Trump slams Detroit during speech at economic club on Thursday
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Former President Donald Trump slammed Detroit at the city's economic club Thursday, telling guests "the whole country is going to be like...you want to know the truth? It'll be like Detroit."
In a wide-ranging speech where the Republican candidate was expected to talk about the trade agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., Trump told attendees they were "going to have a mess on your hands" if Kamala Harris wins the presidential race.
"Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she's your president," he said.
Trump's remarks included tariffs on imports and China, as well as attacking electric vehicles, people leaving his rallies, and warning "this is the closest we've ever come to World War III."
It was the GOP presidential nominee's second time speaking in Detroit since earning the party's nomination earlier this year, previously speaking at the National Guard Association conference in August.
With just under a month until the presidential election, Michigan continues to be a hot spot for candidates hoping to win the swing state.
Trump says country will end up like Detroit if Harris is elected
While delivering remarks at the Detroit Economic Club, Donald Trump slammed the city, saying "the whole country is going to be like...you want to know the truth? It'll be like Detroit." He also told they would have a mess on their hands if Kamala Harris won the presidential race.
With the economy being one of the biggest focuses of the election, Trump has frequently discussed tariffs as a means of keeping American manufacturing competitive by taxing imports from foreign companies.
In a bid to Michigan voters where tens of thousands are employed by the auto industry, Trump said he would make interest on car loans fully tax-deductible. He also slammed electric vehicle mandates, claiming batteries don't work in trucks.
Prior to announcing the plan, he told the crowd the first thing he would do if he was elected was renegotiate the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, which would include more aggressive tariffs.
Duggan, others clap back at Trump's comments
Several public officials, including the mayor of Detroit responded to Trump's apparent insult of the city during the speech, saying "Detroit’s economy is booming, its population is growing, its culture is unmatched, and its sports teams are on winning streaks."
"Lots of cities should be like Detroit. And we did it all without Trump’s help," he said on X.
Others include the Michigan governor, the attorney general, both members of Congress that represent the city in the U.S. House, and the Michigan House Speaker.
"Donald Trump might not remember where he is right now, so here’s a quick reminder about what Detroit’s all about," Joe Tate said in a statement. "This is the greatest city in the country & we’ve bounced back after Trump killed our jobs, closed our businesses, & tried to throw out our votes.
"Detroit threw Trump out of the White House last time and we’ll do it again."
Previous visits to Michigan
Trump was last in Michigan a week ago for a rally in Saginaw. He had also previously visited Detroit when he spoke at the National Guard Association Conference in August. His other visits to Michigan have been scattered around the state.
Trump's DEC stop comes just two days after his vice presidential candidate JD Vance visited Eastern Market.
During that visit, Vance touched on electric vehicles and auto manufacturing, encouraged voters to cast their ballot early, and showered his running mate Donald Trump with praise. He also made a prediction about his trips to the state.
"I'm going to be in Michigan like 30 times," he said.
This week's visits and any future visits come as Michigan voters have already begun casting their ballots. Absentee ballots started heading out to voters in late September, and early voting starts soon.