President Donald Trump returned to the Detroit Economic Club on January 13, 2026, delivering an hour-long speech combining economic policy announcements with pointed attacks on immigration fraud, particularly targeting Somali communities in Minnesota. Trump claimed historic economic achievements including $18 trillion in new investment commitments and record-low inflation, while announcing upcoming healthcare reforms, housing policies, and expanded criminal investigations into welfare fraud. The speech marked a sharp escalation in rhetoric around immigration enforcement and public assistance programs. Assistance from Claude AI.
For a fact-check of some claims, see Fact-Checking Trump’s Detroit Economic Club Speech.
Participants
Speakers:
- Donald Trump – President of the United States
- Matt Hall – Michigan House Speaker
Mentioned Officials:
- Scott Bessent – Treasury Secretary
- Eric Nesbitt – Michigan Senate Republican Leader
- Jim Ronstadt – State Senator
- Mike Rogers – Former Congressman
- Mark Zavala – Special Envoy to Iraq
- Steve Gregorian – President, Detroit Economic Club
- Sandy Pearce – Board Chair, Detroit Economic Club
Congressional Delegation (absent due to vote):
- Lisa McClain, Jack Bergman, John Moolenaar, Bill Huizenga, Tim Walberg, John James, Tom Barrett
Economic Claims and Record
Historic Investment Numbers
Trump opened by declaring unprecedented economic achievements, claiming his administration has secured $18 trillion in investment commitments in less than one year—a figure he contrasted sharply with the Biden administration’s four-year total of “less than $1 trillion.” The President characterized this as “the most ever for any country” and suggested the contrast demonstrates the transformation in business confidence since the 2024 election.
The President cited multiple economic metrics to support his “strongest and fastest economic turnaround” claim:
- Core inflation at 1.6% for the past three months (announced the morning of the speech)
- Fourth quarter GDP projected at 5.4%, which Trump claimed would have approached 7% without “the Democrat shutdown”
- Stock market hitting new highs on “48 days in a row” during his 11 months in office
- Trade deficit reduced by 62% in approximately 10 months
Trump particularly emphasized the shift from what he called Biden’s “stagflation catastrophe”—combining low growth with high inflation—to his administration’s “exact opposite”: minimal inflation with “super high growth.”
Critique of Federal Reserve Policy
In a notable digression, Trump launched an extended critique of Federal Reserve policy, arguing that the traditional relationship between economic news and interest rates has been inverted. He complained that under current Fed leadership—referring to Fed Chair as “a real stiff” and “that jerk”—positive economic indicators trigger interest rate increases that “kill every rally.”
Trump advocated returning to what he called “an old standard” where good economic news would lead to lower interest rates rather than higher ones. He argued this approach would allow the economy to achieve growth rates of “20 percent and 25 percent” and suggested Bessent agreed with this assessment. The President’s criticism represents a direct challenge to Federal Reserve independence and conventional monetary policy orthodoxy.
Auto Industry Revival
Trump highlighted dramatic changes in the American auto sector, claiming factories that “were going to close” are now operating “24 hours” a day. He referenced a recent visit to Bill Ford and the Ford Motor Company’s “150 plant” running around the clock, contrasting this with conditions “two years ago.”
Specific auto industry announcements included:
- Ford: $5 billion investment across Michigan and Kentucky plants, creating 4,000 new jobs
- General Motors: Moving production of Chevy Blazer and Equinox from Mexico back to America
- Stellantis: $13 billion investment expanding US-based manufacturing by more than 50%
- Total new investment in US auto factories exceeding $70 billion
Trump credited his 25% tariff on foreign automobiles with driving this transformation, emphasizing the policy goal of keeping production in America: “if they want to come in and build the plant and hire you and hire your friends and your neighbors, that’s great.”
Tariff Policy and Trade
The Philosophy of Tariffs
Trump devoted substantial time to defending and explaining his tariff policy, calling tariff his “favorite word” (later amended to “fifth favorite word” after criticism). He provided historical context, noting that America was “the strongest in 1887, relatively speaking” during the McKinley era when tariffs rather than income taxes funded the government.
