Trump says Michigan base will stay open, get new fighter jets
The Boeing-made aircraft, previously purchased by the Air Force, will go to Selfidge after years of lobbying from Michigan lawmakers to shore up the future of the 106-year-old Harrison Township base, an installation that has an estimated $850 million impact on the state's economy.
'I've come in person to lay to rest any doubts about Selfridge's future and the vital role it'll play in our initial defense,' Trump said in a speech at the base, during a visit to Michigan to mark the 100th day of his second term in office.
'As commander and chief, I'm proud to announce that very soon, we will replace the retiring A-10 Warthogs with 21 brand-new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets. The best in the world; brand new,' he said to applause.
Trump said new aircraft 'will keep Selfridge at the cutting edge of Northern American airpower,' after the Air Force is expected to begin phasing out the A-10, also known as the Warthog, starting next year.
The announcement follows a surprise appearance at the White House by Democrat Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier this month, a visit Trump alluded to in his speech. Whitmer was present at Selfridge during the announcement.
'She came to see me. That's the reason she came to see me, by the way, to save Selfridge. And she was very effective along with some of the other politicians and some of the military people,' Trump said.
'They love this place. They love what it stands for, all the victories they've had here over the years. So I want to thank Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for bringing it also to our attention very strongly.'
The announcement comes as the state, which voted for Trump last year, has been rocked by his dramatic flip-flopping tariff policies, given its major automobile industry and its borders with Canada.
Home to the 127th wing of the Michigan Air National Guard, Selfridge opened in 1917 and supports an estimated 5,000 jobs.
Last year, the base announced it would host a new squadron of Air Force KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers, meant to replace the outgoing KC-135, which could be phased out as early as 2027.
Other aircraft at Selfridge include the Michigan Army National Guard's CH-47 Chinook helicopters, the U.S. Coast Guard's HH-65 Dolphin helicopter, and various other aircraft used by Customs & Border Protection.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump Wants a Piece of Intel -- And Wall Street Is All Ears
The Trump administration could be gearing up for a bold move: a direct equity stake in Intel (NASDAQ:INTC). According to people familiar with the talks, the potential deal is aimed at reviving Intel's long-delayed factory project in Ohio, once promised to be the largest chipmaking hub in the world. Shares jumped 7.4% to $23.86 on the day of the news and gained as much as another 4% after hours, as the market reacted to the possibility of federal backing. The discussions come just days after President Donald Trump met with Intel's new CEO Lip-Bu Tan, whom he recently criticized for alleged ties to China. While the deal's details are still in fluxand could fall apartany move would signal Tan's job is likely safe for now. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 10 Warning Signs with INTC. This wouldn't be the first time the Trump administration takes a hands-on approach with corporate America. It recently took a 15% cut of certain semiconductor sales to China and secured a golden share in U.S. Steel to help clear a foreign acquisition. Even more surprising? The Pentagon just became the biggest shareholder in MP Materials (NYSE:MP) with a $400 million preferred equity deal. If Intel follows the same playbook, investors could see a blend of equity, guaranteed purchases, and government-led financingsomething the White House sees as a way to crowd in private capital while reassuring markets that the U.S. government has skin in the game. Intel's Ohio site was expected to benefit heavily from the 2022 CHIPS Act, but with funding momentum now uncertain, a direct government stake could change the equation. The factory buildout has already been pushed into the 2030s, and Tan has shifted focus toward stabilizing the company's finances. Earlier this year, one idea floated was to have TSMC (NYSE:TSM) operate Intel's factories under a joint venturebut that plan never advanced. What's unfolding now could become a new chapter in U.S. industrial policy: one where Washington doesn't just regulate or subsidizebut invests, owns, and influences. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Richmond's Fed Chief Barkin: Job Market Holding Steady
Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin isn't hitting the panic button on jobs just yet. Speaking Thursday, he said hiring and firing have both slowed, but the unemployment rate is still holding steady near historic lows. Any real cracks in the labor market, he suggested, are a ways out there. He's been hearing a cautiously upbeat tone from businesses in his district, with more clarity now around taxes, tariffs, and immigration rules. Maybe the fog is starting to lift, Barkin said, though he admitted it's not lifting much on the hiring side and only a little on investing. It will be interesting to see how these developments converge, on the back of the Trump/Powell spat. WIth investors hoping for a likely rate cut within the next few months, these broader market moves will be a critical gauge in getti nga feeler for things to come. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
New York Post
26 minutes ago
- New York Post
Stop anti-Trump judges, it's still the economy, stupid and other commentary
From the right: Stop Anti-Trump Judges 'The judiciary's credibility will continue to suffer until elected lawmakers set reliable restraints to thwart Judge [James] Boasberg's next intrigue,' fume The Washington Times' editors. The DC Circuit judge months back took issue with ICE deporting illegal migrants determined to be Tren de Aragua members, and even 'ordered the government to 'turn the planes around' while they were over international waters.' Then, after the Supreme Court in April 'concluded this inferior magistrate had no right to weigh in at all,' he nonetheless 'said he would levy criminal penalties on the administration lawyers who purportedly disobeyed' him. Last week, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals rebuked him, slamming that threat as an abuse of discretion. But 'the judiciary rarely punishes its own wayward members'; it's up to Congress to do something about these out-of-control judges. Liberal: It's Still the Economy, Stupid New data from The Economist/YouGov finds that 'Americans remain deeply pessimistic about the U.S. economy,' warns the Liberal Patriot's John Halpin. We have 'more than 70 percent of Democrats and half of independents' foreseeing 'higher inflation in the next six months,' while 40% of Republicans 'expect inflation to be lower.' Bottom line: 'Like President Biden before him, President Trump and his administration have not yet shown or convinced most Americans (even many of their own partisan voters) that they have a grip on the overall economy and rising costs.' And: 'Until the green shoots on jobs and prices turn into firm growth, expect Americans to remain dour on the economy and willing to punish those in power, of either party.' Harvard prof: Teachers Must Fight AI Overuse His students have 'told me that after relying on AI to draft their papers and emails, their ability to write, speak and conduct basic inquiry is slipping away,' Alex Green reports at The Wall Street Journal. Profs who don't resist 'the rampant overuse of AI' bear the blame. 'Students must gain the ability to synthesize information. They must be able to listen, read, speak and write — so they can express strategic and tactical thinking.' That's what they're losing. 'The human possession of these skills will never become irrelevant if we value life, society and governance. For students to grow into professionals who have those skills, they must first develop them.' But what it'll take for teachers 'to defend that right . . . I do not know.' Foreign desk: The End Is Near for Maduro 'Nicolás Maduro, the dictator of Venezuela, is on the ropes,' cheers Arturo McFields at The Hill. The feds set an unprecedented '$50 million reward' for his capture, and the Pentagon is preparing options for the 'use of military force against drug cartels' with the Maduro-linked Cartel de los Soles already 'designated as a foreign terrorist organization.' Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Venezuela's narco-terrorist state is 'no longer a law enforcement issue' but 'a national security issue.' Good: 'After nearly 25 years of the Chavista regime, the situation in Venezuela is worsening every day. International collaboration is needed to end a tragedy that represents a clear and present danger to Latin America and the U.S.' Libertarian: How to Save Social Security Most Americans 'don't understand how' Social Security works, but happily 'the public gets that there is a problem, and some are open to changes,' notes Reason's J.D. Tuccille. Sadly, some 55% 'think Social Security is supposed to 'largely replace seniors' income after they retire,' '; in fact, it's meant 'to make sure seniors don't fall into poverty.' Most people would be better off diverting 'the money they currently surrender as payroll taxes to retirement savings plans like the 401(k),' and 'younger Americans may be open to the idea,' as they are more likely than Boomers to support cutting benefits over raising taxes. A Social Security program 'that's rightly recognized as a safety net is on its way to replacement by private planning.' — Compiled by The Post Editorial Board
