Donald Trump visits Howell, Michigan law enforcement, promises 'We'll protect them'

HOWELL, Mich. (FOX 2) - President Donald Trump met with law enforcement at the Livingston County Sheriff's Office to talk about public safety with members from Michigan police.

Trump landed at Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus just after 1 p.m. on Tuesday in his first visit to Michigan on July 19.  Two weeks ago, Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance held a similar event in Macomb County.

His visit brought campaign talking points accusing Democrats, of a lack of support for law enforcement and blaming the Biden-Harris administration for the rise in crime.

The speech was not open to the public while he argued that US crime statistics he claimed were results of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' leadership. 

He said there has been a 43% increase in violent crime, a 58% increase in rape, an 89% increase in aggravated assault, and a 56% increase in robbery. 

"She sponsored a bill to strip police officers of legal protection, leaving you at the mercy of the lawless Marxist prosecutors who want to lock up police officers for sport,," he said. "They don't go after the criminals. Murderers are released two hours after the murder."

Trump promoted his administration's focus on providing more support, protection and funding for law enforcement. He also attacked Harris as a law and order prosecutor-as-president narrative, calling her soft on crime, pointing at her past record as California Attorney General.

Trump attacked Harris' support of no-cash bail, claiming she would like to abolish it nationwide and said she was behind the making of shoplifting a misdemeanor if it is below $950 in the state of California.

"That was really the beginning of problems for New York," Trump said regarding cash bail. "It means releasing violent criminals immediately after arrest. No money involved. Don't worry about it. Go home, enjoy yourself. Many of them disappear."

Trump also pointed toward Harris' support of Minneapolis rioters during the summer of 2020 in the aftermath of the George Floyd tragedy, killed by a white police officer, Derick Chauvin. Harris worked to raise money for bail.

"When the violent mobs of looters and anarchists tried to burn down Minneapolis in 2020, Kamala Harris raised money for bail, to bail out the arsonists and the riders and the killers, people were killed," he said. "Many people were killed. Compare that to J6 (January 6th) nobody was killed."

Staying on the security angle, Trump also focused on the US-Mexico border and the Biden-Harris Administration's policies, which he blames for causing the illegal immigration crisis.

"On day one, I will seal the border. I will stop the invasion," Trump said, adding that Biden ended his Remain in Mexico policy. "She has allowed millions of people open border to flow into our country totally unchecked. And they come from jails and prisons. They come from mental institutions, all mental institutions all over the world. This isn't just in South America."

Trump also pointed at Harris being in the White House now, but promising to fix the problem despite being in charge of the border currently.

"She wants to be the President of the United States. She's vice president. She could do it, she's in charge of the border," he said. "She could have closed up the border. She should have closed it."

Trump localized the border security issue with a case from Shelby Township (Joel Quintana-Dominguez) accused of sexual assault of a 13-year-old relative.

"In Shelby Township, Michigan, earlier this year, a 32-year-old, previously deported illegal alien monster was arrested for repeatedly sexually assaulting a young girl under the age of 13. Local law enforcement described the crimes absolutely horrific, and says he had many other victims, including death is involved."

He also spoke of his mass deportation plan which he promises will be bigger than former President Dwight Eisenhower in 1955, which totaled 1.3 million.

"All of the countries are sending them, and now they're coming in because of her, because she's so pathetic and weak at the border," he said. "The worst borders are in history. I can tell you that. Whether she's a czar or just in charge at the border. It doesn't matter."

This is the former President's first stop in Michigan since he and Vance were in Grand Rapids on July 19. That was the duo's first public address since Trump tapped Vance as his running mate. It was also before President Joe Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his pick.

Vance was in the state just last week – where he delivered remarks in Byron Center, a suburb of Grand Rapids. 

Michigan is one of the key battleground states in the 2024 presidential race. 

Harris for President Michigan Communications Director Alyssa Bradley released the following statement in response:

"The racists and white supremacists who marched in Trump’s name last month in Howell have all watched him praise Hitler, defend neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, and tell far-right extremists to ‘stand back and stand by.’ Trump’s actions have encouraged them, and Michiganders can expect more of the same when he comes to town next week. But voters here support leaders like Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who are focused on bringing us together, and we’ll continue working to stop Trump and his far-right extremist allies who promote division, hate, and violence."