Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan dodged a question from WXYZ's Spotlight on the News host Chuck Stokes about President Donald Trump's comments calling Democratic lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, "traitors" whose actions are "punishable by DEATH". When asked if he thought Trump's language had gone too far, Duggan replied that he's been focusing on state issues and doesn't want to get involved in the national debate.
The exchange highlights a pattern in Duggan's campaign for governor as an independent. He has refused to criticize Trump or his policies, even when they target fellow Michiganders. Instead, Duggan has emphasized his ability to "bring Democrats and Republicans together" and touted his support from both parties.
Duggan's silence on Trump's rhetoric is a departure from his past criticism of the president. During Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, Duggan mocked Trump's multiple bankruptcies and called him "the most phony party nominee" he'd ever seen. In 2020, when Trump falsely claimed voter fraud in Detroit, Duggan said the allegations were "utter nonsense".
The mayor has now changed his tune, framing himself as a post-partisan problem-solver who won't engage in partisan bickering. However, many voters are concerned that this stance is being used to mask his true position on Trump's policies.
Duggan's campaign relies heavily on donations from Republican donors and Trump supporters, including billionaire Roger Penske and former Michigan GOP chair Ron Weiser. This has led some to question whether Duggan is willing to tolerate the threats and bigotry of the administration.
In ordinary times, dodging a question on live TV might not be a big deal. But when the sitting president is making such inflammatory comments, it's clear that Duggan's silence has significant implications for his campaign and his constituents.
The exchange highlights a pattern in Duggan's campaign for governor as an independent. He has refused to criticize Trump or his policies, even when they target fellow Michiganders. Instead, Duggan has emphasized his ability to "bring Democrats and Republicans together" and touted his support from both parties.
Duggan's silence on Trump's rhetoric is a departure from his past criticism of the president. During Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, Duggan mocked Trump's multiple bankruptcies and called him "the most phony party nominee" he'd ever seen. In 2020, when Trump falsely claimed voter fraud in Detroit, Duggan said the allegations were "utter nonsense".
The mayor has now changed his tune, framing himself as a post-partisan problem-solver who won't engage in partisan bickering. However, many voters are concerned that this stance is being used to mask his true position on Trump's policies.
Duggan's campaign relies heavily on donations from Republican donors and Trump supporters, including billionaire Roger Penske and former Michigan GOP chair Ron Weiser. This has led some to question whether Duggan is willing to tolerate the threats and bigotry of the administration.
In ordinary times, dodging a question on live TV might not be a big deal. But when the sitting president is making such inflammatory comments, it's clear that Duggan's silence has significant implications for his campaign and his constituents.
I'm really surprised by Mike Duggan's response to Trump's comments. It seems like he's more concerned with being liked by everyone than standing up for what's right. Last year, he was all over Trump's antics when Obama was running, now it's like he's been sleepwalking through this whole thing 
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. I'm worried about the impact this could have on Michigan voters, especially those from communities of color who are already facing so many challenges under Trump's policies.
. It feels like he's more interested in getting his campaign off the ground than actually serving the people he's supposed to be representing 
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I think Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's stance on Trump is super sketchy 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to call out the president when they're being super inflammatory? It's like he's trying to avoid getting associated with Trump, but at the same time, he's still taking donations from his donors 
. Duggan needs to make a clear stance on this one - either speak out against Trump or explain why you're so afraid to 
... can someone explain why he's changing his tune like this? 
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO STAND UP FOR ELISSA SLOTKIN AND OTHER DEMOCRATS WHO ARE BEING CALLED "TRAITORS" BY THE SITTING PRESIDENT!!! INSTEAD, HE JUST KEPT ON FOCUSING ON STATE ISSUES AND TRYING TO LOOK POST-PARTISAN. NEWS FLASH, MIKE: THAT'S NOT HOW YOU LEAD WITHOUT TAKING A STANCE! 
AND LET'S BE REAL, THIS IS ALL ABOUT GAINING VOTES FROM REPUBLICANS AND TRUMP SUPPORTERS. IT'S LIKE HE'S TRYING TO SAY "I'M A PROBLEM-SOLVER" BUT REALLY HE'S JUST A CHAMELEON WHO CAN'T DECIDE WHERE HE STANDS ON ANY ISSUE! 
. He's using that as a way to get donations from both parties and keep his campaign afloat 
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. And what really gets my goat is that he used to be all over Trump's case back in the day 
. I guess when you're running for governor, it's all about playing nice... or so I thought 
when the president is basically saying his own party members are "traitors" who deserve to die 
. As a candidate for governor, Duggan's supposed stance on being post-partisan and problem-solver just seems like, you know, BS 
Now, suddenly he's all silent and "I don't want to get involved in the national debate" 
. I'm worried that he's more interested in maintaining those donations than actually standing up for the people of Michigan 
. Can we please hold our elected officials accountable? 
. But at the same time, it's kinda weird that he went from trashing Trump back in the day to now being all "I'm above the fray" 
. Can't say I trust him either way, you know?
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This whole "bringing people together" thing just sounds like a bunch of PR spin to me 
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. Is he really trying to distance himself from Trump's policies or is this all just some PR stunt? The fact that he's got so many Republican donors backing him makes me wonder if he's willing to toe the line on some pretty questionable issues 
. If he can't even be bothered to speak out against Trump's inflammatory comments, how is he gonna represent all of Michigan in Congress?