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In Michigan Trump calls for slashing corporate taxes, hiking tariffs on foreign products

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In Michigan Trump calls for slashing corporate taxes, hiking tariffs on foreign products


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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. 

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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.  

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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.

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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.

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“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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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.



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Menominee, Michigan man arrested on sexual assault charges involving a minor

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Menominee, Michigan man arrested on sexual assault charges involving a minor


MENOMINEE, Mich. (WLUK) — 24-year-old Ethan Raymond Masters of Menominee was arrested on sexual assault charges June 30th, according to the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office, deputies learned of an incident involving a 24-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl which happened in Menominee June 22nd. Following a sexual assault investigation, police charged Masters.

Masters was arraigned July 2nd on 2 counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct First Degree. He remains in the Menominee County Jail on a $250,000 cash bond.

Menominee City Police and the Michigan State Police Crime Laboratory of Marquette assisted with the investigation.

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Michigan immigration advocates react after Supreme Court ruling on Temporary Protected Status

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Michigan immigration advocates react after Supreme Court ruling on Temporary Protected Status


Twenty-four thousand immigrants in Michigan have Temporary Protected Status (TPS), but a recent Supreme Court decision could put their protection in jeopardy.  

TPS is a humanitarian protection granted to U.S. immigrants fleeing dangerous situations in their home countries, often from natural disasters or political instability. The status allows immigrants from the designated countries to live and work in the U.S.  

The Supreme Court overturned those for 356,000 Haitians and Syrians in a recent decision. While the court’s decision directly impacted Haitian and Syrian immigrants, it also established that the Secretary of Homeland Security has the authority to determine TPS status without judicial review or input from the courts.

That means that the Secretary of Homeland Security can eliminate TPS for any immigrant group that is currently in the U.S. under protection. That puts 1.3 million immigrants in the U.S. at risk of deportation. In Florida, 113,000 healthcare workers with TPS are at risk of deportation. The Haitian population in Philadelphia is also expressing concerns about what comes next for them.  

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“The Supreme Court turned its back on our moral and legal commitments to people seeking safety,” said Christine Sauvé, manager of Policy and Communication at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. “The decision eliminates legal protections for people fleeing danger and allows the Trump Administration to really advance its mass deportation agenda.”

Left without the ability to live or work in the U.S., these Haitian and Syrian immigrants with TPS now face deportation. But going back home could still be incredibly dangerous.

“It’s not really an option to go back to their home country,” said Melanie Goldberg, immigration attorney with the Institute of Metro Detroit. “In the case of Haiti, they don’t even have an airport in Port-au-Prince that’s operational. Yet they say it’s safe for these citizens to go back.”

In Michigan, immigrants with TPS have contributed $349 million to the state’s economy, a sign that they are deeply embedded in the community, according to Sauvé.  

“Many TPS holders have been in our communities for a very long time,” Sauvé said. “They’ve really spent decades building their lives here in Michigan. We welcomed them here, only to see that completely ripped away with the stroke of a pen.”

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The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center encourages Haitian and Syrian immigrants with TPS, as well as any immigrants in the U.S. with a TPS designation, to seek out a qualified legal service provider and review the “Know Your Rights” Materials on the MIRC’s website



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Sherrone Moore’s former assistant sues University of Michigan over alleged FOIA violations

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Sherrone Moore’s former assistant sues University of Michigan over alleged FOIA violations


A former University of Michigan assistant whose relationship with ex-coach Sherrone Moore was under investigation is accusing university officials of refusing to provide records related to the probe.

Paige Shiver filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in Washtenaw Circuit Court, claiming that U of M “arbitrarily and capriciously” violated the Michigan Freedom of Information Act by repeatedly denying her requests. Shiver and her legal team are seeking a court order requiring the university to disclose the records.

The lawsuit also alleges that throughout Shiver’s four-year employment with U of M, she was “discriminated against and subjected to a hostile work environment on the basis of her sex, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Michigan law including Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act.”

“The lawsuit filed today demands transparency and accountability from the University of Michigan, President Grasso and the Board of Regents,” said Shiver’s attorney, Andrew M. Stroth. 

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On Wednesday, CBS News Detroit reached out to U of M, which says it has no comment.

The investigation led to Moore’s firing in December 2025. At the time, it was determined that he was in an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, who was later identified as Shiver. 

Moore was arrested hours later after authorities said he went to Shiver’s home and threatened to harm himself. He was charged with third-degree felony home invasion, as well as misdemeanor counts of stalking and of breaking and entering. Moore was sentenced to 18 months’ probation after pleading no contest to the two misdemeanor charges.

According to the lawsuit, Shiver filed a FOIA request in February 2026 for audio, video and transcripts of interviews of herself, her father, Jeff Shiver, and Moore. The lawsuit alleges that the university denied her request, citing the ongoing investigation.

The lawsuit alleges that Shiver submitted a similar request months later, in June, but was told by the university that it was “overly broad and vague” and “does not describe a ‘public record sufficiently to enable the public body to find the public record.’”

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The lawsuit claims that requests were submitted in March and May, respectively, for all emails sent to the law firm Jenner & Block (UMconcerns@jenner.com) and for recordings of Shiver’s meetings by the university through Jenner & Block. However, those requests were denied because the university cited that it had no responsive records, according to the lawsuit.

The law firm was hired by U of M to investigate Moore and Shiver’s relationship. The university later expanded the investigation to include the athletic department.

The lawsuit also claims that Shiver requested copies of emails between Moore and athletic director Warde Manuel that contained the words “affair,” “discipline,” “pregnancy,” “baby” and “abortion.” The university denied the request, citing the communication between U of M employees as “exempt information,” according to the lawsuit.

However, Shiver’s legal team argued that the university has not shown evidence that the emails are exempt.

“This public university paid Jenner & Block $12 million to investigate the Sherrone Moore scandal and the abuse, Title IX and Title VII violations within the athletic department and Schembechler Hall, yet now refuses to release the investigation’s findings. It was important for our client to file this initial FOIA lawsuit to ensure the truth and facts come out,” Stroth said.

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Shiver appeared on ABC News’ “Good Morning America” in April to discuss her relationship with Moore. In the interview, she said she became pregnant by Moore and sought an abortion after medical complications were discovered about the pregnancy.


Note: The video above previously aired on April 14, 2026.



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