US President Donald Trump highlighted what he described as major economic successes and sharply criticised Democrats during a rally in Michigan, even as new polls showed increasing public scepticism about his tough stances on trade and immigration, reports RTE.
Speaking at a rally styled to mark his first 100 days in office, Mr Trump argued that his tariff policies on America’s trading partners would help revive manufacturing in the US.
“We had the greatest economy in the history of our country,” Mr Trump said of his initial term from 2017 to 2021. “We did great, and we’re doing better now,” reports RTE.
Recent polling indicates that Americans are becoming less confident in certain aspects of Mr Trump’s leadership, particularly in relation to ongoing inflation concerns.
Mr Trump reiterated his criticisms of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, stating the central bank leader was falling short in his role.
He reaffirmed his push for deep tax reductions, a proposal that independent budget analysts estimate could significantly increase the country’s $36.6 trillion national debt, reports RTE.
“In the coming weeks and months, we will pass the largest tax cuts in American history, and that will include no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime,” Mr Trump told the audience in Warren, near Detroit and home to the General Motors Technical Center, reports RTE.
He attacked “radical left lunatics”, exchanged words briefly with a heckler, and invited the crowd to suggest their preferred nicknames for President Joe Biden.
Behind a banner reading ‘The Golden Age’, Mr Trump showcased a glossy video montage portraying his administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, featuring footage of alleged gang members having their heads shaved and being imprisoned, reports RTE.
Before the rally, Mr Trump also made an appearance at a National Guard base, where he emphasised his administration’s military spending.
“I’ll be supporting a record-setting $1 trillion investment in our national defence,” said Mr Trump, speaking before service members, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Michigan’s Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, reports RTE.
Addressing those assembled at the Selfridge base, Mr Trump announced the facility would be receiving 21 Boeing F-15X jets.
Ms Whitmer issued a statement calling the development a “huge, bipartisan win for Michigan” that helps preserve jobs and reinforces the base’s future.
On the previous day, Mr Trump signed an executive order aiming to ease the impact of his auto tariffs by providing a combination of credits and other levy reductions, reports RTE.
At the Warren rally, he described tariffs as a crucial economic support for Michigan.
“With my China tariffs, we’re ending the greatest job theft in the history of the world,” Mr Trump said to enthusiastic applause. “China has taken more jobs from us than any country has ever taken from another country,” reports RTE.
Mr Trump expressed optimism about reaching a trade deal with China. “But it’s going to be a fair deal,” he said.
Concerns over a potential recession have grown as Mr Trump has ramped up a global trade war, raising tariffs to levels that economists warn could nearly halt trade with countries such as China. The strategy has unsettled investors and businesses alike, reports RTE.
Despite this, attendees in Michigan appeared largely supportive.
Paul Ruggeri, a retired steelworker aged 65, said he was willing to endure short-term economic discomfort to support Mr Trump’s approach.
“I don’t want the economy to tank, but we can’t continue down the road we’re going,” Mr Ruggeri said, reports RTE.
“We’ve got to make changes. It’s going to be painful for a little while. We’re going to see some price increases probably. But it’s got to change,” reports RTE.
Meanwhile, Democrats took to the Senate floor with a campaign they labelled ‘100 days of chaos’ to criticise Mr Trump’s administration, delivering a series of speeches.
Several senators accused their Republican colleagues of secretly disagreeing with Mr Trump’s policies but lacking the courage to speak out publicly.
“The president is testing and violating the bounds of our constitution, amassing power for himself as the economy tanks, violating the rights of Americans and destroying our image abroad,” Senator Richard Durbin, of Illinois, the chamber’s No 2 Democrat, said, reports RTE.
“But it seems the ambition of the Republican-controlled legislative branch is all but absent as Donald Trump’s government goes out of control … It is, in fact, the silence of the lambs,” reports RTE.
Outside the rally venue at a local community college, demonstrators lined the road, waving upside down American flags and carrying signs that read: “I dissent”.
Inside, Mr Trump told his audience he missed the campaign trail and delivered a speech that at times sounded more like that of a candidate than a sitting president.
Former president Joe Biden is “sleepy,” the media is “fake,” judges who oppose him are “communist,” Democratic critics are “radical left,” and allies on trade have “abused us more so than foe on trade,” Mr Trump said, listing his grievances, reports RTE.
Mr Trump has left a profound impact on the country in ways few presidents have.
His billionaire ally Elon Musk has overseen major cuts to the federal workforce, and Mr Trump has significantly altered US foreign relations through widespread tariffs, criticism of allies, and sharp reductions in foreign aid, reports RTE.
Polls suggest that Mr Trump has not received the usual grace period often granted to new presidents, with public discontent mounting. While Mr Trump has publicly rejected the polling, he has quietly signalled that policy adjustments may be needed as market volatility intensifies.
Although Wall Street has fallen over 6% since Mr Trump took office, markets rose slightly yesterday following news that some auto tariffs would be eased, reports RTE.
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