The President blamed the transition from tariffs to income tax in 1913 for subsequent economic problems, suggesting foreign countries convinced the US to abandon tariffs: “Some of these countries got together and they say, hey, convince the United States that it’s no good, the tariff system is unfair to us.”
Trump argued his tariff policy has delivered:
- Trillions of dollars in new investment
- Unprecedented partnerships on minerals, rare earths, defense and artificial intelligence
- Historic foreign military sales
- Hundreds of billions flowing into the US Treasury
- Helped curb inflation
- Cut the federal budget deficit by 27% (with larger reductions coming)
Defending Tariff Economics
Addressing critics, Trump insisted that “the evidence shows overwhelmingly that the tariffs are not paid by American consumers, that they’re paid by foreign nations and middlemen.” He explained that countries and intermediaries absorb the costs because “otherwise they won’t have companies; they won’t be viable.”
The President acknowledged upcoming Supreme Court review of whether the administration can use tariffs, describing the case as “brought about by people that are China-centric, foreign-centric.” He noted his improved relationship with President Xi while emphasizing that “China’s are one of our biggest taxpayers right now.”
Trump connected tariff policy to his ability to end “eight wars,” claiming “without trade and tariffs you wouldn’t have been able to end any of them.”
Military Operations and Foreign Policy
Venezuela Operation
Trump defended recent military action in Venezuela, describing it as “as flawless an attack as there has ever been” and comparing it favorably to operations against al-Baghdadi, Soleimani, and Iran’s nuclear facilities. He criticized Democrats who questioned the operation: “Anybody that says that hates our country.”
The President emphasized economic benefits from the Venezuela operation:
- 50 million barrels of oil valued at over $5 billion acquired
- Venezuela has oil reserves potentially exceeding Saudi Arabia
- The operation will help reduce US gas prices further from current “six-year low, seven-year low”
Trump pledged to work with Venezuelan people to “make that country very strong again” and drive down oil prices further.
Iran Protests
Addressing ongoing protests in Iran, Trump encouraged demonstrators: “Keep protesting, take over your institutions if possible and save the name of the killers and the abusers that are abusing you.” He announced cancellation of all meetings with Iranian officials “until the senseless killing of protesters stops” and implementation of tariffs on “anybody doing business with Iran.”
The President acknowledged uncertainty about casualty figures—”I hear five different sets of numbers”—but emphasized his message to protesters: “Help is on its way” and “Make Iran great again.”
Energy and Gas Prices
Trump highlighted dramatic reductions in gasoline prices as evidence of policy success:
- Gas under $2.50/gallon in 17 states
- Under $2 in many locations ($1.95, $1.97, $1.99 cited)
- Detroit area prices around $2.30/gallon
- Compared to $4.50 two years ago and “way over $5” in many places
The President characterized low gas prices as “like a massive tax cut” and emphasized their broader economic impact: “When gasoline gets to be $1.99 a gallon, everything comes down. The donuts come down, the truck that delivers the donuts, the stove that makes the donuts, the whole thing, it all comes down.”
Trump credited his policy of ending “the radical left war on oil and gas” and emphasized consumer choice: “I want you to have gasoline-powered cars. I want you to have electric. I want you to have hybrids. I want you to have everything.”
He expressed skepticism about hydrogen fuel technology, joking about explosion risks: “When it happens, they find the body like 300 yards down the road.”
Immigration and Welfare Fraud
Somali Community Targeting
The speech’s most controversial section involved extended attacks on Somali communities, particularly in Minnesota, with Trump alleging massive welfare fraud schemes. He claimed:
- 94% of Somalis are on public assistance
- “Monumental” fraud occurring in Minnesota, California, Illinois, New York
- Country losing “over $0.5 trillion to fraud every single year”
- Childcare centers in Minnesota “where there are no children” receiving “millions and millions of dollars”
- Somalis “drive around in Mercedes Benz” despite having “nothing” when they arrived
Trump announced multiple enforcement actions:
- Cracking down on “Somali scams”
- Freezing children’s payments to implicated states
- Requiring proof of attendance for federal childcare funding
- Suspending nearly 8,000 SBA loans to “suspected scammers in Minnesota”
- DOJ charging nearly 100 people in criminal conspiracies in Minnesota
- Creating new DOJ division and “legal strike force” for fraud prosecution
- Prohibiting welfare recipients from wiring money out of the country
- Revoking citizenship for naturalized immigrants convicted of fraud
- Freezing welfare payments to illegal immigrants effective immediately
The President specifically criticized Representative Ilhan Omar, calling her “a total scam artist” and mocking her Somali background: “She comes from a country with nothing, and she comes here and she tells us about our Constitution.”
