Mike Rogers Turns on Trump's Tariffs: What Michigan Republican Said Before

Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers is calling for an immediate end to President Donald Trump's trade war with Canada, a notable shift from comments he made just weeks ago defending tariffs as a necessary part of the president's economic agenda. Rogers, who is locked in one of the nation's most competitive Senate races against Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, released a new campaign advertisement Wednesday arguing that the dispute with Canada's government should end because it is increasing costs for businesses and consumers.

"Here in Michigan, we know that Canada is not our enemy," Rogers says in the 30-second ad. "We need to end this tariff war now." The remarks put Rogers at odds with one of Trump's signature economic policies less than a month before Election Day and highlight the pressures facing Republican candidates in closely contested states where voters remain concerned about prices and the economy.

Rogers' Previous Support for Tariffs The new advertisement marks a significant change in messaging for the former congressman. As recently as September, Rogers defended Trump's tariff strategy while acknowledging it had limitations. "President Trump is right to put America first, and tariffs are necessary, but are not a one-size-fits-all solution," Rogers said in a campaign statement.

Now, Rogers is arguing the trade dispute should end immediately. The tariff conflict began in July when Trump announced new duties on Canadian imports, prompting retaliatory measures from Canada. The issue has particular significance in Michigan, whose economy is closely connected to its northern neighbor through manufacturing, agriculture, and cross-border trade.

According to the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the state conducts roughly $80 billion in annual trade with Canada. Michigan automakers and suppliers also rely on integrated supply chains that operate on both sides of the border. Industry leaders have warned that a prolonged trade dispute could increase costs, disrupt supply chains and threaten jobs.

In the advertisement, Rogers ties his position directly to consumer prices. "As Michigan's senator, I'll bring both parties together to lower your prices," he says. "That's job number one."

The commercial is filmed inside a neighborhood bar, where Rogers references drinking a Labatt beer while watching the Detroit Red Wings, underscoring Michigan's close ties to Canada. Another Break With Trump The tariff issue is the second major policy area in recent weeks where Rogers has publicly distanced himself from Trump. Last month, he called for a swift end to the war with Iran despite previously supporting the administration's approach.

Like his new tariff advertisement, that message focused on lowering costs for American families. Neither ad mentioned Trump by name, but both diverged from White House policy at a time when many Republicans are navigating politically sensitive issues ahead of November's midterm elections. Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump dismissed suggestions that Rogers was breaking with him.

"I viewed him as saying that he thinks Canada should make a deal," Trump told reporters. "Canada has been ripping off our country for many, many years." In response to a request for comment from Newsweek, a White House official referred the publication to the president's remarks.

A Critical Senate Race Rogers' shifting stance comes as he faces El-Sayed in a race that could help determine control of the Senate. The Michigan seat is being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters and is widely regarded as one of the country's top battleground contests.

Public polling has consistently shown the race to be highly competitive. El-Sayed quickly seized on Rogers' new position, arguing it reflected political calculation rather than a genuine policy change. "You cheerled this tariff war from the beginning, and you're flip-flopping now because your poll numbers are in free fall," El-Sayed said in a statement.

The Democrat has repeatedly linked Rogers to Trump's tariff policies and argued they have harmed Michigan's economy because of the state's deep commercial relationship with Canada. Rogers, meanwhile, has argued that his relationship with Trump would allow him to help resolve the dispute while lowering costs for Michigan families. Newsweek has reached out to the Rogers campaign for comment.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Gray R.

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