DETROIT (WWJ) -- Was it meant as a warning, an insult, or something else?
Former President Donald Trump raised some eyebrows during a speech at the Motor City Casino Soundboard in Detroit on Thursday, when he told attendees:
"The whole country will be like, you want to know the truth? It'll be like Detroit. Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she's your president; you're gonna have a mess on your hands... We're not going to let her do that to this country. We're not gonna let it happen."
Speaking to members of the Detroit Economic Club, the GOP nominee focused quite a bit on the automotive industry — a subject he said "has always been very dear to my heart."
Trump suggested that his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, doesn't care about this issue, as he opined, "I don't think anything we're talking about today is high on her list."
"Saving the U.S. auto industry, that's what I spoke about in Oakland (County) many years ago," Trump continued. "I went and I said, 'They're stealing your auto industry, years ago, they're stealing your auto industry. You gotta stop it.' Well, they didn't exactly listen."
"But, we have to make that industry bigger, better, stronger and more dynamic than ever before," Trump said. "And I've been reading about Detroit for so many years that 'it's coming around, it's coming around' ...and never really got there."
Among those quick to respond to Trump's comments about Detroit was Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan who posted on X: "Detroit just hosted the largest NFL Draft in history, the Tigers are back in the playoffs, the Lions are headed to the Super Bowl, crime is down and our population is growing. Lots of cities should be like Detroit. And we did it all without Trump’s help."
Also commenting on the matter on social media was Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who wrote: "Detroit is the epitome of 'grit,' defined by winners willing to get their hands dirty to build up their city and create their communities—something Donald Trump could never understand. So keep Detroit out of your mouth. And you better believe Detroiters won’t forget this in November."
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow said, "Detroit isn’t your punching bag, @realDonaldTrump. It’s a revitalized city of grit & resilience, built by people who rolled up their sleeves and did the work—something you’ll never get with $400M from your dad. ‘Detroit v everybody’ is our motto, and this Nov we’ll show you why!"
State Senator Mallory McMorrow chimed in: "As a proud elected representative of tens of thousands of Detroiters: F— this guy. Don’t come back."
WWJ Newsradio 950's Tim Pamplin is covering the Trump event. Stay with us for more on this story. >>LISTEN LIVE!