WATCH LIVE: Trump expected to tout his economic policies and tariffs in Michigan

By — Will Weissert, Associated Press Will Weissert, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-trump-expected-to-tout-his-economic-policies-and-tariffs-in-michigan Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH LIVE: Trump expected to tout his economic policies and tariffs in Michigan Politics Jul 27, 2026 1:56 PM EDT MILFORD, Mich. (AP) — President Donald Trump is touting his handling of the economy during a visit to suburban Detroit on Monday, defending sweeping tariffs in a swing state where their effects have hurt many businesses as midterm election season heats up. The president is expected to speak at 2:50 p.m. EDT. Watch live in the video player above. Trump is visiting a General Motors facility in Milford, that's a testing and proving grounds for its vehicles. Before his speech, he'll view a drag race demonstration ahead of an IndyCar race in Washington next month, which the president has promoted as part of America's 250th birthday celebrations. READ MORE: Traffic to start flowing across new bridge between Canada and U.S. amid Trump's tariff battle Early voting is underway for Michigan's Aug. 4 primary, which features fierce nomination fights in both major political parties. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Republican Mike Rogers is unopposed in the Senate primary, but the GOP gubernatorial contest pits Trump-backed Rep. John James against Perry Johnson, a businessman turned politician who has launched unsuccessful campaigns before, including for president in 2024. READ MORE: Trump to travel to Michigan ahead of swing state's primary election Johnson is now trying to style himself in the president's mold — despite missing out on his endorsement. The Democratic Senate primary between Rep. Haley Stevens and progressive Abdul El-Sayed has drawn national attention for the right to face Rogers, who was narrowly defeated by Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin in 2024. Trump's new Canada tariffs could hurt Michigan Michigan was one of the 2024 battlegrounds Trump flipped after it backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. But the state has also seen parts of its economy affected by the president's tariffs, including on imported cars and auto parts. WATCH: Trump raises tensions with Canada by announcing new 50% tariffs A new round of steep import levies is taking effect on dozens of U.S. trading partners. But Trump has singled out Canada with tariffs as high as 50% on a wide array of its products, including cars. The president is visiting Oakland County, which encompasses much of Detroit's northern suburbs. Once a Republican stronghold, it has increasingly leaned Democratic, backing Biden against Trump in 2020 and Vice President Kamala Harris against Trump four years later. The Milford area home to the GM testing area is suburban enough that, in a wooded space nearby, a convincin