Heartland especially vulnerable to blowback of Trump’s tariffs
Plus, Minnesota special election candidate attended Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6
As global markets continue to reel from President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs against all American trading partners, the rationale for such policies is already facing reality. The administration’s justification for the unprecedented amount of trading penalties is to boost domestic manufacturing — especially in areas where Trump’s “America First” ideology appealed to voters.
However, Trump’s tariffs could, in fact, do the opposite. In fact, Midwestern states — once home to the robust manufacturing economy of the mid-20th century — appear to be vulnerable to the looming economic fallout.
Even before Trump’s policies were enacted, economists cautioned that his proposals would be detrimental to state economies that rely heavily on foreign imports.
A 2024 report by the Tax Policy Center predicted that the states “that would see the largest economic consequences from the proposed higher tariffs are mostly those in the Midwest and South. The largest percentage point increases would occur in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Michigan.” This is because the gross domestic product (GDP) of states like Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin is disproportionately derived from imported goods.
That model was based on Trump's claims that he would levy at least a 10% tariff on all imported goods, which came to fruition last week.
A more recent analysis by the Richmond Federal Reserve reflects this, warning that the economies of states like Illinois, Michigan and Ohio would be particularly impacted by disruptions to international commerce.
“These areas are highly integrated into transatlantic trade and host production clusters that depend on EU-origin intermediate goods and capital equipment,” the briefing published earlier this month reads.
Such forecasts appear to be coming true: Last week, the automaker Stellantis announced it would temporarily lay off 900 workers from plants in Indiana and Michigan. This comes after the company paused production at its Canadian and Mexico-based factories.
And over the weekend, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) reflected on how Trump’s trade wars during his first term were incredibly consequential to local economic wellbeing — and could presage what will unfold in the coming months.
"I live on my family farm. We lease our farm to a soybean farmer. Soybeans were targeted in the tariff war in the first Trump administration,” Slotkin told National Public Radio.
"We've never made up market share from the markets we lost. China just stopped buying from us, and they went to Brazil and to Argentina. We just permanently lost that market."
Keri Heintzeman, a Republican candidate for the Minnesota state Senate, attended President Donald Trump’s infamous Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, 2021.
Photos from her husband state Rep. Josh Heintzeman’s (R-Nisswa) Facebook page shows Keri and her son in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, with her husband claiming they left before the day’s events turned violent.
“Once the president finished his remarks Keri and [Keri’s son] we’re back on the road to Minnesota. Sounds like multiple groups then began to infiltrate the event and the violence started,” the post reads.
Screencap of a now-privatized Facebook post of Keri Heintzeman and her son in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021. (Source: Josh Heintzeman on Facebook)
The post has been turned to “friends only.”
Heintzeman did not respond to a request to comment for this story and clarify when exactly she left Washington D.C. on Jan. 6.
Despite the violence that broke out on the infamous day, Keri Heintzeman served as a district director for Trump’s 2024 campaign in Minnesota. In a press release, Heintzeman explained that she is running on the foundation of fiscal responsibility, personal freedom and government transparency.
Keri Heintzeman is one of 11 candidates who have filed to run in a special election to fill the seat for 6th Senate District. The seat was left vacant after former state Sen. Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) resigned following his arrest during a sex sting operation on March 17. Eichorn was federally charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (DFL) scheduled a special election which will be held on April 29, with a primary election on April 15.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Heartland Signal has decided not to disclose the identity of Keri Heintzeman’s son, who appeared to be a minor at the time he attended the rally. His name and image have been purposefully censored.