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

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