In Michigan’s Oakland County, voters weigh in on Trump’s 1st 100 days

President Donald Trump’s first 100 days have been every thing from “incredible” to “horrific,” based on Oakland County voters. 

Prosperous Oakland County, located north of Detroit, has constantly supported Democratic presidential candidates in current cycles and develop into extra Democratic lately — the county went 54% to 43% for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris final yr. However there are nonetheless conservative enclaves in its northern areas, making the world a mix of viewpoints. 

The Detroit Free Press, Lansing State Jounal and Middle for Neighborhood Journalism – Michigan spoke with voters within the area as a part of a venture interviewing greater than 100 Michiganders about Trump’s first 100 days. 

Linda Cauley, 68, of Waterford, thought-about herself an unbiased till 2016 when she began voting straight Democratic as a result of President Donald Trump. Cauley mentioned she worries that his insurance policies are hurting working-class folks and deprived folks. “The destruction of the Division of Schooling could be dangerous, too. My oldest daughter is the principal of a …faculty. They’re the second poorest within the Oakland County space and rely upon some huge cash from the state and federal authorities and I feel that (destruction) could be dangerous to the scholars.”

— Jamie L. LaReau

Benjamin Rupwright, 34, of Pontiac, works in actual property funding and identifies with the Republican Social gathering. He helps President Donald Trump’s deregulation strikes as a small enterprise worker and hopes to see the coverage proceed. “Much less involvement by the federal authorities total, that is what I am most enthusiastic about,” Rupwright mentioned.

— Jenna Prestininzi

Billy Stevens, a 31-year-old resident of Hazel Park, mentioned he understands what President Donald Trump is attempting to do with tariffs however the tariffs have harm him as a small enterprise proprietor. Stevens owns a landscaping firm and mentioned fuel is a significant expense in his line of labor. He has seen fuel costs enhance since Trump took workplace and his 401(ok) retirement financial savings accounts shrink after market turmoil over tariffs. “He’s screwing small enterprise house owners,” Stevens advised the Detroit Free Press outdoors a Petco in Warren on April 11. Stevens mentioned he didn’t have time to vote in 2024 as a result of he was busy with work however he would have voted for Trump.

— Adrienne Roberts

Mark Lewis, 68, of Madison Heights, mentioned tariffs “are going to bankrupt me.” Lewis receives meals help by way of the Supplemental Vitamin Help Program (SNAP), and he’s nervous that the advantages gained’t cowl as a lot of his grocery invoice as meals costs rise.

He’s additionally observed battery costs have elevated since Trump took workplace, rising from about $7 to $9.

“I don’t suppose we People are taking it as significantly as we should always,” Lewis mentioned just lately as he walked right into a Goal retailer in Warren. “Particularly, a recession, I feel, is across the nook.”

Lewis mentioned transferring ahead, he’d prefer to see Trump reinstate the fired federal staff.

— Adrienne Roberts

Evan Ellis, 33, of Ferndale, mentioned he identifies as a Democrat-slash-independent. He mentioned he has discovered the Trump administration’s defiance of courts and the regulation “terrifying” and is most nervous about the way forward for democracy.

“It is sort of like what actually is the rule of regulation if the federal government itself is not prepared to comply with it?” he mentioned.

Although he mentioned he finds nearly the entire Trump administration’s actions improper to this point, Ellis mentioned “there are some diamonds within the tough” in its insurance policies. Certainly one of these: Trump’s tariffs in opposition to China, he mentioned. Ellis believes these tariffs might assist inhibit the nation from manufacturing and promoting low-cost merchandise that find yourself in landfills.

— Beki San Martin

Henry Lamarr, a 42-year-old artist and illustrator in Ferndale, is an unbiased who voted for Kamala Harris in 2024. Although Lamarr did not vote for President Donald Trump, he mentioned he is prepared to present him a shot. He thinks Trump’s need to place America first overseas, for instance, is commendable.

“Anybody who’s courageous sufficient to stay up for America world wide, seemingly not less than, you sort of have to present them an opportunity as a result of they’re searching for all of us,” Lamarr mentioned.

Nonetheless, Lamarr mentioned he takes difficulty with the divisiveness he has seen the Trump administration sow. Lamarr mentioned he has been disillusioned by rollbacks for helps, companies and social acceptance for LGBTQ+ folks throughout the nation. Because the grandson of a civil rights activist, Mary B. Henry, Lamarr mentioned he’s disturbed by the hassle to strike contributions by African American folks from the historic report by way of anti-DEI directives, referring particularly to the efforts to take action in museums.

