Michiganders split on Trump tariffs, but almost nobody sees immediate benefit

Yahoo

01-05-2025

Michiganders are split on the value of tariffs as a long-term economic strategy but almost nobody says they are seeing short-term benefits from President Donald Trump's signature policy, 100 days into his second term.
That's a major takeaway from 100 Michigan residents interviewed over the last several weeks by reporters from the Detroit Free Press, Lansing State Journal and Center for Community Journalism — Michigan, who fanned out across the state to seek Michiganders' views on Trump's first 100 days back in office.
Trump has imposed a wide range of tariffs of at least 10% on most countries around the world — and as high as 145% on China — in a series of moves that have caused massive stock market swings and provoked retaliatory tariffs from other nations. He has also delayed the implementation of some tariffs and granted exemptions for certain products, such as smartphones, computers, semiconductors and other electronics. On April 29, while en route to Michigan aboard Air Force One, Trump signed executive orders that ease some tariffs that impact automakers in a move that was welcomed by industry leaders but that analysts said will still result in higher vehicle prices.
Nearly half of the Michigan residents recently interviewed about Trump's performance mentioned tariffs as a significant factor in their assessments.
Of those, nearly half blasted tariffs or the way Trump has implemented them, while a roughly equal number said they favor the policies, adding in some cases that Michiganders will need to endure some short-term pain before the benefit of tariffs are evident.
Views on Trump's tariff policies were split along party lines, with Republicans mostly favoring Trump's tariffs and Democrats and independent voters mostly opposed.
More: We asked 100 Michiganders about Trump's first 100 days: Here's what they said
Republican voter Perry Blackwell, 32, a Port Huron factory worker, said the tariffs should help wean Americans off of foreign products.
"We need more factories here and the only way to do that is to jack up the prices," said Blackwell, who said he voted for Trump in November.
More: It's been 100 days. How is Trump doing? Have your say in a letter to the editor | Letters
But Democratic voter Jim Clair, 72, of Ortonville, who said he voted for then-Vice President Kamala Harris, said Trump's tariff have been a "disaster" that have cost him more than $100,000 in retirement savings as stock market indexes have reacted negatively.
"He should've never been brought back,' Clair said of Trump.
Clair was one of several Michiganders interviewed who said they are already experiencing negative impacts from Trump's tariffs.
Mark Lewis, 68, of Madison Heights, who receives food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), said he's noticed prices of groceries and other items, such as batteries, continuing to rise under Trump, and he blames tariffs.
'I don't think we Americans are taking it as seriously as we should,' Lewis said. 'A recession, I think, is around the corner.'
Garrett Ellis, 52, of Detroit, who considers himself an independent and said he did not vote in November, said tariffs are "killing the world."
Ellis worked as a machine operator in automotive manufacturing but said he's out of work and looking for a job. He said the industry is slow due to difficulties in acquiring materials. "He's cutting everything out," Ellis said. "How are people going to live?"
Several Republican voters acknowledged inflation remains a problem and tariffs are not helping but said it will take some time before Michiganders see the value of Trump's tariff policies.
Ruby Meekhof, 66, of Cadillac, said that as a retired dairy farmer she has firsthand experience with unfair trade policies directed at the U.S. from Canada and Europe with respect to milk. She said she supports what Trump is trying to do.
"I realize that we have to go through some pain before things get reset," Meekhof said.
Some Michiganders said tariffs are not so much the problem, as the way Trump implemented them.
Warren Holloway, 43, of Sterling Heights, a onetime Democrat who now is less sure of his political leanings, said he is hopeful that the chaos Trump has generated in his first 100 days will end up benefitting Americans and believes the aim is to improve the country's global standing.
"The hot button issue is the tariffs — tariffs could have had a much more positive spin if done with a scalpel rather than a sledgehammer," Holloway said.
Not everyone's views on tariffs aligned with their partisan leanings.
Amy Barbieri, 45, of Warren, a small business owner who said she voted for Trump in 2020 and 2024, said the president has lost her support over tariffs.
Barbieri, who sells metaphysical goods like tarot cards on TikTok Shop, said she was more of a Democrat before 2020 but this year displayed a large Trump flag in her yard. But her views have changed."I've made good money selling on TikTok, but I import from China," she said. "So now I just lost my small business."
Evan Ellis, 33, of Ferndale, who identifies as a Democrat or independent, said many of Trump's actions are undermining the rule of law and have him worried about the future of democracy in the U.S.
Yet Ellis said he sees a rare bright spot in Trump's tariff policies.
He believes tariffs could help inhibit the country from manufacturing and selling cheap products that end up in landfills.
Reporters Dana Afana, Jackie Charniga, Johnathan Hogan, Darcie Moran, Adrienne Roberts, Andrea May Sahouri and Beki San Martin contributed to this story.
Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michiganders split on Trump tariffs, but few see immediate benefit