2:08President Donald Trump speaks during a tour of the Ford River Rogue complex, Jan. 13, 2026, in Dearborn, Mich. Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump shifted his attention to economic matters during a speech in Michigan, where he celebrated the achievements of his administration’s policies and hinted at forthcoming proposals, including a framework for health care affordability that he plans to unveil later this week.
Trump’s comments at the Detroit Economic Club occasionally deviated from the main subject, occurring at a time when many Americans express worries about rising costs.
A recent Quinnipiac University survey indicated that 64% of registered voters consider the cost of living to be a “very serious problem” in the U.S. Regarding the economy as a whole, nearly half of voters believe it is deteriorating, and 57% disapprove of Trump’s management of the situation.
President Donald Trump visits a Ford production center in Dearborn, Michigan, January 13, 2026.Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Nonetheless, Trump asserted on Tuesday that inflation had been “defeated,” despite it remaining unchanged at 2.7% in December.
“The Trump economic boom has officially started. And it has really begun almost from the outset,” Trump declared.
Trump promoted his global tariff strategy, which is currently under scrutiny by the Supreme Court, as having made the nation “stronger, safer, and wealthier than ever” and challenged the notion that any costs would be passed on to American consumers.
The president also introduced new initiatives aimed at prohibiting large institutional investors from “acquiring more single-family homes” and suggested a one-year, 10% limit on credit card interest rates. Analysts have expressed skepticism regarding Trump’s housing proposal, and financial institutions have resisted his suggestion to cap credit card interest rates.
Trump mentioned he would offer more insights about his housing strategy during his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland next week.
Regarding health care, Trump reiterated his preference for direct payments to Americans for insurance, as millions are experiencing soaring premiums after the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits this month.
Later this week, Trump stated he would “reveal our health care affordability framework,” which he claimed would lower premiums, reduce drug costs, and hold insurance companies accountable. He did not provide detailed information.
President Donald Trump speaks during a tour of the Ford River Rogue complex, Jan. 13, 2026, in Dearborn, Mich.Evan Vucci/AP
The president also maintained his pressure on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to reduce interest rates, referring to Powell as a “real stiff.”
“If I had the Fed’s support, things would be simpler. But that jerk will be gone soon,” Trump remarked.
Powell, appointed by Trump in 2017, is now under criminal investigation by the Justice Department as his term approaches its end in May.
The inquiry pertains to Powell’s testimony last June regarding cost overruns in a multi-year renovation of the central bank’s headquarters in Washington. Powell believes the investigation is politically motivated.
While inflation is currently at its lowest level since July, it still exceeds the Fed’s target rate of 2%.
In addition to his comments at the Detroit Economic Club, Trump also toured a Ford factory in Dearborn.
During the visit, Trump was heckled by an individual who shouted, “Pedophile protector
Sourse: abcnews.go.com