WARREN, Mich. (WXYZ) — Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States who is currently running for reelection, was back in metro Detroit Friday for a town hall in Warren discussing the auto industry and taking questions from auto workers.
Watch the town hall in the video player below:
The former president was at Macomb Community College for the town hall.
Friday night was a call out to auto workers and United Auto Workers members in metro Detroit. The former president is aware that Michigan is the heart of the auto industry, and it’s something Michigan families connect to on a personal level.
“All of my family work for GM. My whole community works for the car industry and has come from those families and they’re great families, they had a great life, they just want to have that life again," concerned Romeo resident Ruth Heidevreicht said at the event.
The town hall was moderated by U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.
Vito Zerilli from St. Clair Shores has worked at the Stellantis Sterling Heights Assembly Plant for over two decades. He says he has two main concerns with the auto industry: jobs moving out of state and auto companies prioritizing electric vehicles.
"The electric vehicles, I don’t think they should be shoved down our throat. We can’t afford the gas-powered vehicles, let alone the electric," he said.
Trump touched on electric vehicles at the rally.
“Not everybody should have an election car," he said. “We are going to have energy, we have more liquid gold, that’s oil and gas, than any country in the world including Saudi Arabia and Russia.”
However, not everyone is on board with Trump’s plans. UAW President Shawn Fain spoke to media Friday morning, saying hundreds of auto workers lost their jobs during his presidency.
"You know, Donald Trump failed to do a damn thing to help the auto industry when he was president," Fain said.
Trump was just in Flint last week to appeal to auto workers on the campaign trail.
WATCH OUR PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Donald Trump courts auto workers during Flint campaign stop
His running mate, vice presidential candidate JD Vance, was also in Michigan this week, campaigning in Traverse City.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who Trump is running against, was in Michigan last week for a campaign event with Oprah Winfrey. She also visited earlier in the month, speaking to Union Workers on Labor Day.
WATCH OUR PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Kamala Harris addresses union workers at event in Detroit on Labor Day
With Michigan being a swing state in the upcoming presidential election, next week likely won't be the last time that Trump and Vance are in Michigan.
We'll keep you updated on future metro Detroit campaign stops as soon as we learn more.
