Trump Defends Tariffs in Michigan Amid Economic Concerns

US President Donald Trump is set to defend his economic policies in Michigan, where new Canadian tariffs may hurt many businesses ahead of the midterm elections. The president plans to visit a General Motors facility in Milford on Monday to tout his handling of the economy and defend sweeping tariffs that have affected several US trading partners.

The tariffs, which include levies as high as 50% on Canadian products such as cars, could particularly hurt Michigan's economy, which relies heavily on Canada. The state has seen parts of its economy impacted by the president's tariffs, including on imported cars and auto parts.

Trump's visit to Oakland County comes at a time when voters across the country are increasingly dissatisfied with his handling of the economy, with inflation still running high and gas prices rising again due to the ongoing war in Iran. Jason Roe, a former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party, warned that Trump's visit may be seen as a risk for the president to tie himself too closely to top Republicans ahead of the general election.

The White House says Trump will talk up having generated manufacturing jobs and foreign investment in the US while making the case that his policies and leadership have boosted the auto industry. However, Curtis Hertel, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, dismissed Trump's visit as a sign of the president's unpopularity.