With 99 days until the November midterm elections, President Trump visited General Motors Proving Grounds in Milford, Michigan, on Monday, where he defended his tariff policies and touted the economy under his leadership, even as voters continue to give him poor marks on both issues.
“In my first term, we had the greatest economy in the history of our country,” Trump claimed. “And we’re blowing it away this time. You’re going to see the results very soon.”
Trump imposed new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% this month on imports from 60 economies as well as a 25% tariff on certain goods from Brazil and a 50% tariff on some imports from Canada. Combined, those tariffs could raise about $950 billion through fiscal year 2036, according to an analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. The new set of tariffs would replace less than 60% of the projected revenue from Trump’s earlier tariffs that were struck down by the Supreme Court, CRFB said.
The expected revenue from the tariffs hasn’t blunted the economic concerns they’ve raised, particularly in places like Michigan, where the economy relies significantly on neighboring Canada. But Trump argued that his policies, including the sweeping tariffs, have boosted the U.S. auto industry and its workers. He said that the country “may” have a different president in two and a half years, and that person will claim credit for the new factories and economic growth he created. He sought to portray Democrats as “communists” and warned that they could destroy what he’s accomplished.
“We’re having the single greatest year we’ve ever had as a country,” Trump claimed at one point. “We’re not going to let these people destroy it.”
Curtis Hertel, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, criticized Republicans for supporting what he described as a “toxic” Trump agenda that’s raising costs for Michigan families.
“We’re happy to have the president here, campaigning with Republicans,” Hertel told the Associated Press. “It’s good for us every time the president is here because he’s incredibly unpopular.”
Voters certainly aren’t seeing the economy Trump described, based on numerous polls. Trump’s job approval rating has hovered around or below 40%. And views of the economy have been worse:
- A Fox News poll released last week found that just 33% of voters said they approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 67% disapprove. Only 27% approve of his handling of inflation.
- That same poll found that 41% of respondents rate current economic conditions as “poor” and another 35% call them “only fair.” Just 21% view the economy as good, and only 3% call it excellent. The poll also found that 54% of those surveyed said they think Democrats would do a better job on the economy and inflation.
- A YouGov survey conducted on July 22 found that 46% of U.S. adults said that Trump’s tariffs have increased prices on things they bought by a lot. Another 26% said the tariffs had raised prices a little.
The bottom line: Trump has repeatedly dismissed affordability concerns, but voters say that economic issues are top of mind ahead of the November elections. Some in the Republican Party may be happy to hear Trump focus on the economy rather than, say, the unpopular Iran war or his election warnings, but the president will likely find it challenging to sell this economy or blame current conditions on a predecessor who left office 18 months ago.