Selfridge Air National Guard Base will be home to a new fighter mission and 20 F-15EXs jets, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday afternoon during a speech at the base alongside Governor Gretchen Whitmer, House Speaker Matt Hall and Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt.
“Today, I’ve come in person to lay to rest any doubts about Selfridge,” Trump said. “We’re going to save this place, and we’re going to make it better.”
Later in the evening, Trump spoke at a rally in Warren celebrating the first 100 days in office of his second term amid calls from some Michigan Democrats for his impeachment.
The Selfridge announcement was welcomed by Whitmer. Her office estimated that the new mission would protect Selfridge’s $850 million impact on Michigan’s economy and 30,000 jobs statewide.
Trump praised Whitmer for her work on Selfridge, while also naming Hall, Nesbitt and U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township).
“I’m not supposed to do that. She’s a Democrat,” Trump said of Whitmer. “Your governor has done a very good job. That’s the reason she came to see me, by the way – to save Selfridge. And she was very effective.”
To the governor’s surprise, she was invited to speak at the podium.
“I hadn’t planned to speak, but on behalf of all the military men and women who serve our country and serve so honorably on behalf of the state of Michigan, I am really damn happy we’re here to celebrate this recapitalization of Selfridge,” Whitmer said. “It’s crucial for the Michigan economy. It’s crucial for the men and women here, for our homeland security and our future. So, thank you.”
Whitmer has been advocating for a new fighter mission at Selfridge since she took office in 2019, a press release from her office said.
“Because of our tireless work with partners on the ground in Macomb County and on both sides of the aisle, the future of Selfridge is bright, lasting and secure,” she said in a statement. “I’ll keep working with anyone to get things done on the kitchen-table issue and make a real difference for Michigan families.”
The Selfridge announcement comes as speculation continues to mount about Whitmer’s plans after she leaves office in 2026, with the Los Angeles Times publishing an interview with her on Tuesday as part of her book tour. In the interview, she addressed the idea of running for president in 2028.
“I don’t know yet,” Whitmer told the LA Times. “I know enough about myself to know I care desperately about where this country is headed … and how much work is going to have to be done to make sure that we have the opportunity to put this country back on the right course. … I want to be a part of that.”
At Selfridge on Tuesday afternoon, Hall also had the opportunity to address the crowd.
“This is why the people of Michigan elected you, sir,” Hall told Trump. “This is the first time in decades where we can all say Selfridge is winning, and we are winning because of you.”
Nesbitt also spoke at the event.
“This means that these folks can continue their mission for America for the coming decades,” Nesbitt said. “Because of your leadership, America’s back again, Macomb’s back again, Michigan’s back again, and Selfridge will be leading the way.”
U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) highlighted the importance of Selfridge in a statement commending the bipartisan work done to secure the new fighter mission.
“The announcement is important because the Air National Guard hosts the majority of America’s deployable combat air forces, and the fighter mission at Selfridge plays a vital role in the defense of our nation,” she said. “This announcement will ensure that decades of combat-proven experience stays right here in Michigan.”
Macomb County Public Works Commissioner and Selfridge Air National Guard Base Honorary Commander Candice Miller also celebrated the announcement in a statement, calling the new mission transformational.
“This secures the future of this base, which is a critical component of our national defense,” Miller said. “This is the best possible outcome … with the F-15EX, plus the KC-46s that are in the pipeline for us, the Michigan Air National Guard will be playing a major role in national defense for decades.”
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel also put out a statement saying how important Selfridge was for the area.
“For years we have worked with Governor Whitmer, our legislative delegation and local partners to advocate for our hometown airbase. President Trump’s commitment to bring a new fighter mission home to Selfridge will solidify the base as Michigan’s premier defense installation,” he said. “With new facilities, modern infrastructure, dedicated military and civilian personnel and a new fighter mission, Selfridge will continue to play a critical role in our nation’s defense.”
Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) called the Selfridge announcement a “major win” for the region.
“Selfridge is too important to our community and the state of Michigan to let anything stand in the way of assuring its future,” he said in a statement. “I’m proud to have done my part to secure state funding and assist the base with the infrastructure improvements needed to make this new endeavor possible.”
At the evening rally in Warren, Trump touted his administration’s executive orders on immigration, transgender athletes, diversity, equity and inclusion, and tariffs.
“This is the best, they say, 100 day start of any president,” Trump said. “Week by week we’re ending illegal immigrations. We’re taking back our jobs of protecting our great American workers. … We’re restoring the rule of law. … We’re ending the inflation nightmare, the worst that we’ve had probably in the history of our country and getting woke-lunacy and transgender insanity the hell out of our government.”
At the rally, he also addressed the articles of impeachment filed by U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit).
“He said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I am going to start the impeachment of Donald Trump,'” Trump said. “What the hell did I do? Here we go again.”
Brian Pannebeck, a retired auto worker from Macomb County who spoke at the rally, later correctly identified Thanedar as the congressman who introduced articles of impeachment and praised James for working with the president, and about an hour into his speech, Trump thanked James for attending the rally after voting in Washington, D.C., earlier in the day.
Trump also promised that in the coming months, the federal government would pass tax cuts and would eliminate taxes on tips, social security and overtime.
“We will cut more than $1 trillion in wasteful and unnecessary spending, and in the next fiscal year, it’ll all be done,” Trump said.
He also promised to preserve Medicaid.
“We want to preserve Medicaid for the most vulnerable – for our kids, pregnant women, the poor and disabled Americans,” Trump said.
Michigan Democrats issued statements in response to the speech that were extremely critical of Trump’s first 100 days in office.
Curtis Hertel, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, condemned the visit in a statement.
“With every move he makes, Trump has been slowly killing Michigan’s economy, bleeding jobs and raising costs on everything from groceries to prescriptions. From federal funding cuts to chaotic tariffs, this administration has failed Michiganders in its first 100 days. The worst part is that this was always the plan,” he said. “And let’s not forget that folks like Congressmen John James, Tom Barrett, and Bill Huizenga are in lockstep with his agenda to destroy Medicaid and spike costs for Michiganders. The only people Donald Trump has ever planned to help were himself and his billionaire buddies, and for the past 100 days, he has proven he is willing to abandon working Michiganders to pay for his dangerous agenda — and we doubt it’ll change anytime soon.”
Ahead of the rally on Tuesday, several House Democrats introduced a resolution supporting Thanedar’s articles of impeachment.
“As state legislators, we are very close with our districts. People are scared, and for good reason. Our oversight on Trump is more limited than our colleagues in the U.S. House, but we can ring the alarm bell. Our communities are under assault by this administration, and members of Congress need to take this seriously. It is unthinkable that a president would send innocent people to a foreign country’s prison known for its human rights violations,” Rep. Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City) said. “The Constitution is clear in regards to due process and the freedom of speech for residents of the United States. The foundation of our country is based on checks and balances, and it is unacceptable for Trump to ignore a unanimous Supreme Court ruling. That alone is an impeachable offense.”
Among those joining Wegela on the resolution were Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor), Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) and Rep. Jimmie Wilson (D-Ypsilanti).
“The constitution is the foundation for how our government operates and safeguards the people who call the United States home,” Pohutsky said in a statement. “The president’s wanton disregard for it and our system of checks and balances demonstrates that he is dangerously unfit to lead this country.”
– By Elena Durnbaugh
