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Macomb County — which split 56% for Trump in the 2024 presidential race — is emblematic of many former Democratic, blue-collar strongholds that were receptive to the president’s economic promises on the campaign trail. Winning those areas helped him easily return to the White House, sweeping all seven swing states and securing the popular vote.
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Many residents in places such as Macomb County — home to plants tied to General Motors Co. and Stellantis NV — have championed Trump’s aggressive trade policy, seizing on his promises of revitalized domestic manufacturing and the resurgence of good-paying factory jobs.
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But automakers are warning that stiff levies could cause plant shutdowns and job losses instead. On Tuesday, hours before the rally, the car companies secured a temporary win. Trump signed directives easing some tariffs, including a two-year reduction in 25% auto parts levies for components used in cars and trucks finished in the US.
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“We give them a little time before we slaughter them,” Trump said, casting his changes as “a little flexibility.”
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It wasn’t immediately clear whether the change would be enough to restart production halted in the wake of Trump’s earlier import duty announcements. Stellantis had previously paused production to adapt to the changes, causing temporary layoffs in Michigan and Indiana, as well as at a Canadian plant across the Detroit River.
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Another potential test case for Trump lies just down the road at Stellantis’ Warren Truck Assembly Pant, where workers build the company’s Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs. Sales have been underwhelming, and output was temporarily halted this month because of a shortage of engines, with a restart expected in early May.
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The United Auto Workers, whose president Shawn Fain has praised Trump’s automotive tariffs, has pointed to Warren as evidence that Stellantis has capacity to build more cars and trucks in the US — and summon laid-off members back to work.
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Doug King, 30-year-old Stellantis employee attending Trump’s rally, said he was excited by the president’s trade vision and believes a boost to US manufacturing will happen “quicker than you think.”
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“He doesn’t want to hurt the companies. He’s trying to save the companies,” King said. “He’ll tweak deals — he’ll tweak everything — to make it work.”
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Approval Rating
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Trump’s 100-day victory lap comes despite polls showing his approval ratings sinking to the lowest level in decades for presidents at this milestone in their terms. Those marks have been driven down over concerns about his handling of the economy and fears of a potential recession.
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Just 39% of respondents in an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll said they approve of Trump’s performance as president, while a CNN survey marked a 41% approval rating.
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Immigration remains an area of relative strength for the Republican president who has intensified the government effort to deter border crossings and deport foreign nationals in the US illegally.
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