¶ Overview
Rogers wholly supported Trump’s war with Iran and believed there “shouldn’t be a date” when the war ends; he mocked opposition to the war, dismissed the war’s unpopularity and rising gas prices, and praised Trump’s alleged peace efforts.
Michigan farmers struggled with 40% increases on fertilizer and said they faced “another year to be in the red” over Trump’s “war of choice with Iran.” Farmers faced “a tight squeeze” over war-driven price shocks and warned of increased costs.
Rogers praised Trump’s tariffs and trade wars, dismissed Michiganders’ concerns over the tariffs’ impact, and mocked concerns over higher prices by lying about manufacturing jobs returning; he doubled down on tariffs after the Supreme Court ruled against Trump.
Michigan farmers lost $167 million in agricultural exports last year as a result of Trump’s tariffs; farmers faced 89% reductions in their exports, slashed farm spending, and braced for losses amid Trump’s trade wars.
¶ Rogers Was Bad For Michigan Farmers
¶ Rogers Cheered For War With Iran
¶ Rogers Wholly Supported Trump’s War With Iran
Mike Rogers Supported Trump’s Strikes On Iran And Said that “Iran Is An Imminent Threat To Our Country.” According to the Detroit News, “Earlier, U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers, an Army veteran, released a statement saying Iranians are the murderers. ‘Iran has waged war against the United States for 47 years. They’ve murdered thousands of Americans, cried out for ‘Death to America,’ sponsored terrorism around the globe — including funneling money to Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, and even tried to assassinate President Trump and cabinet officials,’ Rogers said in the statement. ‘Iran is an imminent threat to our country and must not have a nuclear weapon. May God bless our troops and our country on this mission for safety and justice.’” [Detroit News, 2/28/26]
[AUDIO] Mike Rogers Praised Trump’s “Reckoning” In Iran And Believed The Strikes “Probably Should Have Happened A Long Time Ago” And Were “Really Important.” “Yeah, candidly, this is something that probably should have happened a long time ago. And I tell you that because of the number one sponsor of terror in the region was getting bolder and bolder because there was no action rebuilding the nuclear program right in front of the world. After the last operation there really says it all. Empowering the Houthis to shut down commercial lanes, empowering Hamas to go into Israel and kidnap and slaughter innocent civilians. Empowering Hezbollah to fire missiles continually into Israel and threaten other areas. I mean, at some point there had to be a reckoning for this terrorist nation.” [Breitbart News Saturday, 2/28/26]
[AUDIO] Mike Rogers Said He Was “Not For Forever Wars” And “Not For Entanglement” While He Justified The Iran War. “How do you convince them that this fight is about American security and not another forever war? Mike Rogers: Yeah, well, it's certainly not that all of the if you look at the objectives, I'm not for forever wars and I'm not for entanglement. I do believe in engagement in the world. This has been going on forever. Five, seven presidents have tried to do this, Republicans and Democrats, and haven't gotten it right. On Iran, everybody negotiates. They can. They get a little bit stronger after every administration. And I think in this administration, President Trump just said, nope, not doing this for another 50 years because they're trying to get strong enough Iran to do more harm, more damage in the Middle East to the United States, to our allies. I mean, it's getting to this point where we're after they offered free uranium for life for a civilian nuclear program, and they said, no, all their intentions came true. And again, remember, they're building ICBM capable missiles, meaning missiles strong enough to get to the United States. Do I think they have one yet? I don't. But they certainly have a missile stockpile that they have used to shoot at Americans. And they were talking about going back after our bases there in the Middle East. So what I talk about is the here's the best worst scenario in this. They are so degraded, their missile systems going on, their navy that was trying to talk about mining the Straits of Hormuz, which would raise the cost of goods and services here in America.” [JR Morning, 3/5/26]
