Former President Donald Trump made his presence felt in Flint, Michigan, during a town hall at the Dort Financial Center, vowing to rejuvenate the U.S. auto industry and bring back jobs to the region. According to CBS News Detroit, Trump criticized the current state of automobile manufacturing, remarking, "You used to be the capital of the world in cars. Today you're an afterthought in cars."
With a promise to impose tariffs on imported cars, Trump's economic strategy centers around protectionist measures. "We are going to bring so many auto plants into our country. You are going to be as big or bigger than you were 50 years ago. Because (car manufacturers) won't be able. If they're not willing to build the plant, we don't want their product," he told the crowd, as per CBS News Detroit.
As reported by FOX 2 Detroit, he also criticized the push toward electric vehicles, stating, "China's going to take over all of your business because of the electric car, and because they have the material we don't." Security was notably intensified at the event. This followed the recent apprehension of a suspect involved in an alleged assassination attempt on Trump's life at a Florida golf course, an incident he described at the town hall. "We had an incident the other day and I have to say, the, Secret Service did a hell of a job," Trump said. Supporters showed up in droves, demonstrating unwavering commitment despite the recent security scare.
During the town hall, Trump also emphasized his stance on border security, drawing attention to the current administration's policies. "If you don't have the death penalty for drug dealers, you're just wasting your time. Now we can keep it down, and we can do better than we're doing now. A lot better than we're doing now, because what's happening now is out of control," he stated in an event moderated by former press secretary and current Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, according to insights from CBS News Detroit. These remarks resonated with many attendees, with supporters echoing the sentiment that strict measures are key to addressing the border crisis.
Faith in Trump's economic promises was palpable among those gathered. "I trust him with the economy. He's a businessman, knows what he's doing. He was doing great his four years in office. I trust him," said a supporter at the event, as mentioned in a statement obtained by CBS News Detroit.
The sentiment was shared by many in attendance, including Jan Staley of Flushing, who told ABC12, "He's got to get in there to save this country."
