GOP’s Rogers Urges Trump to End Canada Tariff War
Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, released a new campaign ad on Oct. 7 calling on President Donald Trump to end his tariff war with Canada — the latest in a string of breaks by the candidate from the president’s more unpopular policies as the midterm election season intensifies.
In the 30-second spot, Rogers drinks a bottle of Labatt, a Canadian beer, and says, “Here in Michigan, we know that Canada is not our enemy. We need to end this tariff war now. As Michigan senator, I’ll bring both parties together to lower your prices. That’s job No. 1.” According to NBC News, the ad was posted on X and represents a direct appeal to Michiganders squeezed by the trade dispute.
His Democratic opponent, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, quickly accused Rogers of flip-flopping. In a post on X, El-Sayed wrote, “Must have had one too many of those LaBatts, Mike. 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,” as quoted in a campaign press release.
A Reversal on Tariffs
The ad marks a notable reversal. Rogers had previously described the tariffs as “necessary” in August 2026, and earlier praised them as “masterful” and “an absolute win,” saying America was “winning again.” He also dismissed concerns about tariff-driven price hikes, telling Michiganders “the shoe is going to pinch every once in a while.”
Just weeks earlier, Rogers had defended the president’s position on Fox & Friends, saying, “The Canadians have not been good partners on this,” and suggesting that Democrats would “open up the borders again and absolutely undercut the people who build cars and car parts right here in Michigan,” according to CBC News.
The reversal reflects growing anxiety within Republican ranks over the economic fallout of the trade war. In the same NBC News live blog documenting Rogers’s ad, the outlet noted that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declined to attend a Trump rally in San Antonio the same day, citing a scheduling conflict, and that several candidates have distanced themselves from the president as the midterms approach.
Why Michigan Feels the Pinch
Michigan is uniquely exposed to the trade dispute. It borders Canada, is home to the heart of the U.S. auto industry, and counts Canada as its largest export market. A U.S. National Taxpayers Union Foundation study found that Michigan households face the highest per-household tariff costs in the country.
Trump instituted new duties of between 15% and 50% on $20 billion worth of U.S. products exported to Canada, effective in September 2026. He has also threatened to raise tariffs on all cars, trucks and auto parts from Canada to 50% starting Jan. 1, 2027.
Public opinion in the state appears to be running against the policy. A New York Times/Siena poll in late September found that nearly 70% of Michigan voters disapprove of the trade war with Canada.
Industry groups have pushed for an end to what they describe as a cloud of uncertainty. “Politics is not what this is about,” Glenn Stevens Jr., executive director of MichAuto at the Detroit Regional Chamber, told CBC News. “This is about making cars, in our perspective, moving lumber, moving energy, moving agriculture to the market and employing people. So the politics and the rhetoric are one thing, and that’s at a crescendo right now, but the economics really are what speaks.”
A Toss-Up Race With Three Weeks to Go
The contest is rated a toss-up. Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is not seeking re-election, creating an open seat that Democrats view as crucial to holding or expanding their Senate majority, while Republicans hope to flip it red.
A Mitchell Research & Communications poll, conducted Oct. 1 and published Oct. 5, showed El-Sayed leading Rogers 45.6% to 41.4%, with a margin of error of 3.8%, according to Mid-Michigan NOW. El-Sayed led among independents 46% to 34% and among absentee voters 66% to 21%, while Rogers held a narrow lead among those planning to vote on Election Day.
Pollster Steve Mitchell cautioned that turnout will be decisive. “So this is going to be a get-out-the-vote problem for both campaigns and whoever does a better job of getting out the vote, getting out the people, that they need to vote is going to win,” he said.
There is also reason for Republican optimism: Michigan polls have underestimated GOP candidates in recent cycles. In 2024, Democrat Elissa Slotkin narrowly defeated Rogers by just 0.3% after polls had predicted a wider margin.
What to Watch
The ad is the latest sign that Rogers is trying to localize the race around cost-of-living concerns — distancing himself from Trump on tariffs, the Iran war and AI development while still embracing the president on issues like the SAVE Act.
Whether that balancing act persuades Michigan’s auto workers and independent voters — and whether El-Sayed’s flip-flop framing sticks — will be tested on Election Day, Nov. 3. The White House and the El-Sayed campaign did not immediately respond to NBC News requests for comment.