Mike Rogers has won Michigan’s Republican U.S. Senate primary. No surprise there, considering he ran unopposed.
If Rogers wins the general election in November, what kind of senator will he be?
The answer is simple. Rogers will be Trump’s guy.
And Trump wants everyone to know it. On social media, he gave Rogers his “Complete and Total Endorsement.” He insisted that Rogers “WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” Last week at a Milford rally, Trump urged Michiganders to vote for Rogers, “one of the best candidates we have anywhere.”
Rogers is all in. When the endorsement arrived, Rogers was quick to slap “Trump-endorsed” on his Twitter/X profile. He splashes Trump’s face across the top of his campaign website. He tweets that “President Trump needs strong allies in the Senate to help him deliver on the mandate given by the American people.”
The tweet goes on. As Trump’s ally, Rogers will be busy “bringing manufacturing jobs back to Michigan, protecting seniors’ social security, lowering the costs of gas, groceries & prescription drugs, and setting our kids up for success by improving the quality of their education.”
One problem: Trump is breaking these things in real time.
Let’s start with education. Trump is dismantling the Department of Education, pulling federal funding from colleges and universities, and gutting student loan programs. He’s even going after Head Start, the preschool program for poor children. Is this what Rogers means by setting kids up for success?
Now take manufacturing. Since Trump returned to office, Michigan has lost roughly 4,000 auto parts jobs and 7,000 manufacturing jobs. Tariffs are not helping. In 2025, Ford and GM each paid about $2 billion in tariffs. Trump is throwing expensive wrenches into that manufacturing revival Rogers promises.
Then there’s the cost of living. Trump’s war with Iran has done a number on our gas prices. If you’re driving in Michigan, you’re shelling out $65 on average to fill up your tank. Grocery costs are climbing too, on everything from beef to coffee to fresh fruits and vegetables. And just last week, the administration moved to end a program that keeps prescription prices down for seniors. Is this the agenda Rogers will help deliver?
Trump 2.0 has not been kind to America’s schools. Or its factories. Or its pocketbook.
Mike Rogers has vowed to fight for Michigan. He has also pledged to be Trump’s loyal soldier.
Sorry, Mike – you can’t do both.
Lilia M. Cortina is University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor of Psychology, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Management and Organizations at the University of Michigan. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it in print or online.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump’s agenda is hurting Michigan, but Rogers backs it anyway | Opinion
Reporting by Lilia M. Cortina, Contributing columnist / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lilia M. Cortina, Contributing columnist | USA TODAY Network
