal
Announced on Tuesday evening, Michigan true freshman safety Jordan Young has entered the transfer portal.
A former four-star prospect from Monroe, North Carolina, Young flipped his commitment at the last moment from Clemson to Michigan in the 2025 class. He played in nine games this season for the Wolverines and had 15 tackles and three pass breakups, with all three pass breakups coming in the final four games of the season.
We wish Young the very best at his next college football program.
Michigan
Tom Izzo angry at former Michigan State star for courtside ejection
EAST LANSING – Michigan State was rolling to a win against USC when there was a stoppage in play with six minutes remaining in the second half on Monday night.
It had nothing to do with what was happening on the court at the Breslin Center.
Referee Jeffrey Anderson blew his whistle to eject a fan sitting a few rows off the floor. The individual booted happened to be Paul Davis, who starred at center for the Spartans from 2002-06.
“He kind of got after the official and he was 150 percent wrong,” Izzo said of Davis after the No. 12 Spartans (13-2, 3-1 Big Ten) won 80-51 against the Trojans on Monday, “and for a guy like me to 150 percent agree with the official, it’s almost illegal.”
Michigan State fans were upset about a foul call on the other end of the floor when Davis stood up and said something Anderson immediately objected to. That led to a hook.
Despite being tossed, Davis attempted to stay in his seat while taking a drink from an alcoholic beverage container. Anderson didn’t let it slide and provided an explanation to Izzo, who was less than thrilled and yelled across the court questioning what his former player was doing.
Davis finally stood up after being told to leave by associate athletic director Seth Kesler but took his time and brushed two hands against his chest. That prompted Izzo to scream, appearing to tell his former center to “get outta here.” Davis was walked up the stairs and watched the rest of the game from a concourse box.
“I love Paul Davis, I really do, he’s one of my favorite guys … but what he said he should never say anywhere in the world and that ticked me off,” Izzo said. “Just because it’s 25, 20 years later, I’m going to have to call him tomorrow and tell him what I thought of it. You know what he’ll say, ‘I screwed up, coach, I’m sorry.’”
Izzo claimed he was told what Davis said was nothing racial or sexual in nature but it was obviously enough to get the boot.
“It was just the wrong thing to say,” Izzo said, “and I’ll leave it at that.”
Davis ranks 10th on Michigan State’s career scoring list with 1,718 points, was a second-round NBA pick by the Clippers and spent four years in the league. Izzo praised the work Davis does with current players but the Hall of Fame coach in his 31st season leading the Spartans has never been ejected from a game.
“He made a mistake but he’s been really good with our players too,” Izzo said of Davis. “In the summer he comes up and helps work a guy out or he’s just around. Jud Heathcote used to always tell me sooner or later the game makes fools of us all. Once in a while, the game makes fools of our fans and definitely it’s made a fool of me more than a couple times.”
Michigan
Former Michigan star RB promoted to Eastern Michigan assistant head coach
Former Michigan running back and assistant coach Mike Hart is getting a promotion on Chris Creighton’s staff at Eastern Michigan.
The school announced Monday that Hart is being elevated to assistant head coach and will oversee the receivers in 2026. Michigan’s all-time leading rusher spent last season as an offensive analyst for the Eagles.
“Coach Hart is a winner,” Creighton said in a news release. “He has the ‘It’ factor. He selflessly helped us this year as an offensive analyst and made a positive impact. We know that he will be a major addition as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.”
Hart has 14 years of college coaching experience, including a three-year stint as Michigan’s running backs coach from 2021-23. He served as interim head coach for one game during the Wolverines’ 2023 national championship season when Jim Harbaugh was suspended.
Under Hart, Michigan’s running backs thrived. Blake Corum rushed for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons and was a third-round pick by the Rams in 2024. The Wolverines won the Big Ten all three years Hart was on staff, but they did not renew his contract after the 2023 campaign.
The 39-year-old began his coaching career at EMU in 2011 and also has had stints at Western Michigan (2014-15), Syracuse (2016) and Indiana (2017-2020).
As a player at Michigan, Hart was a two-time Doak Walker Award finalist and finished fifth in the 2006 Heisman Trophy voting. Last season, EMU finished 4-8 but was No. 2 in the Mid-American Conference in passing yards per game.
“I am excited to be a part of Eastern Michigan football,” Hart said in a release. “Coach Creighton is one of the best leaders of men I have ever been around, and I look forward to learning and being a part of his program. EMU football and the Ypsilanti community have always held a special place in my heart, and I am excited to help the team reach our goals for the 2026 season.”
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