Skip to content
Home » Transcript: Trump’s Michigan Rally Speech Ahead of Midterm Elections

Transcript: Trump’s Michigan Rally Speech Ahead of Midterm Elections

Editor’s Notes: In this wide-ranging address delivered at a General Motors facility in Michigan, President Donald Trump highlights the resurgence of the American auto industry, crediting tariffs and new manufacturing investments for bringing jobs back home and reducing the trade deficit with China. He touts achievements on border security, tax cuts, and economic growth while issuing a firm warning that the United States will never allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. Trump frames the speech as a defense of his America First agenda and a call to sustain these gains by supporting Republican policies.

Following is the full transcript of President Trump’s remarks at Milford, Michigan, July 27, 2026:

Trump’s Michigan Rally Speech Ahead of Midterm Elections

Opening Remarks

TRUMP: Well, thank you very much. It’s an honor to be back. I love this place. I won this place. It’s beautiful. This beautiful state, I won. We won by a lot. Great to be back in Michigan, and hello to the men and women of General Motors.

And before we begin, I have to say I had a wonderful father. Right? And he was a hard worker. He was in the real estate business. And for him, super luxury — this is the only way — he didn’t want planes. They didn’t have planes in those days, don’t think. He didn’t want anything. You know what he wanted? A Cadillac every two years. This was to him the sign of luxury. This was the greatest thing. And he got one every two years, like, you could count on it. You could set your clocks by it.

And by the way, speaking of that, let’s get rid of daylight saving time stuff. Okay? We have a bill in. Hopefully, the Senate’s going to approve that one. The House approved it, and we’re going to get rid of that. Just to mention — you know, it’s called the weave. Right? I go from — we always get back to the right subject.

But anyway, I did have a wonderful father. His luxury — his super — that’s all he wanted. He just wanted a brand new Cadillac, and I have to tell you a little secret. He had it stretched a little bit. This way, he could be his own chauffeur. He wouldn’t have to hire a chauffeur. He could drive it himself, or he could have somebody else, but he could also drive it himself. Did you ever hear that? This could be a new concept for a car. But I had a wonderful father, and he loved Cadillac.

Honoring General Motors and American Auto Making

TRUMP: And I’m thrilled to be back in this beautiful state, and I’m honored to be the first sitting president to visit one of the most storied places in the history of American auto making, and that’s the world famous General Motors proving ground. And we just got back. We watched some cars, and they are beautiful cars. But I was also very impressed — that was the largest piece of asphalt I think I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen a lot of big asphalt, but I’ve never seen one that big. I said, you’ve got to be kidding.

But over a hundred years, General Motors carved a five and a half mile test track out of Michigan Earth and built a crucible for American cars that would change the world. And that’s what happened. You have changed the world. And maybe more importantly, you have made a comeback like very few companies. You are doing really well. And Mary and your whole group have done a fantastic job. They love their cars. One of the top executives I just met, he was showing — he said, “You know, sir, I just love the cars. I just love these cars.” And I thought that was nice.

This land bears the tire marks of every model of the legendary Chevy Corvette. It bears the scars of the first auto safety test, and that was probably pretty tough. And ever since the presidency of the late, great Ronald Reagan — who, in all fairness, I liked — but he did allow our cars to disappear into Japan and other locations. We cannot do it. We love him. But on trade, Trump is much better. Much better.

But this facility has proudly designed, built, and tested the presidential limousine, affectionately known as the Beast. Have you heard of it? Mister Mayor?

Acknowledging GM Leadership and Auto Workers

TRUMP: I want to thank the CEO of General Motors, Mary Barra, as well as the president, Mark Royce, and the entire leadership team. Mark, really great, great job. The whole leadership team — the job that you’ve done over the last number of years especially has been incredible, and it’s a display of speed and skill. Horsepower goes into these cars, and everyone’s talking about General Motors, including me. That’s why I’m here.

And more importantly, thank you to the auto workers, the technicians, the mechanics, the welders, the engineers of General Motors, because there’s no finer group of people. And it was workers like you who built this country, and now it’s the men and women like you who are making it bigger, better, richer, and stronger than ever before.

We are doing unbelievably well as a country. We’re building more auto factories and more plants than at any time in the history of our country. And someday, the fake news is going to be writing stories about — they don’t like to write those stories. That’s why they call them the fake news.

Criticizing Past Trade Policies

TRUMP: But for decades, the auto workers and manufacturers of this great state were sold out and betrayed by globalist politicians and corrupt special interests who let other countries steal your jobs, pillage your factories, and loot the crown jewels of American industry from Detroit. And all over our country, they were ripping us off, not only in the auto business, but in many other businesses.