In Traverse City, Trump says he told the facts when giving Detroit 'a little knock'

TRAVERSE CITY — Republican former President Donald Trump on Friday night told a crowd of thousands in northern Michigan which waited out a long delay that he wasn't sorry for criticizing Detroit two weeks ago, claiming that he will reinvigorate the state's largest city.

Acknowledging he "sort of gave" the city "a little knock," in a speech two weeks ago before the Detroit Economic Club, when he said the U.S. will be "like Detroit" if his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, wins the Nov. 5 presidential election, Trump said, "I'm not disparaging (Detroit), I'm telling you the facts. You need business to come back to this place or forget it."

Speaking in northwestern Michigan far from Detroit, he said if elected he would create "so many jobs your head will spin," in the city and across the state, which is a key battleground in the election.

Throughout much of the rest of the 70-minute-long speech, Trump repeated many of the claims he has made in speeches in Michigan and across the U.S., many of them false — including one in which he now says jobs have been lost during Democratic President Joe Biden's administration when more than 16 million new nonfarm jobs have been created. He also railed against what he called immigrant crime and high inflation, which has moderated greatly in recent months.

He showed three videos during his speech, including two that repeated graphic images suggesting that immigrants are responsible for rising levels of violent crime. Crime data indicate that violent crime is down in the U.S, and migrants are less likely to commit crimes, not more so.

More: Trump's Traverse City rally delayed by hours due to late departure from Texas

"The United States is now an occupied country," he said, referring to high rates of illegal immigration during the Biden administration, which have been brought somewhat under control in recent months by tougher rules on processing asylum claims.

Trump's speech began three hours late because he did not leave Austin, Texas, until about the time his speech was expected to begin in Michigan. While many attendees streamed out, many others remained and cheered a video from Trump en route to the event in which he apologized and promised a "special" event, his first of the campaign in Traverse City.

Beginning his speech, he apologized again, saying his staff suggested he cancel but he refused. "I figured when I got here there would be like 20 people," he said.

During the speech, Trump blasted Harris, who he said was "partying" at a huge campaign event in Texas with singer Beyoncé and other guests while he was working. The former president was scheduled to hold another rally in Novi on Saturday; Harris was expected in Kalamazoo on Saturday for a get-out-the-vote event with former first lady Michelle Obama.

Many people waited hours to hear Trump speak getting there early to hear the former president. Among them was Jerry Speckman, a 55-year-old contractor from Gaylord.

The economy loomed large as the single most important issue for Speckman, who said he owns a small contracting business. There were more project bids and more free spending in his industry when Trump was in office, Speckman said. “Today, I’m shocked,” he added, saying the margins for his business are smaller today than they were during Trump’s tenure.

He’s confident Trump will win in November, arguing voters will reject Harris and the Democratic Party.

“I’ve never seen the country so divided,” Speckman said. “I think the people see hope in Trump.”

Speckman said he plans on going to the polls on Election Day, despite calls from the Trump campaign to vote as early as possible. As supporters waited for the program to begin, a video was played where Trump continued to make false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, but urged his supporters to vote absentee or at an early voting site.

“Republicans must win, and we must use every available tool,” Trump said in the video.

61-year-old Molly Heemstra, a Leelanau County voter, didn’t raise a single issue she stands most aligned with the Trump campaign on, but said she’s backed Trump ever since he announced his first Republican presidential bid back in 2015.

“I believe in what he stands for,” said Heemstra. “(He’s) not part of the old machine… and still holds principles of what people need, what people want and believe.”

She’s not as confident about the outcome of the Nov. 5 election, however, saying she plans on carrying on whatever the result is.

“I don’t go into it confident one way or the other,” she said. “God has it in control. Whatever happens, we’ll be okay.”

Contact Todd Spangler: [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump revisits Detroit remark at 3-hour-late Traverse City rally.