Sanctuary Cities and State-Level Enforcement
Trump announced that starting February 1st, the administration will stop “making any payments to sanctuary cities, or states having sanctuary cities, because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens.”
He also announced 90-day notices to states like California regarding federal funding for costs associated with immigrants, declaring: “No country can afford to take in millions of people, pay for their education, their health care, their hospitals.”
The President characterized immigrant populations as including many “murderers,” people “released from jails, prisons, mental institutions, insane asylums,” drug dealers and addicts. He referenced ICE operations in Minnesota finding “hundreds of killers, violent predators and child rapists.”
Maritime Interdiction
Trump claimed success in reducing drug trafficking by sea “down 97 percent,” attributing this to aggressive use of missiles against smuggling vessels. He joked about the impact on the fishing industry: “Those that have a fishing boat, they’re having a hard time getting customers.”
The President also mentioned destroying two submarines used for drug trafficking, mocking Democratic criticism: “We took out two submarines, and the Democrats say they were fishing.”
Healthcare and Drug Pricing Reform
Obamacare Critique
Trump announced upcoming healthcare reforms while attacking the Affordable Care Act, which he renamed the “un-Affordable Care Act.” He characterized Obamacare as “a gift to make health insurance companies rich at the expense of the American people,” noting that insurance company stock prices “went up more than 1,000 percent after Obamacare was signed.”
The President proposed redirecting subsidies: “I want the money, those big amounts of money paid for by the government to go directly to the people so they can buy the health care that’s right for them.”
Most Favored Nation Drug Pricing
Trump highlighted his Most Favored Nation executive order as potentially the “biggest thing to happen in medicine” and “the biggest thing to happen in health care.” Under this policy, the US would pay the lowest price any country pays for a given drug.
The President provided a specific example: a pill selling for $130 in the US but $10 elsewhere would drop to $10-20 for Americans while rising to $20 for other countries. He claimed drug prices will drop “thousands of percents” or by “300, 400, 500 and even 600 percent and more.”
Trump credited tariffs with achieving this policy, explaining that countries initially refused to accept the higher drug prices but agreed after he threatened tariffs “going to be 20 times more than the cost that you’re having to pay for fair health care.”
The President expressed frustration that major media outlets haven’t prominently covered this policy: “We can’t get the fake news to write about it… When we got it done and we announced it, it was on a page way in the back of the New York Times.”
Housing Policy Preview
Trump announced he will provide “much more detail about our housing policies” at Davos next week, promising that “every American who wants to own a home will be able to afford one.” Specific measures mentioned included:
- Ban on large institutional investors buying single-family homes
- $200 billion government purchase of mortgage bonds to reduce mortgage rates
- Average 30-year mortgage dropping below 6% “for the first time in many years”
- Credit card interest rate cap at 10% for one year (vs. current rates of 28-32%)
The President emphasized these achievements occurred “without the help of the fed,” reiterating his criticism of Fed leadership.
Tax Policy Accomplishments
Trump reviewed tax provisions from what he called the “Great Big, Beautiful Bill”:
- No tax on tips
- No tax on Social Security for seniors
- No tax on overtime
- Interest on car loans fully tax deductible (but only for cars “stamped with the beautiful words made in the USA”)
- 100% bonus depreciation on all new equipment and capital investments in one year (vs. “38 years” or “44 years” previously)
He characterized these as “the largest tax cuts in American history” and noted the car loan deduction incentivizes domestic manufacturing.