— Beki San Martin

Dawson Brief, 20, of Oak Park, identifies most with the Socialist Social gathering and voted for Vice President and Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris in November. Brief mentioned President Donald Trump is placing People by way of monetary turmoil to complement already-wealthy folks, whereas poor of us endure. “He is bought a fairly large ego on him,” Brief mentioned. “Most likely every thing will get dearer.”

— Lily Altavena

Marquis Spearman, 26, of Pontiac, mentioned he has no religion within the political course of or elected officers and would not see political participation as value his time — or power. Politicians, he mentioned, are self-serving and “have their very own private agenda.” He mentioned he sat out the newest presidential election as a result of neither main candidate, to him, appeared match for workplace and he believes that the federal government system is “crumbling.”

— Frank Witsil

Larry Williams, 50, of Pontiac, mentioned he views President Donald Trump as a populist and nationalist who’s pushing isolationist insurance policies. He added: “I feel, in his coronary heart, he means properly. I feel he is transferring the nation within the improper route however I perceive why he is doing it.” Williams didn’t vote within the final presidential election, he mentioned, as a result of he disagreed with elements of each candidates’ positions.

— Frank Witsil

John Prepolec, a Royal Oak enterprise proprietor who describes himself as politically average, described President Donald Trump’s first 100 days as “dynamic” and mentioned he’d prefer to see the nationwide price range balanced and client prices lowered. He additionally mentioned he disapproves of Trump’s emphasis on transgender points. “I feel it is simply an overemphasized difficulty and I would prefer to see it develop into much less emphasised. I feel it is disproportionate,” he mentioned.

— Duante Beddingfield

The financial savings and 401(ok) of 72-year-old retiree Jim Clair, of Ortonville, took a extreme hit as President Donald Trump’s tariffs shook the inventory market. Throughout the first two weeks of April, Clair misplaced about $130,000, he mentioned. Clair, who aligns with the Democratic Social gathering, didn’t vote for Trump however reasonably then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who was operating on the Democratic ticket.

“He ought to’ve by no means been introduced again,” Clair mentioned of Trump.

Clair referred to as Trump’s first 100 days again in workplace a “catastrophe.” The president thinks he is aware of every thing and doesn’t, Clair mentioned. The president isn’t considering long-term, he mentioned.

Clair was presupposed to be planning a visit to Scotland together with his spouse and in-laws however they’ll should see now, he mentioned. They rode issues out when the markets took a success again round 2008. There’s no alternative however to experience it out once more, he mentioned.

— Darcie Moran

Emanuella Walter, 30, of Pontiac, works in customer support at a bookstore and helps President Donald Trump’s actions to eliminate the penny. “A stopped clock is correct twice a day,” she mentioned. In any other case, she’s “scared and offended each on the present administration but additionally at Democrats who don’t appear to have the ability to do something efficient in regards to the present administration. They’re not combating again.” Consequently, Walter, who’s transgender, has been attending conferences of the Revolutionary Communists of America. “Not like the Democrats and the Republicans, their major curiosity is the fundamental wants of on a regular basis folks,” she mentioned.

— Georgea Kovanis

Ana Alfaro, of Clawson, was laid off from her job as an govt authorized assistant in December. She has been trying to find work, however nobody desires to rent proper now due to uncertainty created by President Donald Trump’s financial insurance policies and tariffs, she mentioned. “I had one man inform me, ‘I can rent you, however I do not know for a way lengthy,’ ” she mentioned. “I do not desire a job like that.”

— Lily Altavena

Safety is maybe the primary concern for Barbara Ritch, 75, of Holly. She has been involved with the presence of immigrants who unlawfully enter the nation and mentioned all people desires to really feel protected the place they dwell. Their removing will assist with that, she mentioned. So, she hopes President Donald Trump will proceed his work from his first 100 days again in workplace, preserve such immigrants from coming in and get the economic system “again up,” she mentioned.

She is a Republican however mentioned she votes for whoever she believes is essentially the most accountable candidate and has voted for Democrats prior to now. “America goes downhill and … the Democrats, I feel, gave a lot away and every thing was freebies and so they didn’t actually wish to work to obtain these. And I feel that’s going to cease.”

She described Trump’s work within the first 100 days again in workplace as “excellent.” “He’s doing what he mentioned he would do,” she mentioned. “His guarantees are being fulfilled.”

