Just hours after Thursday’s GOP debate in Detroit, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump spoke in front of a raucous crowd of about 4,000 in Warren on Friday.
Trump appears to be stressing his auto industry proposals ahead of Michigan’s primary elections on Tuesday.
He repeatedly said his plan to significantly increase taxes on imported cars and auto parts will force Ford and other companies to move production facilities from Mexico.
“And they’ll say, ‘Mr. President, we’re moving back. Would you like them to move to Michigan?’ I’ll say, ‘Yeah, I want them to move to Michigan.’ I want them to move here,” said Trump to applause.
The New York businessman urged his supporters to show up to the polls on Tuesday.
“No matter what’s happening. No matter what you’re doing. If you get laid off on Tuesday, I still want you voting,” he said. “I’ll get you a new job, don’t worry about it.”
Trump also used the speech to respond to 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney’s attack on Trump’s candidacy. Trump called Romney a “stupid person.”
Trump Up North
In Cadillac, Friday afternoon, the fire marshal capped the crowd at 3,500, the maximum capacity of the Wexford County Civic Arena, and turned away the rest of the crowd.
Giovanni D’Agostino came down from Petoskey and wore several pins to show his support for Trump.
“I got a Hillary for prison pin,” he said. “Bomb the Hell out of ISIS and Trump 2016, finally someone with balls.”
D’Agostino says this will be the first election he is able to vote in.
Protestors also greeted the Republican presidential front runner. Rabbi Chava Bahle was one of about ten protesters that stood outside the rally. She says she came down from the Suttons Bay because she sees it as her responsibility as a religious leader.
“Our message, the folks that came today, is about holding up love and tolerance and welcome to people and thinking more about ‘we’ than just ‘me’" she said.
A few protesters also made it into the rally but were ejected immediately after shouting out “KKK for Trump” during his speech.