President Donald Trump will travel to Michigan on Monday to spotlight American auto manufacturing and rally support for his endorsed candidates just eight days before the state’s primary election.
Trump is scheduled to visit General Motors’ Milford Proving Ground, a sprawling vehicle-development and durability-testing facility northwest of Detroit. The president’s itinerary includes a vehicle demonstration, a tour of the facility and an economic address scheduled for approximately 2:50 p.m. Eastern time.
GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra is expected to attend, according to reports.
The White House says Trump will use the appearance to highlight his administration’s tariffs, tax policies and efforts to bring auto production back to the United States.
“The President pledged to put Michigan workers back to work, and he’s doing it,” White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in a statement reported by WXYZ.
Huston said that Trump’s “America First” agenda has encouraged automakers to invest, hire and expand at a pace “not seen in decades,” adding that the president is “delivering on his promise to bring manufacturing back to America and rebuild the auto industry.”
The White House credits Trump’s policies with securing more than $20 billion in new business investment in Michigan and creating more than 1,600 jobs. Administration officials are also expected to promote tariffs on imported vehicles and tax incentives intended to encourage consumers and manufacturers to choose American-made cars.
A separate White House manufacturing report released last week said Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts protected approximately 170,000 Michigan jobs, preserved $30 billion in state economic output and safeguarded $15 billion in wages. Those figures were drawn from an analysis by the National Association of Manufacturers.
Trump previously promoted his auto policies during a January visit to Michigan, when he toured Ford’s River Rouge Complex in Dearborn.
“Just as I promised you, I’ve imposed a 25% tariff on all foreign automobiles,” Trump said at the time, according to the White House. “U.S. auto factories are now seeing more than $70 billion of new investment.”
GM’s Milford facility provides a fitting backdrop for Monday’s message. The proving ground is the world’s oldest dedicated automotive testing facility and contains approximately 150 miles of test roads across more than 4,000 acres. GM employees log roughly 15 million testing miles there each year, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
GM plans to shift production of the Chevrolet Blazer from Mexico while adding U.S. production of the Chevrolet Equinox, Reuters reported. The automaker also raised its 2026 profit forecast last week, citing continued American demand for pickup trucks and SUVs.
The visit comes as Trump’s tariffs face renewed scrutiny, particularly in Michigan, where the auto industry depends heavily on cross-border supply chains with Canada. Critics argue that import taxes on vehicles and parts ultimately increase prices for consumers.
The conflict with Iran has added another economic complication as higher oil and gasoline prices weigh on household budgets.
“The Iran conflict is the biggest risk,” political strategist Rina Shah told NewsNation. “Gas is climbing. Oil is spiking.”
Trump’s political message will extend beyond manufacturing. He has endorsed Rep. John James in Michigan’s Republican gubernatorial primary and former Rep. Mike Rogers for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat. Rogers is expected to accompany Trump during Monday’s visit.
The Aug. 4 primary arrives as Republicans prepare for a difficult fight to retain control of Congress in November. Trump narrowly carried Michigan in 2024, reclaiming a state that former President Joe Biden won four years earlier.
For those hoping to attend, local radio station WJR reported that doors will open at 11 a.m. However, neither the White House nor Trump’s campaign had posted a public ticket or registration link as of Monday morning. Because the Milford Proving Ground is a restricted GM facility that is rarely open to visitors, people without confirmed invitations should not assume they will be admitted.
The White House is expected to carry Trump’s address on its official livestream page.