[AUDIO] Rogers’ “Completely” Agreed With Trump’s Goals For The War. “So I think trying to degrade their ability to threaten the Straits of Hormuz to cause problems across the Middle East, which impacts us, and the commercial traffic that was getting held up going through the Straits of Hormuz was definitely related to U.S. interests. And the fact that they had these new ballistic missiles they were working on that had longer range and were threatening to use them against U.S. installations. I just think it all came to a head and we said we're either going to continue this charade of negotiation for another ten years and pay this price, or we're going to do something about it. And so this I completely agree with degrading their ability to do that, their air defense systems, their missile systems, their nuclear program, all needs to be degraded.” [Focus With Paul W. Smith, 3/9/26]
¶ Rogers Believed There “Shouldn’t Be A Date” When The War Ends And Called For Conditional Surrender
[VIDEO] Rogers: “People Say, Well, What Date Is It Going To End? It Shouldn't Be A Date. It Should Be Conditional. When Can They No Longer Mine The Straits Of Hormuz? When Can They No Longer Send Drones Into The Side Of Commercial Ships, Which They Have Been Doing, Threatened To Do And Did Before?” “I hope that they keep this mission, though. It's conditional, not a date. People say, well, what date is it going to end? It shouldn't be a date. It should be conditional. When can they no longer mine the Straits of Hormuz? When can they no longer send drones into the side of commercial ships, which they have been doing threatened to do and did before? And by the way, if we did nothing, they would do it again. Yes.” [Joe Pags Show, 3/18/26]
¶ Rogers Mocked Handwringing Over The Iran War And Dismissed The War’s Unpopularity
[VIDEO] Rogers Claimed It Was “Maddening” That Americans Refused To Support Trump’s Latest Middle East Quagmire And Believed That “We Ought To Stand Up, Shut Up, Stand Up And Say We Want This Thing To Have A Successful Conclusion. Then You Want To Debate It Later? Let's Do That.” “It is maddening to me. We have sailors in harm's way. We ought to stand up, shut up, stand up and say we want this thing to have a successful conclusion. Then you want to debate it later? Let's do that. Yeah, but we need our sailors to be successful. And we should stand with the men and women who are serving and putting their lives at risk for us right now to end what has been a 47 year war against the United States. There's just only one president I have found that had the guts, candidly, to take it on.” [Joe Pags Show, 3/18/26]
[AUDIO] Rogers Thought It Was “Really Hard” To Strategize “When You Have To Justify Every Minute Of The War.” “You know, I think, boy, it's really hard when you have to justify every minute of the war. I think for the president, it's unfortunate. I hope they find the second get the second pilot.” [Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, 4/3/26]
[VIDEO] Rogers Called On “The Detractors” To “Stop For A Minute And Think About What That Means To Be An American And To Be A Part Of Something This Amazing And This Committed To Doing Good In The World.” “I hope even the detractors stop for a minute and think about what that means to be an American and to be a part of something this amazing and this committed to doing good in the world.” [Scott Jennings Show, 4/6/26]
[VIDEO] Rogers Wished That Trump Had “Done Better” To “Articulate Those Goals Up Front” But Claimed He Was “Well Ahead Of Target” On Trump’s Ex Post Facto Military Objectives. “HOST: also am curious, what do you hear from people in Michigan about how they're feeling about Operation Epic Fury? ROGERS: Yeah. It's the one thing I wish the administration had done better is just articulate those goals up front. I think they have since talked about degrading their nuclear weapon program, degrading their a missile program, which, by the way, it was they were using for it to extort and terrorize the entire Middle East, including commercial shipping in the Straits of Hormuz, the Navy that was threatening to put mines in the straits and disrupt commerce in the straits. So I would argue they are well ahead of target.” [Scott Jennings Show, 4/6/26]
Rogers Downplayed Rising Gas Prices Amid The War In Iran
[AUDIO] Rogers Reassured Young Republicans That “We’re Gonna Be Fine, We Got Plenty Of Oil” And Downplayed The War’s Impact On Prices At The Pump, “You’ll Get Your Oil, Because We’re Going To Pump Our Oil Right Here In America, And We Got Plenty.” “ROGERS: And by the way, you'll get your oil because we're going to pump our own right here in America. And we got plenty. SPEAKER: So what happens? You know, that doesn't work out in like, Europe, kind of like dries up and very quickly crashes. Right. ROGERS: We're going to be fine. We've got plenty of oil.” [Oakland University College Republicans Event, 3/17/26]
