Donald Trump held a lively campaign-style rally in Michigan on Saturday, marking his first 100 days in office since he took on the presidency. The arena crackled with the enthusiastic energy of the usual vouchers, his ever-loyal base. Attendees delivered pointed attacks against assumed political opponents while providing enthusiastic endorsements for friends and allies. Indeed, throughout that rally, Trump and his campaign covered a lot of ground with vague accomplishments. He defiantly tweeted yesterday, “Nobody is going to stop me!” as he barreled ahead with his destructive agenda.
On stage at the rally, Trump used the moment to double down on his most unpopular policies. He especially stressed the high tariffs he enacted on imported automobiles and auto parts. He announced the tariffs were critical to defending American jobs and businesses. The audience cheered repeatedly at his claims, evidence of their deep commitment to him.
Trump railed against and vehemently attacked those judges he referred to as “communist radical left judges.” He lambasted them for attempting to delegitimize his authority and thwart the enforcement of public laws all while colluding on tariffs. He declared, “We cannot allow a handful of communist, radical-left judges to obstruct the enforcement of our laws and assume the duties that belong solely to the president of the United States.”
At the rally, the former president promised to go full throttle on immigration. He touted the fact that he used the Alien Enemies Act to remove foreign terrorists from the United States. Attendees stared at the large screens in suspense. The videos were an exhibition of the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants and included images of suspected gang members being flown to a notorious prison in El Salvador. This dramatic visual emphasis played into Trump’s narrative on the campaign trail about the importance of national security and immigration enforcement.
Trump also used the opportunity to thank his new billionaire buddy, Elon Musk. Musk has recently caught heat from just about everyone – environmentalists, social justice advocates, techies, and populists alike. He condemned the negative treatment Musk received, stating, “It’s not fair what they’ve done to him. That is a disgrace.” That comment struck a deep chord with many in the confab’s audience who feel Trump’s pain on how the media treat powerful people.
During his speech, Trump highlighted policy changes made during his administration, boasting about ending what he called “diversity, equity and inclusion bullshit” across federal agencies and private sectors. He doubled down on the idea that only two genders exist in his administration, presenting this bureaucratization of anti-trans sentiment as a “huge cultural upheaval.”
In a bold declaration, Trump proclaimed, “In 100 days, we have delivered the most profound change in Washington in nearly 100 years.” This assertion captured his conviction that his administration has already moved the country leaps and bounds closer to recalibrating the landscape of American politics.
The rally included many influential guest speakers, including local activist Brian Pannebecker and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Miller expressed admiration for Trump, stating, “Thank you, President Trump, for being the greatest president in American history,” which further energized the crowd.
Trump blamed the prior administration for allowing a “historic border invasion.” He pointed out their abject failures in border security as a basis for his claims. He claimed that gangs, cartels, and other terrorists had entered American communities as a result of weak immigration policies.
Despite the excitement of the rally, as supporters cheered for Trump’s possibilities for a third act in national politics. One enthusiastic attendee was even heard exclaiming “Trump 2028,” indicating their desire for that to happen on a presidential level.
As the night wrapped up, Trump returned to his familiar reproaches against establishment media, claiming they are the ones who promote fake news narratives. “When you watch the fake news you see fake polls,” he remarked, emphasizing his belief that public sentiment remains strongly in favor of his administration.