President Trump marked the first 100 days of his second term at a rally in Michigan on Tuesday, where he celebrated his border crackdown and boasted that he had retaliated for his perceived enemy and his inability to interfere with his agenda.
The president spoke to about 3,000 supporters at Macomb Community College. Nearby Detroit, it is considered the key to victory in the state's elections and is a symbol of the transition from Democrat to Republican Union workers.
Trump was in campaign mode, sentenced him to prison for false statements, jokes and insults, including lies that the 2020 election was stolen. He encouraged the crowd to cheer on his predecessor, Joseph R. Biden Jr., in the swimsuit and show the crowd whether he liked “sleepy Joe” or “brooked Joe.”
“I miss the campaign,” Trump said at one point.
This speech was being billed as a way for the president to build momentum for his economic policies. The area Trump spoke to has indications that he said, “Buy Americans. I'll hire Americans.”
His vast tariffs have hurt the stock market and contributed to a decline in his approval rating. The majority of Americans approved Trump's inauguration performance throughout January and February, but the public disapproved that he is currently struggling with what polls show.
People in the crowd cheered on Trump's agenda, and participants said they supported his efforts to use tariffs to reclaim manufacturing jobs in areas like Detroit, home to the US automotive industry. The city has lost a third of its population since 2000.
Brian Pannebecker, a retired auto worker who supports Trump's tariffs, declared “Macomb County is the home of the Reagan Democrats,” and spoke at the rally. About 56% of county votes in 2024 took place on Trump.
But outside the venue, protesters gathered with signs that “I am dissenting.” The two protesters who made it to the rally were removed by security and the president laughed after calling one with the wrong gender.
Much of the speeches focused on Trump's border crackdown, resulting in a sharp drop in intersections, but also raised concerns about the lack of legitimate processes for those arrested. Trump enjoyed the cinematic video using drone footage depicting a man depicting military-style gear.
Since taking power, the Trump administration has been conducting extensive public relations efforts to promote deportation policies. El Salvador President Naibe Bukere supported this effort. Both administrations have posted sensational videos of deportation on social media.
During his speech, Trump exaggerated the scope of his crackdown, falsely claiming that at one point only three people had slipped to agents at his border.
Trump also highlighted the rapid pace of his executive orders and cast himself on as a man of action. He signed more than 130 executive orders this year, roughly the same number of Biden made throughout his term.
He seemed particularly proud of how he acted extraordinary enforcement in reducing the federal workforce of what he called an “incompetent, unnecessary, deep national bureaucrat.”
Fifty percent of voters in the recent New York Times/Siena University poll said the upheavals Trump has brought to the country's political and economic system were “bad for the country.” Only 36% said the change would be good. And voters said he “goed too far” about the issue after the issue: tariffs, immigration enforcement, cuts in the federal workforce.
At the rally, Trump expressed most concern about his decline in votes and rejected him as equipping them.
The Democratic National Committee issued a statement in response to Trump's rally. “Donald Trump lives in his delusions, but his Michigan family is forced to live with the consequences of his dangerous, chaotic, economically damaging agenda, along with the families of millions of workers in the country,” said DNC Chairman Ken Martin.
Before the rally, Trump attended a bipartisan event at a nearby Selfridge Air National Guard base. So he announced an infusion of new resources, including 21 new fighters, which are considered keys to keeping the base open, retaining a more serious tone.
“This will keep Selfridges at the forefront of North American Air Force,” Trump said.
At the event, Trump praised Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, who criticized his recent visit to the White House. Whitmer appeared on stage with the president.
“I'm so glad we're here,” Whitmer said after the president's announcement.