Punchbowl News: Mike Rogers On Rising Gas Prices: ‘We’re Gonna Be Fine.’ [Punchbowl News, 3/27/26]
Rogers Reassured Young Republicans That “We’re Gonna Be Fine, We Got Plenty Of Oil” And Downplayed The War’s Impact On Prices At The Pump, “You’ll Get Your Oil, Because We’re Going To Pump Our Oil Right Here In America, And We Got Plenty.” According to Punchbowl News, “Rogers (R-Mich.) downplayed the impact of the Iran war on gas prices during a recent Senate campaign stop. ‘We’re gonna be fine, we got plenty of oil,’ Rogers told an attendee who was concerned about spiking gas prices and Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. ‘You’ll get your oil, because we’re going to pump our oil right here in America, and we got plenty,’ Rogers added, per audio we obtained. Rogers was speaking at an Oakland University College Republicans event on March 17.” [Punchbowl News, 3/27/26]
- Rogers Called The War “A Reminder Of How Critical Energy Independence Truly Is” And Declared It “Past Time We Unleash American Energy And Dismantle Biden And The Democrats’ Radical Environmental Hurdles.” According to Punchbowl News, “‘This is a reminder of how critical energy independence truly is. It’s past time we unleash American energy and dismantle Biden and the Democrats’ radical environmental hurdles,’ Rogers said in a statement when we asked about the remarks.” [Punchbowl News, 3/27/26]
¶ Rogers Expected The War To Bring “Long Term Peace”
[AUDIO] Rogers Thought Trump’s Strategy “Threw Them For A Loop” And Expected China To Step In And Pressure Iran For A Peace Deal, Creating The “Best Chance For Long Term Peace In The Middle East I Have Ever Seen In My Lifetime.” “I think it kind of threw him for a loop. I do, because they thought China is getting the oil. They're going to be engaged. I really think this could be the thing that actually gets them at the table saying, okay, you got us. At least I hope so. And again, if that happens, best chance for long term peace in the Middle East I have ever seen in my lifetime. So I hope it's successful.” [JR Mornings, 4/14/26]
¶ Rogers Defended The Vance-Kushner-Witkoff Peace Negotiations Team
[AUDIO] Rogers Defended Trump’s Motley Crew Negotiating Team And Blamed Iran For The Breakdown In Peace Talks, “The Iranians Just Didn’t Want To Budge.” “HOST: There's been criticism that Jared Kushner, that Steve Wyckoff, that J.D. Vance was the delegation that went for these talks. Is that fair or unfair? ROGERS: Well, I think it's unfair if you look at, uh, you know, who helped negotiate the Abraham Accords, that was Kushner in the first Trump term. And so he knows all the details and all the investigations or excuse me, the negotiations under that. So he makes complete sense. Witkoff has been negotiating peace deals around the country. And J.D. Vance is the vice president of the United States. That's a very serious delegation showing up to get results. And he was empowered, clearly by the president to get those results. The Iranians just didn't want to didn't want to budge.” [JR Mornings, 4/14/26]
¶ The War With Iran Squeezed Michigan Farmers
¶ Michigan Farmers Struggled With 40% Increases On Fertilizer And Said They Faced “Another Year To Be In The Red” Over Trump’s “War Of Choice With Iran”
Michigan Farmers Struggled With 40% Increases On Fertilizer And Said They Faced “Another Year To Be In The Red” Over Trump’s “War Of Choice With Iran.” According to WILX, “Mark Zacharda, a mid-Michigan farmer, said he can’t afford the pinch. ‘Since this war of choice with Iran was started, nitrogen fertilizer costs are up 40 percent. 40 percent,’ Zacharda said. ‘So, when we were already looking at a situation where we were just hoping to scrape by, it’s looking like another year to be in the red.’” [WILX, 4/13/26]
¶ Michigan Farmers Faced “A Tight Squeeze” Over War-Driven Price Shocks And Warned Of Inflated Costs
Michigan Farmers Warned Of “A Tight Squeeze On Agriculture Right Now” And Were “Anxious To Try To Figure Out Some Ways To Move Forward And Make It Work” Because “People Need Us To Produce Food So They Can Eat.” According to 9&10 News, “Farmers say they’re already seeing higher input costs about 10 days after conflict in the middle east sent global supply chains spiraling. ‘It’s just a tight squeeze on agriculture right now,’ said Jim Bardenhagen, owner of Bardenhagen Farms in Suttons Bay. ‘So we’re anxious to try to figure out some ways to move forward and make it work. People need us to produce food so they can eat.’” [9&10 News, 3/10/26]
