Novi, Michigan – During a campaign rally on Saturday, Donald Trump made disparaging remarks about Detroit, stating that parts of the city resemble a “developing nation.” Speaking to his supporters in the suburb of Novi, he suggested that although many expect him to label Detroit as “great,” he believes the city is in need of significant assistance to improve.
Earlier this month, while addressing an economic group in Detroit, Trump warned that if Democrat Kamala Harris were to win the presidency, “the whole country will end up being like Detroit.” This statement attracted considerable backlash from Democrats, who highlighted recent improvements in crime rates and population growth within the city as signs of progress.
Trump’s visit to Novi follows an event in Traverse City and underscores the critical nature of Michigan in the current election cycle. On the same day, Harris is slated to rally in Kalamazoo alongside former first lady Michelle Obama, coinciding with the first day of early in-person voting in Michigan. Approximately 1.4 million ballots have already been cast, representing about 20% of registered voters. Trump previously won Michigan in the 2016 election, while Joe Biden emerged victorious in the state four years later.
Michigan is a significant hub for the automotive industry and is home to a large concentration of United Auto Workers members. Additionally, the state has a considerable Arab American community that has voiced dissatisfaction with the Biden administration, particularly in relation to its support for Israel during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which intensified following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
During his rally, Trump recognized local Muslim and Arab American leaders present alongside him, asserting that their votes could greatly influence the election outcome. He expressed confidence in garnering “overwhelming support” from this demographic in Michigan. Mayor Bill Bazzi of Dearborn Heights, one of the leaders Trump highlighted, remarked that during Trump’s presidency, there was a sense of peace, claiming there were “no wars” and no major issues affecting communities.
Despite Trump’s attempts to connect with the Arab American community by addressing their grievances with the Democratic administration, he has a record of implementing policies that are seen as antagonistic to this group, such as the travel ban he instituted targeting Muslim-majority countries and a proposal to expand it should he gain a second term on November 5.
A Trump associate, Republican Representative Darrell Issa, whose grandparents were Lebanese immigrants, indicated that Trump has been successful in gaining support among Arab Americans and has worked on building relationships with leaders from the Middle East to foster stability in the region.
In his extensive remarks to supporters, Trump did not shy away from attacking Harris and the media with familiar criticisms while promoting his usual immigration and energy policies. He made contentious claims regarding job competition between immigrants and Black and Hispanic communities, despite data indicating that immigrant labor plays a significant role in economic growth and offers career advancement opportunities for native-born citizens.
Following his Michigan rally, Trump was set to continue his campaign with an appearance in State College, Pennsylvania.