Trump Visits GM Proving Ground in Milford, Touting Economic Golden Age Ahead of Primary

The GMC HUMMER EV at the General Motors Milford Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan. (Photo by Steve Fecht for GMC).

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	President Donald J. Trump views a drag race demonstration at GM's Milford Proving Grounds. Also featured L of President: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. U.S. Representative Lisa McClain. U.S. Representative Tim Walberg. White House Political Director Matthew Brasseaux. R of President: GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. GM President Mark Reuss. GM Executive Vice President and CFO, Paul Jacobson.
	Trump Visits GM Proving Ground in Milford, Touting Economic Golden Age Ahead of Primary Marc Kennedy - National-Politics Tell Us Detroit News Bureau MILFORD, MI - President Donald Trump delivered a campaign-style address at General Motors Milford Proving Ground on Monday, July 27, declaring that Michigan is thriving and touting his administration trade and tariff policies. The visit comes eight days before Michigan August 4 primary election, with early voting and absentee balloting already underway across the state. Arriving at the Oakland County facility alongside US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Trump was met by GM Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra and President Mark Reuss. Before taking the stage, the president watched roughly seven minutes of vehicle drag racing at the testing facility featuring Corvettes, Cadillacs, and Hummers pumping his fist as the demonstration concluded. During his remarks, Trump framed his sweeping international tariffs as the primary driver behind auto industry growth. He was joined on stage by prominent state Republicans, including gubernatorial candidate John James and US Senate candidate Mike Rogers. Fact-Checking Key Claims from the Address While the president presented an optimistic vision of the economy, federal economic data and industry records provide important context for several key statements made during the rally. Auto Manufacturing Jobs and Economic Health Trump asserted that the automotive sector is back and that Michigan broader economy is entering a golden age driven by tariffs protecting American jobs. However, recent numbers from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics tell a more mixed story. Over the past year, Michigan lost approximately 4,000 auto parts manufacturing jobs, representing a 3.5 percent decline. While domestic automakers have maintained investments in vehicle assembly, industry analysts note that broader tariffs on steel, aluminum, and imported parts have raised production costs for auto suppliers in the region. Inflation and Consumer Prices The president downplayed ongoing consumer affordability concerns, claiming prices across key sectors have come down. Consumer Price Index data indicates prices remain elevated. Average prices in the Detroit metropolitan area rose roughly 4 percent year-over-year. Across the broader Midwest, food prices rose 3 percent, housing costs went up 3.3 percent, and fuel increased by 4.6 percent year-over-year. Impact of Global Tariffs on the Trade Deficit Trump claimed global trade tariffs reduced the US trade deficit worldwide by 71 percent. This figure relies on a specific, narrow timeframe. Between March and October 2025, during initial international trade shifts, the monthly trade deficit did drop by 71 percent. However, annual trade balance figures do not reflect a sustained overall decline of that magnitude. Credits for Auto Facility Investments Trump touted major battery plant investments, such as Ford facility, as direct results of his current presidential policies. Investments like Ford BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall, Michigan, were formally announced in February 2023. The project was initially structured under federal tax incentives created by the Inflation Reduction Act during the Biden administration. Local Political Context The visit highlights the strategic importance of Oakland County, a historically conservative suburb of Detroit that has leaned Democratic in recent general elections. Michigan Democratic Party leaders pushed back against the speech, arguing that federal tariffs have raised costs for working families and auto suppliers in the state. Conversely, state Republican candidates embraced the president visit as a crucial boost ahead of next week primary contests.