Michigan Farmers Warned That The War Was “Affecting The Prices Of Things That Farmers Need To Operate, Not Just Survive, But To Just Operate” And Americans Would “All Feel It.” According to WCMU Public Media, “Fuel and fertilizer prices have risen significantly following the ongoing war in Iran. Large amounts of those commodities can’t pass through a key waterway that sits between the United Arab of Emirates and Iran, called the Straits of Hormuz. This is causing prices for fuel and fertilizer to rise and because of the blockage, some fertilizers aren’t available at all. Big Rapids resident, Dave Treece comes from a long line of farmers. He’s concerned about how farmers are dealing with limited resources and rising prices. ‘It’s affecting the prices of things that farmers need to operate, not just survive, but to just operate,’ Treece said. ‘What affects farmers affects all of us, but it affects the farmers in a concentrated dose. But we all feel it, whether we're farmers or not.’” [WCMU Public Media, 3/9/26]
¶ Rogers Supported Trump’s Damaging Tariffs
¶ Rogers Praised Trump’s Tariffs
[VIDEO] Mike Rogers Supported Trump’s Tariffs To “Correct” Imbalances And Said “This Is Going To Be Hard.” “And so we have to take action now to correct these imbalances. And it's unfair, really, if you think about what the president is saying is, if you want to sell in our country, then you have to let us sell in your country. That is about the most basic thing we can get to. Listen, if this thing goes long and it's hard , it's , you know , we'll have to deal with that when it gets there. But we've already seen trillions of dollars of investment pledged to come back to the United States manufacturing supply chains coming back to the United States. Yeah, this is going to be hard. It's going to be hard for the next few months. I don't think anybody doesn't realize that.” [FNC: America’s Newsroom, 4/14/25]
Mike Rogers Said “We Have To Go Through” Trump’s Trade War. According to Breitbart, “On Trump’s aggressive use of strategic tariffs to bolster American manufacturing jobs and communities, Rogers says voters know the U.S. must ‘break the paradigm where China won’t allow U.S. products in but is taking advantage of our market,’ and that Trump is the dealmaker-in-chief who can make it happen. ‘They believe it’s the right fight to have,’ he said of Michigan voters. ‘Remember, these manufacturers have been told for 30 years, ‘no, no, no, we’re going to do something about China.’ Well, think about where the Democrats are on this. They’re basically arguing, ‘oh no, no, [China] should keep those jobs, let them keep doing it so you can pay 50 cents less for your cheesy pool toy.’ I think people’s mindset has shifted, and they understand this is what we have to go through just to get back to being fair.’” [Breitbart, 4/14/25]
[AUDIO] Mike Rogers Said Tariffs Were “Really Good” For Michigan. “Lloyd Jackson: The big topic is tariffs right now and some uncertainty for the auto industry. Do you think it ultimately is a good thing for our state and the industry here? Mike Rogers: Ultimately I do. I mean, I don't think a permanent tariff on everything is probably the right answer for the country. But targeted tariffs, I think, are really good. They're a tool. I mean, when you get guys like Jamie Dimon who are saying, yeah, targeted tariffs can really make a difference. And remember what this is about China. China. China is not fair in the way it applies its tariffs. And so it makes it uncompetitive purposely for American products to compete in China. And this is about fairness. You know, if you're going to charge 25% on our cars or whatever that tariff might be, we should Why shouldn't we charge 25% for your stuff coming into the country? I mean, why do we put our own businesses at a significant disadvantage? And I know there was a big push for a while or just be a service economy. Well, guess what? You can't have a robust, growing, thriving middle class with just a service economy. It doesn't work. There is a great map. It's very disturbing. It shows in the 2000, the trade, the major trade partners of the United States and 90% of that map, the world map is blue for the United States. 10% was China. Today, in 2024, actually last year, they produced that map. Again, it is 90%, China, 10% the United States. That's just unsustainable. We cannot allow China to subvert our standing as an economic prowess in a great economy. And, you know, you can keep saying, well, you know, just, you know, get we get cheap goods. Listen, I don't care about buying cheap plastic toys from China. I do. When it comes to heavy manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, they're trying to take that from us, too. And we just can't let it happen. Tariffs can be an end to that problem. And this is a 30 year problem. This wasn't didn't happen for years. This is a 30 year problem. Going to be really hard to fix. I give the president all the credit in the world for trying to stop the bleeding of our middle class here in America, including Michigan.” [JR Mornings, 4/15/25]
