Vice President JD Vance urges voters to 'double down' on Trump, vows gas price jump won't last

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday contended voters in Michigan should "double down" on President Donald Trump's policies, while acknowledging that a "rough road" lies ahead on gas prices for the next few weeks.

Vance, a Republican former senator from Ohio, made a pitch for Republican candidates in the battleground state of Michigan during a stop in Auburn Hills, less than eight months before a critical election. But the event also occurred as the average gas price in Michigan on Wednesday was $3.87 a gallon, a 28% increase from a year ago, according to AAA.

The vice president spoke for about 45 minutes in front of a crowd of a few hundred people at Engineering Design Services Inc. He repeatedly attempted to lay out the stakes of the November election, when voters will pick a new governor and new U.S. senator in Michigan.

Vance credited a 2.4% bump in auto sales in 2025, the best increase since 2019, to Trump's approach and slammed the automotive and energy policies of Democratic former President Joe Biden. Amid criticism from Democrats about the nation's economy, Vance labeled his Democratic opponents "crazy" and argued voters will select the Republicans in November because of their bids to lower taxes.

The vice president said there was more for Republicans to do in pursuing an "American renaissance."

“It’s not going to happen by going back to the failed policies of Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi," Vance said. "It’s going to be by doubling down on the policies of Donald J. Trump and the people who love this country."

Later, Vance was asked about rising gas prices, spurred by the war against Iran that began Feb. 28. He admitted that people "are hurting because of it" but said the increase wouldn't "last forever."

“We’ve got a rough road ahead of us for the next few weeks," Vance said. "But it’s temporary.”

'We don't want to intervene in elections,' Vance says

Engineering Design Services Inc., an Auburn Hills firm that hosted Vance, specializes in robotic systems. A blue banner behind the stage, where Vance spoke, said "delivering for American workers."

While Trump has publicly suggested that federal officials take over local responsibilities of administering elections this fall, Vance said, during a question and answer segment, he wasn't aware of the the federal government possibly intervening in the upcoming vote.

He said there were many "scare tactics" out there and joked about Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been known for his many duties in the Trump administration, having to count votes.

“We don’t want to intervene in elections," Vance said. "But we certainly want to make elections safe and secure."

He then trumpeted the Trump administration's support of requiring identification to vote and election-related legislation that is awaiting action in Congress.

Vance addresses Temple Israel attack, calling the injured security guard a 'hero'

Vance's visit came six days after a 41-year-old man from Dearborn Heights attacked the Temple Israel synagogue in Oakland County's West Bloomfield Township. Ayman Ghazali slammed his Ford F-150 through the front doors of the Temple Israel on Thursday and engaged in gunfire with the synagogue's security team before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot, FBI Detroit Field Office Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan said.

Vance labeled the attack disgusting and unacceptable.

“Keep these folks in our prayers," the vice president said.

He also singled out the Temple Israel security guard injured in the attack, Danny Phillips, calling the former longtime police officer a "hero," which the crowd greeted with applause.

Vance's stop in Michigan on Wednesday marked the first by him or Trump since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28.

Democratic chairman claims Trump's war is hurting Michigan residents

In an interview hours before Vance's speech, Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel said the country found itself "in the middle of a war of choice that is hurting" state residents.

"Trump's policies were hurting them before that," Hertel added. "It's only made things worse for the average American citizen who was promised grocery prices and gas prices would be down and wages would be up."

However, Vance Patrick, chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party, vowed that the rise in fuel prices would be "very temporary" and said he wasn't worried about it — about 230 days before a pivotal election in Michigan, where voters will pick a new governor and new U.S. senator.

"It's exciting to have JD back in Oakland County," Patrick said as he entered the venue for Vance's speech. "It shows that Oakland County is the heart of Michigan and that he understands that there's a true opportunity here to keep Michigan red."

Oakland County is a former Republican stronghold that has turned into Democratic territory, backing Democratic presidential nominees Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris during the three times Trump ran for president.

What manufacturing jobs have done under Trump

As a candidate for president in 2024, Trump promised to "reclaim America's manufacturing power" and protect U.S. jobs. However, the number of manufacturing jobs in Michigan has essentially tread water, according to data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As of December 2024, there were 598,000 manufacturing jobs in Michigan. As of December 2025, there were about 597,000, according to the federal tracking.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, has said Trump's tariffs on products manufactured outside the U.S. have "jacked up prices" and cost families an average of $1,000 in 2025.

"Businesses of all sizes are facing higher costs and massive uncertainty too," Whitmer said during her Feb. 25 State of the State address.

Trump has countered that the tariffs are generating revenue and are ensuring a fairer playing field for U.S. businesses as he seeks better trade deals.

Vance made stops in Livingston County in September 2025 and in Bay County in March 2025.

Trump himself participated in a roundtable conversation at Engineering Design Services Inc. on Oct. 18, 2024, ahead of the November 2024 presidential election.

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