President Donald Trump returned to Michigan on January 13 to highlight what the White House described as economic gains during his first year back in office and renewed activity in the American auto industry.
Trump toured the Ford River Rouge Complex in Dearborn, where Ford’s F-150 trucks are produced, and later delivered remarks highlighting wages, energy prices, trade policy, and manufacturing.
“After less than 12 months in office, I’m back in Michigan to report to you on the strongest and fastest economic turnaround in our country’s history,” Trump said.
Trump contrasted current economic conditions with those under the previous administration.
“Biden gave us a colossal stagflation catastrophe, but my Administration has rapidly and very decisively ended that,” Trump said. “We have quickly achieved the exact opposite of stagflation — almost no inflation and super high growth.”
The president cited wage growth and falling energy prices as indicators of progress.
“After real wages plummeted by $3,000 under Sleepy Joe Biden, real wages are up by $1,300 in less than one year under President Trump,” he said.
“We have gas stations in the Detroit area where you can fill up for less than $2.30 a gallon — whereas two years ago, it was $4.50,” Trump added.
Trump also pointed to record market performance.
“The stock market is now the highest in history… boosting 401(k)s and retirement accounts for millions and millions of Americans,” he said.
Tariffs and Auto Manufacturing
Trump credited tariffs, including a 25% tariff on foreign automobiles, for increased domestic manufacturing.
“The Trump Tariffs have delivered us trillions of dollars of new investment,” Trump said. “They brought hundreds of billions of dollars pouring into the United States Treasury, helped curb inflation, and helped cut the federal budget deficit by a staggering 27%.”
“Just as I promised you, I’ve imposed a 25% tariff on all foreign automobiles,” he said. “U.S. auto factories are now seeing more than $70 billion of new investment.”
Executives from Ford Motor Company joined Trump during the visit.
“We’re adding a combustion truck, an affordable one, in Tennessee,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said. “That’s what these policies are doing for Ford.”
Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford said the company’s relationship with the administration has supported growth.
“We couldn’t be more excited. We’re adding market share. We’re growing as a company. We’re adding jobs,” Bill Ford said.
Housing, Healthcare, and Fraud Enforcement
Trump previewed upcoming housing policies.
“This will include a ban on large institutional investors buying up single-family homes all over the country,” Trump said, adding that the federal government is purchasing $200 billion in mortgage bonds to lower rates.
On healthcare, Trump criticized the Affordable Care Act.
“Obamacare was a gift to make health insurance companies rich at the expense of the American People,” he said, adding that a healthcare affordability framework would be announced later this week.
Trump also announced expanded fraud enforcement.
“Our country has been losing over half a trillion dollars to fraud every single year, but those days are over,” he said.
The White House’s claims echo earlier administration messaging highlighted in The Dallas Express, which previously reported that officials said consumer confidence had risen under President Donald Trump’s second term, citing falling concerns over gas prices, housing costs, and grocery prices, alongside rising real wages and record market performance.
