Trump Heads to Ford F-150 Plant in Dearborn to Tout U.S. Manufacturing

DETROIT — President Donald Trump will travel to Michigan on Tuesday for a one-day visit intended to highlight his administration's efforts to bolster American manufacturing amid concerns about a cooling job market and continued price pressures on household budgets.

The itinerary includes a tour of Ford's Dearborn factory that assembles F-150 pickup trucks — the nation's best-selling domestic vehicle — followed by an address to the Detroit Economic Club at MotorCity Casino.

The trip comes after November's off-year elections in Virginia, New Jersey and other states signaled voter unease about everyday economic issues. In response, the White House said Trump plans to step up direct public engagement on his economic agenda after holding relatively few nationwide events earlier in his term.

Trade, Tariffs and Auto Policy

Trump has repeatedly described public worries about affordability as a Democratic-fueled "hoax." At the same time, his administration — which imposed steep tariffs on many trading partners — has eased certain auto-related trade measures, including extending import levies on foreign-made auto parts through 2030.

Last month, Ford announced it would abandon plans to produce an electric version of the F-150, even as the company continues to invest billions in broader electrification. That decision followed the administration's rollback of a target that had aimed for half of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030, the elimination of some EV tax credits and proposals to relax emissions and fuel-economy standards.

Political Context And Reactions

Trump's Michigan stop follows economy-focused speeches in Pennsylvania — where a remark about immigrants from what he called "filthy" countries drew more attention than his anti-inflation pledges — and in North Carolina, where he defended tariffs as pro-growth even as some residents noted higher costs.

Trump carried Michigan in 2016 and again in 2024 after the state backed Joe Biden in 2020. He marked his first 100 days in office with an April rally-style speech near Detroit that emphasized past political grievances more than detailed policy proposals. During that earlier visit he also spoke at Selfridge Air National Guard Base and announced a new fighter-jet mission, easing fears the base might close — a move seen as a win for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, with whom he briefly embraced.

Democrats criticized the trip, pointing to national Republicans' opposition to extending health-care subsidies and recalling an October 2024 remark in which Trump warned that if Democrats stayed in power, "our whole country will end up being like Detroit." At an October campaign stop he added, "You're going to have a mess on your hands."

Curtis Hertel, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, condemned the visit. He said:

"After months of calling affordability a 'hoax' and creating a health-care crisis for Michiganders, Donald Trump is now coming to Detroit — a city he has repeatedly disparaged — to tout a billionaire-first agenda while working families struggle."

"Michiganders are feeling the effects of Trump’s economy every day," Hertel said in a statement.

AP correspondent Colleen Long Weissert reported from Washington.