What they say: “Here in Michigan, we know that Canada is not our enemy,” Rogers said in a 30-second message posted Wednesday on social media.
- “We must end this tariff war now. As a Michigan senator, I will bring both parties together to lower your prices.”
Catch up quickly: Canada and the United States have imposed retaliatory tariffs on each other in recent weeks, and neither side appears interested in backing down.
- The United States imposed 50% tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian products, including wine, hockey sticks, trucks, cars and dairy products, before stepping up its import bans on some Canadian products.
- In response, Canada imposed tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of U.S. products, including steel, aluminum, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, plastics and electronics.
- The tariffs also apply to certain products protected by the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada, eliminating an exemption that had helped maintain trade between the two countries during their negotiations.
Zoom: Rogers also broke with Trump in an ad released in late September calling for a quick end to the war in Iran.
- In the ad, filmed in a supermarket, he blamed the war for high energy costs and said the fall in prices must be stopped.
Between the lines: Trump is deeply unpopular nationally, with 38% of registered voters approving of the job he is doing, according to an Oct. 2-5 Economist/YouGov poll. Among Republicans, 79% approve.
- A September 25-28 Economist/YouGov poll found that 63% of registered voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of Iran, including 26% of Republicans.
- An Economist/YouGov poll from August 14-17 found that 64% of American adults disapprove of Trump’s handling of tariffs, including 26% of Republicans.
Yes, but: Rogers also changed his position in favor of Trump.
- Rogers previously said in a campaign ad that if elected, he would open the Gordie Howe Bridge.
- The bridge, which connects Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, was highly anticipated locally as an alternative to a highly lucrative private bridge whose owners lobbied the Trump administration to keep the Gordie Howe Bridge closed. Trump initially threatened to prevent the bridge from opening.
- Shortly after the Rogers ad aired, he changed course, supporting Trump’s decision to keep the bridge closed so the United States could use it as leverage in trade negotiations with Canada. The bridge has since been opened.
Zoom out: Republican candidates running in tight races across the country have been pushing to part ways with the president, recognizing that high prices tied to Trump’s policies could drive them down in November.
- In Iowa, Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican Senate candidate, reversed her position, calling for an end to the war in Iran and for lawmakers to pass legislation to combat gasoline and diesel prices.
- In Wisconsin, Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican Party’s candidate for governor, called on the president to “turn the page” on the war in Iran.
- Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) criticized the Trump administration’s beef import policy, which Burchett said could hurt his state’s ranchers — and Republicans in the election.
Go deeper: House GOP whip: Limit spending to districts with ‘highest returns’
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