JD Vance holds rally in Detroit

For the second time this month, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, visited Michigan to rally supporters in a key swing state expected to help decide the 2024 presidential election. About 300 people gathered in Detroit to see Vance speak, a city that has long been considered a Democratic stronghold in the state.

Many attendees wore paraphernalia of President Donald Trump and JD Vance, including more than a dozen who sported T-shirts reading “Auto Workers for Trump.” According to The Detroit News, at least six of those wearing the shirts were not auto workers. 

Detroit has historically been known as one of the biggest hubs for auto manufacturing in the country. In his remarks, Vance said the Trump administration would prioritize Michigan-made vehicles. 

“Instead of forcing Americans to buy electric vehicles manufactured in China, we’re going to let Americans buy whatever the hell they want to, because this is America,” Vance said. “And of course, my friends, when they do pick the automobile that they want and that they choose, we know they’re going to buy something made in the great state of Michigan.”

When asked by reporters whether the Trump-Vance administration would honor President Joe Biden’s $11.7 billion plan to convert 11 gas-powered vehicle plants to electric vehicle plants. Vance said the Biden administration’s plan would ultimately cause more harm than good. 

“Kamala Harris is offering table scraps,” Vance said. “I think that Michigan auto workers deserve more than the table scraps of Kamala Harris.” 

In response to a question from the press about climate emissions, Vance said he thinks high carbon emissions worldwide are due to a lack of American manufacturing. 

“The most important thing that we can do to ensure clean air and clean water is to build more and make more stuff in the United States,” Vance said. “I would be lying to you if I told you that carbon emissions was my number one issue — it’s not. But if your number one issue is carbon emissions, look at the two countries that have emitted the most carbon in the last 20, 30 years. It’s China and it’s India.”

In recent years, the United States and China have emitted the highest levels of carbon dioxide emissions of any country. Since 1850, the United States has had the largest cumulative amount of carbon emissions, distantly followed by China, then Russia. In terms of cumulative carbon emissions, India ranks seventh. 

Vance’s patriotic message was particularly resonant for Karin Dziamski. Dziamski is a member of Trump Force 47, a volunteer group that goes door-to-door campaigning for Trump. 

“(I’m volunteering) for my children,” Dziamski said. “I want us to be able to pledge allegiance. I want us to respect the flag again. I want it to be okay to be a patriot for the country. I want (my children) to continue to have the freedoms that they’ve had so far and that we’ve enjoyed — First Amendment, Second Amendment, all of that.”

Dziamski also expressed concern over higher education in America, citing concerns about censorship and expressing desire for the country to embrace more traditional ideals.

“I want (my children) to be independent, I want them to make their own decisions,” Dziamski said. “But I’m not so sure they’re being allowed. I think we need to have more civics classes. I think we need to get back to the basics of the Constitution and the things that created this country.”  

All three University of Michigan campuses were named top institutions for student voter turnout following the 2022 midterm elections. The population of more than 65,000 students among the three U-M campuses is significant for the swing state. 

When asked by The Michigan Daily why young people in Michigan should cast their votes for the Trump-Vance ticket, Vance promised a brighter economic future. 

“We are turning an entire generation of American young people into folks who don’t have enough money to own anything,” Vance said. “That is a terribly destructive direction for this country to go in. Donald Trump and I want you to be able to own a slice of your own country, and we’re gonna pursue economic policies that make that possible. That’s what we’re going to fight for every single day.” 

Michigan has the second-largest number of Arab Americans in the country. Vance said Arab American voters should vote for Trump to pursue peaceful interests.

“I think most Jewish Americans and Arab Americans recognize that what’s in the best interest of Israel and Palestine is peace, and Donald J. Trump is the president of peace,” Vance said. “Kamala Harris seems to be totally fine with starting or escalating conflict in every continent all over the world. Donald Trump believes peace through strength: Stop the killing, get Americans out of harm’s way and focus on building a peaceful vote. That is how you help Palestinians. That’s how you help Israelis. But most importantly, it’s how you help American citizens.” 

Daily Staff Reporter Sasha Kalvert can be reached at skalvert@umich.edu.

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