Trump visiting GM in Michigan [AFP=Yonhap News]

U.S. President Donald Trump visited Michigan, the heart of the American automotive industry, on the 27th (local time) to promote his economic achievements, including his signature tariff policies.

President Trump delivered a speech at General Motors' (GM) Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan. This facility is the first automotive performance testing site built by GM in the world.

President Trump stated, "I am the first sitting president to visit the most legendary place in the history of the American auto industry," adding that "The Beast," the presidential limousine, is also designed, built, and tested at this location.

He emphasized that the tariff policies he pushed forward after returning to office are driving a revival of the U.S. auto industry, and that easing environmental regulations has benefited not only drivers but also manufacturers.

President Trump criticized the political establishment, claiming that other countries had "stolen jobs and plundered factories" in the region, an act committed by "globalist politicians and corrupt special interest groups."

He continued, "Now, all of that is changing because I have imposed historic tariffs on foreign producers and manufacturers. This includes a 25% tariff on foreign-made automobiles," declaring himself a president who "fights for Michigan auto workers and puts America first."

Claiming that thanks to the tariffs, German automakers "Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen are being devastated" and "there isn't a single Chinese car in our country," he further emphasized that companies with production facilities in Mexico, such as "Toyota and Hyundai, are moving their production to the United States."

He also noted that he had relaxed emission regulations from the previous Biden administration, asserting that this would "save the average American family nearly $3,000 when purchasing a new passenger car, SUV, or truck."

By touting these accomplishments, President Trump appears to be appealing to the voters of Michigan, where the revival of the automotive ecosystem is directly linked to the local economy, ahead of the midterm elections.

Michigan is considered a battleground state in the November midterm elections, where Republicans and Democrats are locked in a fierce contest for the U.S. Senate seat. Analysts suggest that whichever party wins this state could determine the majority status in the Senate.

President Trump called up Republican candidates from the region to the podium one by one, urging voters to cast their ballots by stating that "it will be a tough election" and that "we must win."

President Trump also visited Dearborn, Michigan, last January to inspect a Ford plant—which, along with GM, represents the U.S. auto industry—and promoted the economic benefits of reciprocal tariffs ahead of a Supreme Court ruling at the time.

Along with Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Michigan forms part of the "Rust Belt," the declining industrial region surrounding the Great Lakes. In the previous presidential election, President Trump campaigned on the promise of reviving American manufacturing and won in all of these closely contested states.