State lawmakers sound alarm on rising costs as Trump returns to Michigan

Ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to Detroit this week, Michigan lawmakers signed onto a new report warning that his economic agenda is driving up costs for families statewide.

MICHIGAN—President Donald Trump is returning to Michigan on Tuesday for his first visit of 2026, addressing members and guests of the Detroit Economic Club as his administration faces growing criticism over rising costs that are squeezing working families across the state.

The speech, which is not open to the public, is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the MotorCity Casino Sound Board theatre in Detroit. Ahead of the visit, Democratic state lawmakers and advocacy groups are sounding alarms about the real-world impacts of Trump’s second term.

That criticism is detailed in a new, six-page report from Defend America Action and Progress Michigan, exclusively obtained by The ‘Gander ahead of Trump’s visit. 

Signed by 10 state lawmakers, the report argues that Trump’s tariffs, sweeping budget cuts, and rollback of clean energy investments are driving up the cost of groceries, utilities, health care, and housing for Michigan families while threatening jobs and economic stability statewide.

“Trump’s destructive policies are ripping away Michiganders’ economic security,” the report states. “Between his massive cuts to government spending, the Trump-GOP Big, Ugly Bill, and his disastrous tariff regime, Trump’s agenda is hurting the local economy in all areas, stoking a dire affordability crisis as food prices, energy bills, health care costs, and housing costs spike.”

What’s in the report?

The new report, titled The Great Lakes Affordability Crisis, points to polling that shows broad concern among Michigan voters about rising prices and economic stability. 

According to the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, 72% of Michigan voters believe Trump’s tariffs on imported goods are driving higher prices at home, while nearly 60% believe the economy is weakening, and close to 40% expect a recession to arrive within the next year.

The report argues those concerns are reflected in everyday costs:

• Grocery prices are up 27% since 2019 and rising faster than inflation overall. Detroit residents now spend the largest share of their income on groceries of any major US city.
• Energy bills have jumped 11% since Trump took office, with utility companies pushing through additional rate hikes in 2026. Over the longer term, Michigan households are projected to pay an extra $320 annually due to the removal of clean energy tax credits.
• Health care costs are expected to spike after Trump and congressional Republicans cut $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, potentially shuttering hospitals and leaving up to 750,000 Michiganders at risk of losing insurance coverage. 
• Housing affordability has also continued to deteriorate, with Michigan now facing a shortage of roughly 119,000 housing units. Trump’s tariffs on building materials are projected to raise the cost of a new home in Michigan by nearly $11,000.

The report also warns of significant job losses tied to Trump’s budget cuts. 

Funding reductions to health care, food assistance, and clean energy investments are projected to cost the state more than 41,000 jobs. Michigan’s manufacturing sector alone lost more than 9,000 jobs over the past year, while unemployment rates have climbed in several regions.

Michigan’s auto industry—a key focus of Trump’s appearance in Detroit—is also facing uncertainty. More than 60% of Michigan voters say Trump’s tariff policies hurt the state’s auto sector. Since January, more than 6,000 clean energy jobs tied to electric vehicle and battery manufacturing have been canceled or delayed following the rollback of federal incentives.

Who put this together?

The report was signed by ten Democratic state lawmakers, including state Reps. Jason Morgan, Jasper Martus, Penelope Tsernoglou, Kelly Breen, Emily Dievendorf, Carol Glanville, and Noah Arbit, among others. It was produced by Defend America Action and Progress Michigan.

The goal, lawmakers said, was to “highlight what President Trump has done to hurt Michigan families across our state and to fight back against this reckless administration.”

“The President and Republicans have worked in lock-step to reward their rich and powerful friends at the expense of everyone else,” the report states. “They are obliterating the economic security of millions across the country, and working families are the ones paying the price.”

Click here to read the full report. 

READ MORE: Michiganders are citing higher prices amid Trump’s trade war

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