[AUDIO] Mike Rogers Said Tariffs “Can Be Very, Very Effective.” “I think tariffs as a tool, a targeted tool that are temporary, can be very, very effective. And here's why you have to do it. Think of this American automobile industry. 80% of engines and drive train are produced somewhere else, not in the United States, certainly not in Michigan. That's that's really not sustainable for a long term automobile industry. And I'm not talking about just assembly. I'm talking about production of engines and transmissions and all of those things is produced somewhere else around the world. And that that has to end. And by the way, some of those countries are not treated as very fair on the tariff front. We get higher tariffs than they're charging and they're trying to keep our products out of their markets. So we I believe that the less we have to do this at some point. I mean, China showed us today, Brian, why this is so important. They decided they were going to the materials to make these magnets. They were going to stop export of these things, which really hurts a military industry, electric cars, all of these things. And they did it because they can. And we put ourselves in a position to let them do that to us. We cannot sustain this. It's not sustainable if we ever had a major conflict in the world, guess what? Who's building our engines?” [Brian Kilmeade Show, 4/15/25]
Mike Rogers Touted Trump’s Tariffs And Said It Was A Question Of Fairness To The American Worker. According to the Washington Examiner, “Rogers said workers seem to rate the tariffs higher than Wall Street and the legacy media. ‘You can’t have countries charging us 25% to get a car in their country, and we don’t charge them anything, or we charge them 2% or whatever,’ he said. ‘It’s not fair. It’s not fair to the American worker, No. 1. And it’s really not fair to anybody else that lives off this.’ There are still way too many people across Michigan living paycheck to paycheck, he believes. ‘I say that a lot because we’ve lost so much manufacturing base in the state,’ he said. ‘We’re still a manufacturing powerhouse. We should be. But we should grow it. And we can do that if we compete fairly around the world.’” [Washington Examiner, 5/12/25]
Rogers Maintained Support For The Tariffs And Defended Trump’s Tariff Strategy
Mike Rogers Said That With Tariffs, “Obviously Certainty Is Always Better” But That The Trump White House Was “Great” Because They Will Open Up A Conservation. According to Politico, “The view from a swing state: In battleground Michigan, the calculus may be a bit more complicated. This week, Playbook spoke with former Rep. Mike Rogers, who is seeking the GOP nomination for Senate. Michigan — a famously manufacturing-heavy state with a massive amount of trade with neighboring Canada — is highly exposed to economic fluctuations from tariffs. Rogers hopes the ups and downs of the trade war will be smoothed out by the end of the year in order to avoid becoming a campaign issue Democrats can wield against him. As for the tariffs’ economic impact, ’obviously, certainty is always better,’ Rogers tells Playbook. ‘The shoe is going to pinch every once in a while, and the good news about the White House is when there’s a case that comes up that doesn’t seem fair or rational, we even call, and they’re at least open to a conversation, which is great.’” [Politico, 8/1/25]
Mike Rogers Claimed That Trade Deals Were “Starting To Have An Impact.” According to Breitbart, “He then said that home appliance company Whirlpool is also bringing manufacturing back to America, while noting that America is beginning to gain access to overseas markets, which the U.S. had been previously shut out of due to tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers other nations put on the U.S. ‘Whirlpool announcing it’s coming back to the United States. Whirlpool, great American product, or it used to be. Guess what? Coming back to the United States. Trade deals that allow the United States to be competitive and sell stuff overseas, which they tend to protect overseas. So all of those things are starting to have an impact,’ Rogers said.” [Breitbart, 8/2/25]
