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Mike Rogers Changes Tune On Trump’s Tariffs As Election Approaches

Mike Rogers in 2015 (Hudson Institute / Wikimedia Commons)

Republican Michigan Senate nominee Mike Rogers changed his tune Wednesday on President Donald Trump’s tariff policy weeks before the election.

Rogers’ campaign released an advertisement calling for an end to a “tariff war” with Canada to help lower prices for consumers in the state, given that the state’s economy is strongly tied to the neighboring country’s. The Republican candidate previously defended the tariffs as economically necessary, but shifted his tone as voters continued to feel the pinch from higher prices.

“Here in Michigan, we know that Canada is not our enemy. We need to end this tariff war now,” Rogers said in the ad. “As Michigan’s senator, I’ll bring both parties together to lower your prices. That’s job number one.”

Rogers repeatedly backed Trump’s tariffs, arguing in an Aug. 29 statement they were “necessary” for Michigan’s economy.

“President Trump is right to put America First – and tariffs are necessary, but are not a size-fits-all solution,” Rogers said. “Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters are missing in action. Michigan deserves a Senator who will work with President Trump to broker a trade deal with Canada that supports our farmers and gets the best deal for Michigan autoworkers and manufacturers.”

The Detroit Free Press asked Rogers on Sept. 22 if Trump needed to rethink his decision to increase tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Canadian imports to 50%; Rogers alluded that he would support it. He argued that Trump’s trade policy helped Michigan.

“If it’s good for Michigan, I’m going to be for it,” Rogers said.

 Other northern Republicans, such as Maine Sen. Susan Collins and former New Hampshire Sen. John Sununu, condemned the policy.

Rogers’ campaign did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed accused Rogers of changing his mind because he is falling behind in the polls. The Michigan Democrat repeatedly campaigned against the tariffs and tied Rogers to the policy, calling them “Trump and Mike Rogers’ tariffs.”

“Must have had one too many of those LaBatts, Mike,” El-Sayed said on X. “You cheerled this tariff war from the beginning and you’re flip-flopping now because your poll numbers are in free fall. Donald is the reason we’re in a trade war. And he’s the reason you’re running. Not a serious person.”

El-Sayed led by an average of 3.2 points as of Thursday, according to RealClearPolling.

Rogers flip-flopped on the Iran war, stating in a Sept. 21 ad that it needed to end to bring costs down. He previously  described Iran as an “imminent threat” and called U.S. military action a “win-win-win” for the nation.

Trump announced in July that 50% tariffs would be imposed on various Canadian goods, including wood and large motorcycles, under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, to force trade concessions. He implemented bans on specific Canadian alcohol, dairy and motorcycle products that went into effect on Sept. 29.

The president alleged that Canada placed unfair, unequal trade barriers and quotas on U.S. products, prompting the latest tariff policy. Michigan conducts roughly $80 billion in annual cross-border trade with Canada, making it among the hardest-hit states by the trade conflict.

Canada is one of the U.S.’ top trading partners, with Mexico ranked as number one.

The Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada, connects roughly 25% of all commercial and surface trade between the U.S. and Canada, according to Bridge Michigan. Hundreds of millions in car parts, engines and assembled vehicles are transported between Detroit and Ontario daily across the bridge.

Sixty-eight percent of independent Michigan voters, who could determine the outcome of the Senate race, disapproved of Trump’s 50% tariffs on Canada, according to a poll by The Washington Post and Schar School.

Trump said in June he did not want to renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced the 1994 North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement in July 2020, while Canada and Mexico supported its renewal. The president wanted to renegotiate the deal because he argued it has failed to shrink U.S. trade deficits with Mexico and Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced he suspended trade talks with Trump due to the “last minute changes,” which he said were “unfair.” Ontario Premier Doug Ford condemned the tariffs, arguing that Trump treated Canada like “Communist China.”

“He’s treating us like we’re Communist China here,” Ford said in August. “We’re the closest friends and allies that the U.S. has anywhere in the entire world, and I want to keep it that way.”

Carney turned to Europe and China to diversify the nation’s trade in light of the trade war with the U.S. Trump called the move a “hostile act” and threatened to impose strict tariffs on the European Union if it proceeds with the arrangement.

Affordability remained a top issue for voters across the U.S. ahead of the midterm election. Increased tariffs on these goods could raise the price of goods, including groceries, which soared since the start of the Iran war.

U.S. gas prices rose roughly 44% to 50% since the Iran war began in February. The average price of regular gas was $4.36 as of Thursday, while the average for Diesel was $6.30, according to AAA. The Diesel price in October 2025 averaged $3.28.

Seventeen percent of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, while 26% approved of his handling of the economy overall, according to The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About half of U.S. adults said they were “extremely” or “very” concerned about being able to fill up their tanks, which increased from 39% in July.

Republican Texas Senate nominee Ken Paxton said in leaked audio released Wednesday that the war and gas prices negatively impacted his candidacy.