Rogers splits from Trump on tariffs in Michigan Senate debate

Republican candidate Mike Rogers diverged from President Donald Trump on trade policy during Wednesday's Michigan U.S. Senate debate, describing the administration's tariffs as a mixed bag. Rogers stated that tariffs on Canada may not have been well thought through, marking a notable break from the president's stance on the issue.

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed mentioned Trump 18 times during the hour-long event, repeatedly labeling Rogers' responses as MAGA bingo. El-Sayed sought to characterize his opponent as a Trump sock puppet, accusing Rogers of relying on aligned talking points. Rogers countered that the phrase applied to El-Sayed for including the president in his answers, turning the attack back on his opponent.

The debate also featured a disagreement on Chinese automakers. Rogers argued that Congress should ban Chinese companies from building vehicles in the United States. El-Sayed responded by noting that Trump has expressed openness to such arrangements and questioned whether Rogers would stand up to the president on the matter.

This was the second debate between the two candidates, held weeks before Michigan's midterm election. The contest for the open Senate seat has drawn national attention as a potential determinant of upper chamber control and a test of the Democratic Party's progressive wing in a key battleground state. El-Sayed, backed by progressive figures including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has campaigned on an agenda that includes Medicare for All, higher taxes on the wealthy, ending U.S. military aid to Israel, and abolishing ICE.

Rogers characterized El-Sayed as having a pattern of deception, accusing him of misrepresenting his record and shifting positions. He tied El-Sayed's policies to the Democratic Socialists of America and questioned his allegiance to the country after alleging that some of El-Sayed's donors were tied to Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Muslim Brotherhood. Rogers asked El-Sayed if he was for America or for terrorist groups overseas.

El-Sayed defended himself by stating he was proud to be an American and calling Rogers' questioning shameful. He said it was beneath Rogers to question his commitment to the Constitution. The most contentious moment involved public safety, where Rogers pressed El-Sayed over past support for defunding the police and comments involving former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.

Rogers claimed his campaign is performing well with the Jewish community, which he said is fearful of El-Sayed's rhetoric on Gaza and Israel. He pointed to prominent Democrats who have said they cannot back the party's nominee, including former Michigan Democratic Party chairman and former finance chair for Senator Elissa Slotkin's campaign. Michigan Republicans echoed these arguments, citing El-Sayed's past campaigning with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker.

Jim Runestad, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, issued a statement saying the party cannot risk electing a person who campaigns with Piker and seemingly justified the 9/11 terrorist attacks.