— Darcie Moran

Jason Pyzik, 51, of Ortonville, mentioned his employer — the Japanese automaker Nissan — could also be affected by President Donald Trump’s tariffs. However he nonetheless helps the tariffs, saying the purpose is to stage the enjoying area for People. “We’re at a place to begin now and everybody’s panicking, skies on fireplace sort of deal however … I attempt to be a constructive individual.”

His politics are largely primarily based on fiscal pursuits and he was beforehand involved with points, together with overspending. He voted for Trump 3 times. Now, he says the president is doing what he was elected to do.

Pyzik likes Trump’s border coverage to date, too. U.S. residents commit crimes however he’s involved with what number of unvetted immigrants have poured into the nation and pointed to a Colorado house advanced that bought nationwide consideration amid debated reviews of a gang takeover. The removing of immigrants with authorized standing within the nation is “uncalled for” however he hopes that the variety of mistakenly deported people is small, he mentioned.

— Darcie Moran

Carol Kuhn, 84, of Oxford, didn’t recognize having to breathe by way of a masks throughout COVID-19.

She was upset about coal miners dropping jobs.

And he or she pointed to excessive fuel costs and the price to go to her kids in Boyne Metropolis below the Biden administration.

“Each morning I stand up, I thank God that President (Donald) Trump is our president and we don’t should have what we had for 4 years,” she mentioned.

She’s enthusiastic about Trump’s work to handle Social Safety rolls, his tariffs on China, and his motion on immigration and deportations. Kuhn simply needs Congress would absolutely get behind Trump and his crew, together with tech billionaire Elon Musk. It’ll take time to see the outcomes, she mentioned.

“You give this man six months to a yr, it’s going to be a special America.”

— Darcie Moran

“Any transition is complicated,” Gale Wilinski, 69, of Highland Township, an unbiased, advised the Free Press about President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in workplace. “I feel it is hopeful,” she mentioned, “simply to be a part of it and see a brand new hope, new democracy.” Folks see issues so otherwise, the place they was united, mentioned Wilinski, a retired hospital employee.

— Kristi Tanner

“Tariffs,” was the one phrase Nate Slating, 52, of Highland Township, who works within the automotive business, used to explain the start of President Donald Trump’s second time period. “I’ve three conferences a day about it (tariffs), and it is costing us most likely $200 million.”

— Kristi Tanner

Greg Ball, 56, of Highland Township, who works for Stellantis, mentioned he thinks President Donald Trump is doing “nice.” “I feel he is doing the appropriate factor so far as the tariffs and making different international locations be extra … accountable for what they’re importing to us,” Ball mentioned. “Hopefully, it’s going to assist the economic system flip round.”

— Kristi Tanner

Mary Beth Vines, 58, of Oxford, mentioned she grew up in one of many nation’s most Republican counties in Illinois and has all the time voted Republican. Vines, who served 16 months at Ladies’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility for failure to pay baby assist, mentioned being out of labor, mixed with well being points despatched her to jail however she has a job after finishing parole and is up-to-date on her funds. “I am involved in regards to the economic system,” mentioned Vines, however prepared to take some short-term ache if Trump’s tariffs return extra manufacturing to the U.S. She mentioned she likes the actual fact Trump is doing extra to safe the Southern border and he or she additionally favors his efforts to rein in federal spending.

— Paul Egan

This sequence was reported by: Dana Afana, Lily Altavena, Sarah Atwood, Tresa Baldas, Duante Beddingfield, Dave Boucher, Lisa Vidaurri Bowling, Jackie Charniga, Natalie Davies, Paul Egan, Eric Guzman, Christina Corridor, Brad Heineman, Clara Hendrickson, Brendel Hightower, Johnathan Hogan, Violet Ikonomova, Cassidey Kavathas, Georgea Kovanis, Jamie L. LaReau, Eric D. Lawrence, Arpan Lobo, Keith Matheny, Sarah Moore, Darcie Moran, David Rodriguez Muñoz, Corey J. Murray, David Panian, Jenna Prestininzi, Nour Rahal, Nushrat Rahman, Liam Rappleye, Don Reid, JC Reindl, Adrienne Roberts, Andrea Might Sahouri, Beki San Martin, Susan Selasky, Kristen Jordan Shamus, Scott Talley, Kristi Tanner, Connor Veenstra, Tess Ware, Niraj Warikoo, Jalen Williams, John Correctly, Suzanne Nolan Wisler and Frank Witsil.