BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (WWMT) — A blazing hot horse farm in mid-Michigan was the setting for a campaign rally Tuesday, with Ohio Sen. and Trump running mate JD Vance as the main attraction.
Vance was making yet another appearance for the Trump campaign in Michigan with just over two months to go before Election Day as both campaigns center their focus on crucial swing states that will decide the winner of the Electoral College. His visit on Tuesday was focused on the economy, particularly hoping to rally local frustration about an electric vehicle battery plant with connections to China into support for the Republican presidential ticket.
Prior to delivering his remarks to supporters, Vance spoke exclusively to WWMT, where he offered a message on what he wants Michigan's crucial swing state voters to know about him.
"I guess what I want Michiganders to know is, look, I grew up in a poor family, I've been able to live the American dream and I just want the same for your kids," Vance said.
According to Vance, he and Trump have a plan to reduce high inflation, which is also causing, if only indirectly, inflated prices and mortgage rates. He argued that returning Trump to the White House would bring a return to economic stability and help boost the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy.
"We're going to fix it the same way Donald Trump actually implemented low inflation policies in the beginning," Vance said. "We have to unleash American energy. Drill baby, drill and that drives down the cost of everything. You have to build more houses and stop so many illegal aliens from coming into this country."
Vance has been making multiple campaign stops across the country on a daily basis since joining the ticket as Election Day nears and the campaign works to introduce him to the American public. Most people had not heard of Vance when Trump announced him as his running mate, elevating him from a freshman senator to potentially the next vice president.
"One of the interesting conspiracy theories that I've heard about myself is that I'm only 5-foot-7. I'm actually 6'2," Vance joked when asked about the biggest public misconception of him.
On the topic of securing the U.S. southern border to stop thousands of immigrants from streaming into the country illegally every day, Vance said he and Trump will restore previous border policies, including "remain in Mexico," of which President Joe Biden promptly disposed when taking office.
"Donald Trump is saying let's get back to common sense," Vance said. "Let's enforce those border laws, let's reimplement deportations."
GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga attended the Vance rally to lend his support and to reassure Michigan voters that, certain public perceptions aside, the Trump/Vance ticket already has a track record of success when it comes to lowering costs and protecting national security.
"This doom and gloom thing that gets trotted out by the Harris administration, there is a 4 year track record under Donald Trump," Huizenga said. "This isn't a guess. This isn't a mystery. This isn't a hypothesis about what he would do. He did it for 4 years!"
Vance also told the crowd of supporters that a vote for him and Donald Trump in November will, ultimately, save them money.
"It's pretty common sense here, Kamala Harris is the President of high prices," Vance said. "Donald Trump is President of low prices and economic prosperity. I don't think it's a tough choice for most Americans to make."
Ahead of Vance's visit to Michigan, Democratic Michigan Rep. Hillary Scholte and state Rep. Carol Glanville held a news conference in Grand Rapids Tuesday.
Joined by local leaders, the pair discussed the "Project 2025 Agenda" and how they say it will raise costs for Michigan families.
"Donald Trump and JD Vance are running on a Project 2025 agenda that will raise costs on middle class families while giving more tax breaks to the ultra-rich and America's biggest corporations," Scholten said. "He put social security and Medicare on the chopping block. He's going to end the Affordable Care Act, and raise the costs of prescription drugs and insulin, reversing the gains that we have made."
Trump has said he knows nothing about Project 2025 and has nothing to do with it.
Vance's visit comes after Trump was in Michigan Monday, and is expected to return on Thursday.
Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff is also expected to visit Michigan this week with a trip to Grand Rapids on Thursday.
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