Michigan Democrats pull punches on Trump's tariffs

• Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) told Axios that "no one disputes that tariffs are a good tool" but criticized the president for his "sloppy and across-the-board" tariff policies. "Trump is either going to be really, really right or really, really wrong," Slotkin said.
• Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) told Axios he was essentially in wait-and-see mode to determine the impact of the auto tariffs.
• "I have always said that when used strategically, tariffs are a critical tool to bring back jobs," Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) said after Trump's 10% across-the-board tariff announcement.

The Democrats are clear that they think the tariffs will raise costs and could slip the economy into a recession.

The big picture: Auto union leaders have come out in support of the tariffs, arguing they will enhance domestic production.

• With both union and auto leaders ranging anywhere from muted to supportive of the tariffs, the politics of the issue are tricky for Dems in the state.

Between the lines: Slotkin told Axios that auto companies have been privately freaking out about the policies but are "concerned to stick their neck out and become the center of attention for the Trump administration."