Trump tailors his message to key state of Michigan as he returns to the campaign trail after apparent assassination attempt

Former President Donald Trump told a Michigan crowd Tuesday night that steep tariffs he would impose on products imported from China, Mexico and other countries would rejuvenate the state’s automotive industry and drive an economic boom.

Former President Donald Trump told a Michigan crowd Tuesday night that steep tariffs he would impose on products imported from China, Mexico and other countries would rejuvenate the state’s automotive industry and drive an economic boom. Trump, in his first campaign event since Sunday’s apparent assassination attempt, linked his economic proposals to the events at his West Palm Beach golf course on Sunday and the shooting at his Pennsylvania rally in July. “And then you wonder why I get shot at, right?” Trump said in Flint. “Only consequential presidents get shot at.” Trump said he would slap a 200% tariff on cars imported from Mexico, “which means they’re unsellable.” He also sharply criticized the United Auto Workers union president, Shawn Fain, who he said is too supportive of President Joe Biden’s efforts to transition to electric vehicles. Trump claimed those vehicles are “all going to be made in China and Mexico,” despite union contracts negotiated late last year intended to guarantee those vehicles are built in the United States. “We are going to bring so many auto plants into our country,” Trump said. “You are going to be as big or bigger than you were 50 years ago, because they won’t be able — if they’re not willing to build a plant, we don’t want their product.”