Trump’s first 100 days have left Michiganders holding the bag

Michiganders helped send Trump back to the White House. But 100 days later, the state is facing the fallout from tariffs, layoffs, and one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates.

MICHIGAN—Tuesday marks 100 days into Donald Trump’s second term as president—and he’s celebrating with a rally in Michigan, a state where the early consequences of his trade policies and economic agenda are already hitting home for tens of thousands of families.

On the campaign trail, Trump promised Michiganders a booming economy, stronger manufacturing, and lower costs. But just a few months into his return to the White House, those promises are now colliding with reality: rising unemployment, layoffs across the automotive industry, and higher prices fueled by sweeping new tariffs and broader economic uncertainty.

“Auto plants are idled and 401ks are down,” Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel said in a statement marking Trump’s visit this week. “I’m glad he’s here. He can see the damage his reckless approach has caused. 100 days in and Trump has taken a wrecking ball to our economy.”

Michigan’s jobless rate has climbed to 5.5%—among the highest in the nation—as months of tariff-fueled instability now plagues the same industries Trump vowed to protect. Automakers are scaling back. Consumer costs are creeping up. And many of the global partnerships Michigan businesses depend on have been strained by the president’s combative trade agenda.

And while Trump rallies supporters in Macomb County, opposition groups are gathering nearby to highlight the growing gap between Trump’s promises and Michigan’s reality—as well as the price that families across the state are paying now that Trump is back in the Oval Office.

Trump’s Promises Collide With Reality

Last year, Trump made Michigan a centerpiece of his economic policy pitch—pledging to slash costs, revive American manufacturing, and bring thousands of jobs back to the Midwest.

Instead, Michigan’s economy is showing early warning signs of stress under Trump’s second-term policies, which include steep new tariffs on imported cars and auto parts. 

After those tariffs were announced, major automakers like Stellantis halted production at facilities in both Canada and Mexico—leading to temporary layoffs for about 900 Americans who worked at those plants, including at multiple parts manufacturing facilities in the Detroit area.

“I’m concerned about the chaotic and immediate implementation of these wide-reaching tariffs,” US Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan) said in a recent statement on Trump’s tariffs. “Changes don’t happen overnight, and companies need stability and time to make adjustments.”

Industry groups have warned that Trump’s broader tariff strategy could ultimately drive up vehicle prices, trigger more layoffs, and even spark bankruptcies across the industry. And in Michigan, where the auto industry drives the economy, the effects are being felt in real time.

Data shows the state’s unemployment rate has climbed for three straight months, reaching 5.5% in April—far above the national average of 4.2%. And as automakers brace for uncertainty, companies are beginning to reevaluate their investment plans for the months ahead.

Stellantis is idling two more facilities in Detroit this week, with more downtime planned next month. General Motors has also cautioned that it may need to reassess its plans if tariffs stay in place, casting a shadow over an industry Trump once claimed he would restore to “greatness.”

Broader Warning Signs for Trump’s Economy

It’s not just Michiganders feeling the strain of Trump’s second term.

Across the country, Americans are expressing growing dissatisfaction with Trump’s economic approach. According to a recent survey, only about 4 in 10 people approve of how Trump is handling the presidency—with his ratings on the economy and trade trailing even further behind.

“Any economic policy that increases costs toward small businesses and consumers does not take into account the reality of what it means to be a member of the working class,” Macomb County business owner Alex Bronson said in a recent statement. “People are going to get hurt.”

The survey also found that nearly half of Americans say Trump has been focusing on the wrong priorities during his first few months back in office, with about half also disapproving of his immigration policies, and particularly his administration’s aggressive push to deport people. 

Even among his own supporters, the cracks are beginning to show, reports the Associated Press. Since Inauguration Day, the share of Republicans who describe Trump’s presidency so far as “good” has dropped by about 10 percentage points, according to other recent polling.

Trump also promised to “end inflation” starting on Day 1.

And last month, the annual inflation rate dropped to a six-month low of 2.4%—just above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. But economists warn that any relief could be short-lived, as fallout from Trump’s trade war is expected to push consumer prices higher in the coming months.

The early months of Trump’s second term have also brought sweeping cuts to key federal agencies, workforce reductions, and growing disruptions to basic government services—fueling deeper concerns about the administration’s broader impact on the economy and public trust.

“The bottom line for the first hundred days is, lots of damage being done to the fundamentals of our government,” Max Stier, president of the Partnership for Public Service, told the AP.  “[There is] a lot of interest in this idea of trying to make our government more efficient, and what we’ve seen instead is the most substantial destruction of our core governmental capabilities in history.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

READ MORE: 4 ways Trump’s tariff plan threatens Michigan’s economy

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