Regulatory Rollbacks
Deregulation Record
Trump claimed “unprecedented” success in cutting regulations, far exceeding his original promise: “I promised to cut 10 regulations for every one new regulation… But instead, last year, we actually cut 129 regulations for every one that we put in.”
Automotive Regulations
Specific automotive deregulation included:
- Terminating “the insane electric vehicle mandate”
- Ending “the war on internal combustion engines”
- Permanently stopping Biden’s CAFE standards (“standards that make it impossible for you to build a car affordably”)
- Canceling EPA tailpipe emission standards
- Revoking California emissions waiver to stop “San Francisco communists from regulating automobiles all over our nation”
Military and Law Enforcement Recruitment
In a striking claim, Trump asserted that military and law enforcement recruitment has transformed completely under his administration:
Before: “Almost impossible to get people to join the military… the worst enlistment in the history of our country”
After: “The strongest enlistment we’ve ever had in the history of our country. We’ve never enlisted people so quickly, so easily.”
He credited this transformation to merit-based hiring following a Supreme Court decision and attributed similar changes to police and firefighter recruitment: “It was very hard to get police; it was very hard to get firefighters and now everybody wants those jobs.”
Political Commentary
Election Claims and Voter ID
Trump repeated claims about winning Michigan “three times” and suggested the second time wasn’t properly credited to him. He advocated for voter ID requirements, asserting that opposition to voter ID indicates intent to cheat: “There’s only one reason, you want to cheat, and they do cheat.”
The President claimed the 2024 victory was achieved by making the race “too big to rig.”
Criticism of Republican Defectors
Trump launched pointed attacks on Republican senators who oppose his agenda:
- Mitt Romney: “They don’t have a Mitt Romney that votes against everything”
- Rand Paul: “I got him elected twice. He was stone-cold loser… Then he votes against all the time”
- Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins: “disasters”
- Todd Young of Indiana: criticized for opposing Venezuela operation
He contrasted Republican disunity with Democratic cohesion: “The Democrats, whether you like them or not, they stick together like glue.”
Gender and Sports
Trump devoted several minutes to opposing transgender participation in women’s sports, calling it “so demeaning to women.” He cited examples including:
- Weightlifting record broken by 112 pounds after standing 18 years
- Swimming time differences between men and women
- Long-distance race with 5+ hour gap between male and female finishers
- Flag football player “6’6″, 290 pounds with zero body fat” competing against women
He characterized this as Democratic bad policy: “You could be a genius and try selling men playing in women’s sport… transgender for everybody, open borders.”
Historical Comparisons and Legacy Claims
Trump positioned his administration within American industrial history, invoking Henry Ford, Henry Dow, Thomas Edison, the Kellogg brothers, and Alfred P. Sloan as models: “Men who lifted up American workers and strengthened our nation beyond belief. And we’re doing the same exact thing right now. I think we’re doing it even better.”
He repeatedly claimed his achievements represent records “never” seen before:
- “Greatest first year in history”
- “Most dynamic numbers”
- “Never before has an administration achieved such sweeping and dramatic turnarounds”
The President contrasted current American standing with two years ago: “One year ago we were a dead country. Now we are the hottest country anywhere in the world.”
Notable Exchanges and Moments
Teleprompter Joke
Trump acknowledged his speaking style: “I go off teleprompter about 80 percent of the time” and invited audience approval: “Isn’t it nice to have a president that can go off teleprompter?”
Ford Worker Tribute
The President asked about “Brian,” apparently a union member who supported him early: “He fought for me from day one… He got it. Right at the beginning, he understood it better than anybody, better than the great economists.”
Biden Mockery
Trump repeatedly mocked Joe Biden’s public performances, imitating his coughing before speeches and suggesting he was “high as a kite” during one State of the Union address.
Source Information
This comprehensive analysis is based on the official transcript of President Trump’s speech to the Detroit Economic Club on January 13, 2026, as documented by Factbase.
MLA Citation:
“Donald Trump Addresses the Detroit Economic Club – January 13, 2026.” Factbase, 13 Jan. 2026, transcript.