Mike Rogers Claimed To Have Spoken To A Man Who Got Put On A Second Shift For The First Time In 25 Years “Because He’s Getting More Work Because The Auto Companies Are Trying To Source It Here.” According to Breitbart, “He recalled speaking with one Michigan man who is getting put on a second shift for the first time in 25 years, ‘because he’s getting more work because the auto companies are trying to source it here in the United States.’ ‘This is exactly what should be happening, and this is so good for a state like Michigan,’ he added.” [Breitbart, 8/2/25]
- Mike Rogers Said Tariffs Were “Absolutely” The Reason For The Alleged Second Shift. According to Breitbart, “Rogers, who said Michiganders are ‘absolutely’ seeing results now from Trump’s policies, further noted that the man he spoke with, who is a metal fabricator, attributed the uptick in work to Trump’s tariffs. ‘Matter of fact, the guy that’s putting on the second shift is a metal fabricator,’ Rogers recounted. ‘I said, ‘Well, what do you attribute that to?’ And he said, ‘Oh, it’s tariffs completely.’ He said, ‘Once that was all announced, the automobile companies were calling me saying, Hey, we love your product. We were going to source this in China, but we would like to–can you do the work, because it will now be cheaper to build it in the United States?’ I mean, this is exactly what you want.’” [Breitbart, 8/2/25]
- Mike Rogers Claimed To Have Spoken To Another Man Who Was Getting Increased Shifts. According to Breitbart, “He spoke with another gentleman in the northern part of the state who said opportunities for increased shifts are returning, after a shortage of shifts during former President Joe Biden’s administration. ‘He said they were doing three shifts right up during the first Trump term. When Biden got in and started spending all that money and doing all the regulatory nonsense, he said they were down to one shift,’ Rogers noted. ‘He said in the last two weeks…that the amount of activity requesting orders has just shot through the roof. And so it’s having a real impact, because these car companies, these bigger manufacturers, are going to have to source things in the United States. That’s good for Michigan families, for sure, it’s good for — I think it’s good for all American families.’” [Breitbart, 8/2/25]
Mike Rogers’ Campaign Said Opposing Tariffs Was Siding With “Made In China Over Made In America.” According to the Washington Examiner, “Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel, speaking with Dingell on a call to reporters, said the state’s Big Three automakers — Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, which owns brands like Dodge and Jeep — are ‘hemorrhaging billions of dollars because of the chaotic trade policies that Mike Rogers is championing.’ In a statement, the Rogers campaign accused Democrats of siding with ‘Made in China over Made in America’ by opposing the tariffs. The Rogers campaign also said Democrats have for years driven jobs out of Michigan with high taxes and regulations. ‘Michigan Democrats threatened tens of thousands more auto jobs with their electric vehicle mandates,’ Rogers campaign spokeswoman Alyssa Brouillet said, before shifting to the effect of Trump’s signature tax law. ‘And now, Democrats are opposing no tax on tips, no tax on overtime for 3 million working Michigan families, and bringing business back to the U.S. If we want to build our middle class, we need to build in America.’” [Washington Examiner, 8/7/25]
Mike Rogers Claimed That Michiganders Were “Fairly Optimistic” About Trump’s Tariffs. According to Punchbowl News, “But Rogers has now morphed into an effective messenger for Trump. He says Michiganders are ‘fairly optimistic’ about Trump’s tariff regime, touting General Motors’ announcement that some production lines are returning to Michigan from Mexico. Still, inflation and the cost of living are vulnerabilities for Republicans heading into 2026. ‘[Trump] believes, and I believe, that the economy will be improving steadily throughout the year,’ Rogers said.” [Punchbowl News, 8/21/25]
Mike Rogers Touted Trump’s “Tariff Policies” And Praised The Proposal For $2,000 Dividend Checks. Mike Rogers tweeted, “President Trump’s tariff policies put the American people back in the driver’s seat. More manufacturing jobs, $2000 dividend checks in your pockets, and paying down our national debt. America is winning again!” [Twitter, @MikeRogersForMI, 11/9/25]
