J.D. Vance tells Flint that Trump is about making the American Dream affordable

On Monday, Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance addressed Genesee County voters, saying he and his running mate, former President Donald Trump, would fix an economy scarred by inflation.

He said a growing number of Americans are falling behind on their credit card and auto loan debts.

“This election is fundamentally about making the American Dream available to our fellow citizens, and I believe we must do better,” Vance said. “There are so many people who are struggling.”

The Ohio senator arrived with his wife, Usha, and spoke to about 800 people for about 35 minutes at the FIM Capitol Theater in Downtown Flint. He said it was a great place for his final campaign visit to Michigan and vowed to return as vice president.

Vance repeated his campaign call for tariffs, arguing that some Chinese companies employ slave labor and should not be able to sell their products in the U.S. without paying a price. He also blamed Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for a porous southern border that allows fentanyl to flow into places like Michigan.

“We are going to declare war on the Mexican drug cartels and stop this poison from entering Michigan communities,” Vance said.

He also blamed Harris and President Joe Biden for the influx of migrants into the United States, which he said is overwhelming schools and hospital emergency rooms and threatening to bankrupt local communities. He said Americans are the most generous and compassionate people in the world, but they have their limits.

“The American president’s compassion goes to the American people, to the people who have a right to be here, not to the people who shouldn’t be here at all,” he said.

Vance spoke on stage with a banner behind him that read “work, work, work.” Participants received red and blue posters with the words “Trump will fix it.” Warm-up speakers included Republican Party candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

Local Democratic leaders, including retiring U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, and Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley held a news conference to oppose Vance’s speech. Kildee said Trump is ending his campaign with a “venomous and terrifying approach” to politics.

“There is a huge difference between what a Kamala Harris presidency will be – hope, optimism, rolling up your sleeves and getting the job done for Americans – and what a Donald Trump presidency will be – anger, venom, a dark, dystopia of what America should be.” Kildee said in a statement.

Harold Lawrence, 46, of Flint is an HVAC contractor and poker enthusiast. He attended the rally and said he looked forward to casting his third vote for Trump on Tuesday. He said his grandfather was a World War II veteran and a lifelong Democrat, but he believes the party has changed since then.

“If he were alive today, I think he would vote Conservative. Trump,” he said. “I am a Trump supporter. I would bet the ranch on Trump.”

Donna Smith is 64 years old and a retired nurse who lives in Linden. She saw Trump when he visited Flint in September, but she was looking forward to meeting Vance, hoping he would talk about the economy.

“Just reassurance about our safety and the economy, you know, groceries and stuff,” she said. “Everything is becoming so expensive that it can’t be done now.”

Vance concluded by urging everyone who had not yet voted to do so.

“We have to go there tomorrow and get every single person you know,” Vance said.

Trump and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz were scheduled to speak in Michigan on Tuesday.

Contact John Wisely: [email protected]. On X @jwisely