Michigan Governor Whitmer Warns Trump Tariffs Threaten Auto Jobs

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer met privately with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office to warn that his tariffs are harming Michigan's automotive industry, a sector critical to the state's economy and key to Trump's 2024 election victory. Whitmer presented a detailed slide deck showing how tariffs on steel, aluminum, and auto parts from countries like China, Canada, and Mexico are causing severe economic damage, including job losses, lower profits, and increased costs for automakers such as Ford and General Motors. Despite her appeals, Trump made no specific commitments to alter his trade policies. Whitmer also requested federal support for recovery efforts after an ice storm and urged delaying Medicaid changes affecting healthcare coverage. This was Whitmer's third meeting with Trump since he took office in January and reflects her unique approach among Democratic leaders to directly engage with the president while opposing aspects of his agenda. Experts note that Michigan has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs since Trump's return to office, and automakers warn the tariffs threaten future investments and the state's economic health.