Over 1,000 people crowded into Building 104 at the General Motors Milford Proving Grounds on Monday afternoon to hear President Donald Trump tout manufacturing growth in Michigan.
“This land bears the tire marks of every model of the legendary Chevy Corvette,” Trump said of the proving grounds he visited before his speech. “It bears the scars of the first auto safety tests and this facility has proudly designed, built and tested the presidential limousine affectionately known as ‘The Beast’.’”
Building 104 is the performance vehicle workspace and engineering facility in the complex. It was filled with supporters and auto workers who heard from Trump-endorsed Republicans governor candidate Congressman John James, U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers and Michigan District 7 Congressman Tom Barrett while waiting for the president to speak.
“I grew up not far from here. My dad was building cars and concepts for Chrysler in Warren, Michigan, at the assembly plant. My brother was a UAW worker at the Blackhawk plant,” Rogers told the crowd. “You think about how important the automobile is to our state, certainly to our family. It’s important. And making sure we don’t slip back one inch is also very important,” he said.
Over a thousand people filled Building 104 at the GM complex to hear the president speak.
Photo by Matt Fahr
Trump also acknowledged the workers of General Motors.
“It’s a display of speed and skill, horsepower goes into these cars, and everyone’s talking about General Motors, including me. That’s why I’m here,” said Trump. “And more importantly, thank you to the auto workers, the technicians, the mechanics, the welders, the engineers at General Motors, because there’s no finer group of people.”
Bill Cody of South Lyon has seen Trump speak several times. He was slightly overwhelmed by the crowd and left the site early, but fully supports the economy the president he has created.
“It just came out yesterday. Unemployment is the lowest it’s been in 57 years and that’s without any Democratic help whatsoever,” said Cody. “Just think how good this country would be if it was country first instead of party.
Traverse City resident Kevin Schuester was in the area visiting family on vacation and came to hear what President Trump had to say.
“I used to work in the auto industry and I like what he has done to focus on real cars from real car companies and not promoted EV’s (electric vehicles),” he said. “He is trying to build within this country and not let foreign companies get too much of a foothold.”
Schuester agreed with Cody on where the country is economically.
“Unemployment is down and he is going to keep building on that by trying to get companies to stay in the country and getting others to bring their manufacturing plants here to the south and midwest,” said Scheuster. “Things are trending well.”
The Michigan Democratic party held a press conference ahead of the visit and did not share the same evaluation of the economy.
“(Donald) Trump has betrayed Michiganders, and Republicans like Mike Rogers, John James and Matt Hall have stood by him every step of the way,” said Party Chair Curtis Hertel. “Americans are catching on: they know Republicans have put a rubber stamp on Trump’s cost-raising agenda, and they’re ready to kick their asses out in November.”
Regarding the war in Iran, Cody of South Lyon admitted things have not gone smoothly, but supports the president nonetheless.
“I don’t know how we get regime change without troops on the ground. I’m not a strategist, but we’re in a quagmire here,” he said “But, I think that when it’s done we’ll be okay. You know, gotta have faith because no one else was doing anything, right?”
“He’s a dealmaker and he is just looking to make the right deal with Iran,” Schuester said. “It may take time, but he will get it done.”
In-person early voting began on July 25 and runs through Aug. 2.