Mike Rogers Praised Trump And Claimed He Was “Fighting To Bring Good Paying Jobs Back To The USA.” Mike Rogers tweeted, “President Trump is fighting to bring good paying jobs back to the USA. Real wages for factory workers are up $1300 this year! That’s America First! Quote” [Twitter, @MikeRogersForMI, 12/17/25]
¶ Rogers Mocked Concerns Over Higher Prices By Lying About Manufacturing Jobs Returning
Mike Rogers Said Trump’s Tariffs Were “Absolutely” Brining Manufacturing Opportunities To Michigan. According to Breitbart, “Former U.S. Rep Mike Rogers (R-MI), the Trump-endorsed Republican Senate candidate for Michigan, told Sirius XM’s Breitbart News Saturday that President Donald Trump’s tariffs are ‘absolutely’ already having real results as manufacturing opportunities are returning to the Wolverine State. Rogers joined Breitbart News Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle for the nearly 30-minute interview Saturday morning, in which the Senate hopeful highlighted key investments coming into Michigan and the United States that benefit both big and small manufacturers, thanks to Trump’s tariff and trade policies. Rogers keyed in on General Motors’ commitment to invest $4 billion in the United States, part of which will go to a facility in Michigan. He emphasized that it is ‘huge’ that GM is bringing production back to Michigan. ‘And by the way, when that happens, all these small, little manufacturers get more work. This is really good for a state like Michigan,’ he said.” [Breitbart, 8/2/25]
Mike Rogers Said Michigan Would Have A Manufacturing Renaissance Because Of Trump’s Trade Agenda. According to the Cadillac News, “Rogers will be running for U.S. Senate in 2026. He served in the U.S. Army and as an FBI special agent before becoming a U.S. Rep. for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District from 2001 to 2015. He emphasized the importance of strengthening law enforcement to protect communities. Rogers said he also believes Michigan could have a renaissance in manufacturing because of Trump’s trade agenda. ‘I can feel unity like I’ve never felt in a very long time in our state,’ he said. ‘This is our chance to stand up for all the hard decisions the president is making now and to legislate on all on all those executive orders.’” [Cadillac News, 8/4/25]
Mike Rogers Falsely Said Manufacturing Jobs Were Up, And Then Mocked Those Who Worry About Higher Prices, Saying “When The Democrats Start Getting At Us, Oh My Gosh, Coffee Went Up. You Know, Horror. Okay, I Don’t Like That. Costs Are Up But I’m Telling You What. I’d Rather Have Good Manufacturing Jobs Here.” According to Heartland Signal, “ During a town hall event last week, Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers defended President Donald Trump’s tariff policy with the argument that manufacturing jobs are returning to the United States, which is statistically false. During the event, which was held in Metamora (in Michigan’s 9th Congressional District) last Wednesday, Rogers was asked what policies he supports for reversing the offshoring of jobs. In audio obtained by Heartland Signal, Rogers argued that Trump’s tariffs are helping jobs come back from overseas, and that is worth the financial strife being put on the American people, even making fun of those who worry about higher prices. ‘And when the Democrats start getting at us, oh my gosh, coffee went up. You know, horror,’ Rogers mocked. ‘Okay, I don’t like that. Costs are up but I’m telling you what. I’d rather have good manufacturing jobs here.’” [Heartland Signal, 9/10/25]
[AUDIO] Mike Rogers Praised Trump’s Tariffs And Claimed That They Were Bringing Back Manufacturing Jobs. “You know, the most important thing about tariffs is getting back to Made in America. And so what we've seen as General Motors announces after that $4 billion in investment expanding the Orion facility right here in Michigan, Ford is coming back. Whirlpool announced it's coming back to the United States. We have other foreign companies realigning their production facilities back here to the United States. And so why is that important? We've lost 30,000 manufacturing jobs since 2019. And so when you look at that, that tells you we have a problem. And China has been eating our lunch on supply chains, on critical minerals. And so all of this helps realign to make sure that Michigan working families and American working families are manufacturing again, which is really the backbone of the middle class.” [Daily Drive Podcast, 9/23/25]
