By Jarrett Renshaw and Kalea Hall
July 27 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump will travel to a General Motors test site in Michigan on Monday to tout his trade and industrial policies, seeking to refocus attention on the economy even as an escalating conflict with Iran clouds the political outlook and stokes inflation concerns.
With less than 100 days before the November midterm congressional elections, Trump hopes to change the political conversation after months dominated by the Iran war.
While the White House plans to highlight what it says is a manufacturing revival marked by new factory investment and job creation, the broader economic picture remains mixed, with higher gasoline prices, stubborn inflation and growing public unease over the Middle East crisis eroding voter support.
The first 18 months of Trump’s second term as president have featured a series of policy-driven economic shocks, driven by an immigration crackdown, higher tariffs and the war with Iran that has boosted the price of oil and threatened global supply chains.
Michigan voters have become more skeptical about Trump’s handling of the economy and trade, according to Bernie Porn, president and pollster at Epic MRA. Trump’s job approval rating in the state has fallen to 33%, with 61% disapproving, while most voters say consumers — not foreign countries — are bearing the cost of tariffs.
“He’s got a serious problem going into the midterms because people don’t believe him and they don’t think he’s telling the truth,” Porn said of the Republican president’s problems in Michigan, where Epic MRA is based.
White House spokeswoman Liz Huston said Trump’s “America First” agenda has driven automakers to invest, hire and expand, calling it a pace of growth “not seen in decades.”
Huston said Trump is “delivering on his promise to bring manufacturing back to America and rebuild the auto industry.”
Trump and Republicans hold a sizable fundraising advantage, powered by strong donor support and campaign infrastructure, but polls show Democrats with an edge in voter enthusiasm and motivation. The gap could prove significant in midterm elections, where turnout often determines the outcome.
Trump defeated Democratic former Vice President Kamala Harris by roughly 1.4 percentage points in Michigan in the 2024 presidential election, flipping it back to Republicans after Democrat Joe Biden won the state in 2020.
Michigan will be a critical battleground in the fight for control of Congress, with an open Senate seat drawing national attention. The state’s Republican and Democratic voters will choose their nominees in an August primary.
The Senate race will test whether Trump’s strength among working-class voters can translate into broader political gains. Republicans are rallying behind former U.S. congressman Mike Rogers, while Democrats are holding a competitive primary featuring U.S. Representative Haley Stevens and former public health official Abdul El-Sayed.
AUTO MANUFACTURING
During his Michigan trip, Trump is expected to visit GM’s Milford Proving Ground, the company’s vehicle-testing facility. Located about 40 miles (65 km) northwest of Detroit, the site covers thousands of acres and includes test tracks, laboratories and specialized facilities for simulating real-world driving conditions.
GM CEO Mary Barra is expected to attend the event, the company confirmed.
Trump has used tariffs to push American manufacturers to move production to the U.S., including on GM, which plans to move production of the Chevrolet Blazer from Mexico, while adding Equinox production in the U.S. to supplement existing capacity.
Automakers and their suppliers have been navigating tariffs and shifting policy changes, particularly around emissions rules, forcing companies to adjust their long-term strategies.
Trump’s trip comes soon after the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, a major trade corridor that highlights the economic ties between the two countries despite strained relations.
(Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Sergio Non, Ross Colvin, Will Dunham and Chris Reese)
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