Michigan Republican Flip-Flops to Bash Trump’s Tariffs: ‘Prices Are Too High and Canada Is Not Our Enemy’

Screenshot via X.

Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) tried to distance himself from President Donald Trump’s unpopular tariffs Wednesday, calling for the tariff war to end “now” — despite his past support.

The polling numbers for Trump and the GOP have been brutal as his second term has progressed, with Americans’ views on his handling of the economy and immigration — topics on which he had previously outpolled Democrats — taking a dive.

In Michigan, progressive Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed was originally viewed as a potentially weaker candidate in the general election against Rogers, but a series of recent polls have showed him in the lead.

In a 30-second video posted on Rogers’ social media Wednesday, the Republican nominee sought to push a message of bipartisanship and economic issues in opposition to Trump’s tariffs, without ever mentioning the president’s name.

The video shows Rogers in a bar talking about “drinking a Labatt and watching the Red Wings — man, it doesn’t get any more Michigan than that,” mentioning a Canadian beer that is owned by Anheuser-Busch parent company InBev.

“And here in Michigan, we know that Canada is not our enemy,” Rogers continues. “We need to end this tariff war, now.”

He goes on to claim El-Sayed supports a tax increase and vows to “work with both parties to lower your prices.”

Several commenters swiftly pointed out that Rogers had previously taken the opposite position regarding Trump’s tariffs, including this tweet from almost a year ago that was included in a Community Note fact-checking Rogers’ tweet:

“Orders are up and fairness for Michigan workers is restored — courtesy of President Trump’s tariffs,” Rogers wrote at the time. “And Despite the Left’s fearmongering, automakers are THANKING him for it!”

El-Sayed bashed his opponent trying to reverse his position on tariffs, writing that Rogers “[m]ust have had one to0 many of those LaBatts” and accusing him of having “cheer[ed] this tariff war from the beginning” and only “flip-flopping now because your poll numbers are in free fall.”

“Donald is the reason we’re in a trade war. And he’s the reason you’re running,” El-Sayed added. “Not a serious person.”

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