Rogers Incorrectly Said Tariffs Would Be Settled By The End Of 2025 And Touted “Lower Gas Prices” As Evidence That Tariffs Worked.” According to Politico, “But Rogers, who has lobbied the White House on tariff issues, also told Playbook last year that he predicted the trade wars would be mostly settled by December, smoothing his path. It’s not worked out quite like Rogers has predicted. ‘The way you get through all of this is you start putting pressure on prices, which is happening. Lower gas prices is a big, big, big part of that,’ Rogers told Playbook this week. ‘We haven’t paid this gasoline price in — God, I don’t know, I think it was Trump One honestly that we paid anywhere close to this. That has a huge impact on people’s monthly check.’ So, will tariffs complicate Republicans’ hopes in Michigan this year? ‘I don’t believe it will,’ Rogers said. ‘I do see a light at the end of the tunnel: downward pressure on prices, re-shoring and adding middle-class-producing manufacturing jobs,’ he said. ‘I think Michigan’s days are very, very bright.’” [Politico, 1/16/26]
¶ Rogers Doubled Down On Trump’s Tariffs After The Supreme Court Ruling
After The Supreme Court Struck Down Trump’s Tariffs, Mike Rogers Said That Trump Should Have “Every Tool In His Toolkit To Save American Manufacturing And To Do It Urgently — Before We Lose The Jobs And Billions Of Dollars Of Investments That Have Reshored To The United States.” According to Politico, “The trail tail: The ruling is certain to shake up midterm messaging in both parties — especially in manufacturing hubs like Michigan. Mike Duggan, the former Detroit mayor running for governor as an independent, told Playbook’s Adam Wren ‘predictable and targeted tariffs can bring jobs back to the United States,’ but that ‘we’ve been hurt because of the frequent and sudden changes.’ Mike Rogers, the lone Republican Senate candidate in Michigan, said in a statement that Trump ‘can’t’ protect domestic manufacturing ‘alone.’ He said Trump should have ‘every tool in his toolkit to save American manufacturing and to do it urgently — before we lose the jobs and billions of dollars of investments that have reshored to the United States.’” [Politico, 2/20/26]
¶ Trump’s Tariffs Squeezed Michigan Farmers
¶ In 2025, Michigan Farmers Lost $167 Million In Agricultural Exports As A Result Of Trump’s Tariffs
2025: Michigan Farmers Lost $167 Million In Agricultural Exports As A Result Of Trump’s Tariffs. According to MLive, “Tariffs and “unpredictable” trade policy has raised production costs for farmers and reduced U.S. exports around the globe. ‘Trade policy decisions can translate quickly into real economic consequences here in Michigan,’ said David Ortega, chair of food economics and policy at Michigan State University. The state is expected to lose out on $167 million of exports in 2025, per USDA data presented to Michigan’s Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee on Wednesday, Dec. 10.” [MLive, 12/10/25]
¶ Michigan Farmers Faced 89% Reductions In Their Agricultural Exports, Slashed Farm Spending, And Braced For Losses As They Hoped For Tariff Relief
Bridge Michigan: Trade War, Drought Squeeze Michigan Farmers Heading To Fall Harvest. [Bridge Michigan, 9/18/25]
Michigan Farmers Faced A 46% - 89% Decreases On Their Agricultural Exports Amid Trump’s Tariffs. According to Bridge Michigan, “Farm groups have been sounding the alarm on the impacts of tariffs on Michigan farmers for months, citing the state’s close two-way trade relationship with Canada and the possibilities of restricted markets, decreased profits for farmers and higher food prices for consumers. State officials say some of those fears are already coming to pass. In the first half of 2025, Michigan soybean meal exports fell by 46% compared to the prior year, wheat exports declined 89%, fresh cherry exports fell 62% and fresh apple exports declined 58%, according to a report released Monday by the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.” [Bridge Michigan, 9/18/25]
Michigan Farmers Held Off On Reinvestment, Braced For Losses, And Hoped For Relief From Trump’s Tariffs. According to Bridge Michigan, “May, the Sparta farmer, said the standoff is impacting ‘everybody that raises soybeans.’ Personally, he’s put off buying any new equipment or making upgrades to his farm due to the uncertainty. Short of additional government subsidies for farmers losing markets to South American farmers or forced to sell at lower-than-anticipated prices, a warm autumn is the best case scenario to salvage the year, May said. ‘If we have good weather to get the harvest done, it just makes things so that you don’t have to worry as much,’ he said.” [Bridge Michigan, 9/18/25]