On April 2, 2025, MLive published an article titled “Michigan lawmakers warn of higher costs after Trump announces ‘reciprocal tariffs’.” The piece claims President Trump’s newly announced tariffs could increase costs for Michigan residents, destabilize the economy, and hurt relationships with international allies.
But a closer look reveals two major issues with the article:
It lacks political balance.
It misrepresents how tariffs work, especially in the context of President Trump’s targeted, strategic approach.
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Unbalanced Reporting Masquerading as Journalism
Let’s begin with the structure of the article itself. MLive quotes three lawmakers reacting to Trump’s tariff announcement:
Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D): Criticizes the tariffs as “dangerous” for Michigan families and workers.
Rep. Shri Thanedar (D): Claims the tariffs will “slash American jobs” and “hurt our economy.”
Rep. Lisa McClain (R): Briefly supports the tariffs in a single sentence, stating “Tariffs work!”
Two Democrats given detailed, emotional criticisms. One Republican quoted in passing. That’s not balance — that’s narrative shaping.
If MLive wanted to provide its readers with an honest, comprehensive view of the impact of Trump’s trade policy, they could have included statements from Michigan Republicans like Rep. John James, Rep. Tim Walberg, or even Michigan-based manufacturing leaders who benefit from reciprocal trade protections. But they didn’t. Instead, they chose to front-load Democrat talking points and bury a single line of Republican support. That’s not journalism — that’s advocacy in disguise.
Do Tariffs Actually Raise Prices? The Real Economics
MLive’s central claim — that tariffs will raise prices for Michigan families — is not a fact, it’s an economic opinion, and one that’s been proven misleading.
Let’s break it down.
Tariffs are taxes on imported goods. When properly applied, they make foreign goods more expensive and American-made alternatives more attractive. But whether prices rise depends on several factors:
What products are being targeted
Whether U.S. manufacturers can fill the gap
Whether retailers pass the added cost on to consumers
President Trump’s latest tariffs are strategic, not blanket. According to the White House Fact Sheet, these tariffs exclude:
Steel and aluminum articles already under Section 232
Copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, energy, and critical minerals not available in the U.S.
The intent is clear: protect American industry while minimizing consumer disruption. That’s a far cry from the “dangerous” picture Democrats and MLive are painting.
Real-World Data Tells a Different Story
During Trump’s first term, tariffs on Chinese goods did not create the inflationary disaster that critics predicted. A 2021 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Princeton, and Columbia University found that most of the tariff costs were absorbed by foreign exporters, not U.S. consumers.
And here’s what the data shows:
Michigan manufacturing jobs rose during Trump’s first term, growing from 606,000 in 2016 to 638,000 by 2019 before COVID hit.
Foreign trade partners already tax U.S. goods heavily. “Reciprocal tariffs” simply level the playing field — not escalate a trade war.
Reshoring and onshoring efforts increased dramatically during the Trump administration, particularly in automotive and steel sectors.
Strategic tariffs protect jobs, reduce reliance on adversarial countries, and create leverage at the global negotiating table. Biden and the Democrats had four years to fix trade imbalances — they didn’t. Trump is doing it in just months.
MLive’s article is not journalism — it’s editorial opinion packaged as reporting. It presents two Democrat perspectives attacking Trump’s tariffs, and just one Republican quote in passing. It misleads readers into thinking tariffs automatically mean higher prices, and it ignores real data from Trump’s prior term showing otherwise.
The truth is this:
Strategic tariffs protect American industry.
They encourage domestic production.
They make foreign nations treat us fairly.
And for Michigan — the heart of America’s auto industry — these tariffs aren’t a threat. They’re a lifeline.
By John Clore | Investigative Journalist | 4/3/2025 at 7:11 AM
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