Trump Michigan: “Bobby Banning 8 Artificial Dyes”; Terminated EV Mandate; Tariff Rebates for U.S. Assembly; “Communist Judges”

President Trump continued his Michigan rally address in April 2025 with announcements spanning food safety, auto policy, and judicial overreach. On MAHA: “I established the Presidential Commission to Make America Healthy Again, chaired by Bobby Kennedy. Just last week, Bobby announced we’re banning 8 major artificial dyes from our food supply.” On autos: “I terminated Biden’s insane Electric Vehicle Mandate. I’ve signed an executive order to give partial tariff rebates to any company that assembles its cars right here in the USA — 15% of the parts, then 10%.” On judges: “We cannot allow a handful of communist, radical-left judges to obstruct the enforcement of our laws and assume the duties that belong solely to the President.” DNI Tulsi Gabbard capped the event: “President Trump’s first 100 days have delivered historic change to make our country more safe, secure, and free."

"Bobby — Banning 8 Dyes”

Trump announced the food dye ban to the rally crowd with characteristic informality.

“I established the new Presidential Commission to Make America Healthy Again, chaired by our new Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” Trump said.

He offered the personal endorsement: “He’s doing a good job. Dr. Oz, right? He’s doing a good job. And he’s a little bit different, but I want to tell you, he’s a great guy. He’s a great guy, and he loves this country.”

He delivered the news: “Just last week, Bobby announced that we’re banning eight major artificial dyes from our food supply.”

He added: “Sounds good to me.”

The food dye ban — which FDA Commissioner Makary had detailed in a separate briefing — was one of the MAHA movement’s most tangible achievements. For a rally audience, the policy was immediately understandable: the government was removing petroleum-based chemicals from food. No complex policy explanation was needed. The fact that it “sounded good” to Trump — a president not known for health food advocacy — demonstrated how broadly the food safety message resonated.

Trump’s characterization of Kennedy as “a little bit different” was a knowing understatement that drew laughs. Kennedy’s unconventional background — environmental lawyer, vaccine skeptic, Democratic dynasty scion turned Trump ally — made him one of the most unlikely cabinet members in American history. But Trump’s “he loves this country” assessment was the relevant qualification. Kennedy’s commitment to the MAHA mission was genuine, and the results — eight dyes banned, pharmaceutical transparency increased, chronic disease addressed — were tangible.

Terminated the EV Mandate

Trump connected the EV mandate termination directly to Michigan’s economy.

“To keep my promise to the great state of Michigan, I terminated Joe Biden’s insane Electric Vehicle Mandate where you were mandated to buy an electric vehicle,” Trump said.

He described the mandate: “You were mandated with just a few years to buy an electric vehicle. How about that?”

He stated the principle: “They’re great, but not everybody wants them. You’ve got to be able to buy a hybrid, a gasoline-powered car. You can buy lots of different cars, but you can’t be mandated to do anything.”

He announced the tariff: “And I’ve already proudly imposed a 25% tariff on all foreign automobiles.”

He announced the new executive order: “To help these automakers bring their factories home as rapidly as possible, I’ve just signed an executive order to give partial tariff rebates to any company that assembles its cars right here in the U.S.”

He explained the mechanics: “It’s 15% of the parts, and then it’s 10% of the parts. So it’s not so bad.”

He described the transition logic: “Just in case we can’t get everything in time, we gave them a little bit. We give them a little time before we slaughter them if they don’t do this.”

The EV mandate termination was one of Trump’s most popular actions in Michigan — a state where the auto industry employed hundreds of thousands of workers. Biden’s mandate had required automakers to transition their fleets to predominantly electric vehicles within a timeline that the industry said was impossible without massive disruption.

The tariff rebate executive order was a nuanced policy that demonstrated the administration’s willingness to be flexible within its tariff framework. Companies that assembled cars in the United States would receive partial rebates on imported parts — acknowledging that the transition to fully domestic supply chains couldn’t happen overnight while maintaining the incentive to reshoring. The 15% and then 10% structure created a declining runway: companies got temporary relief but were expected to source domestically over time.

”Communist, Radical-Left Judges”

Trump escalated his rhetoric on judicial obstruction.

“We cannot allow a handful of communist, radical-left judges to obstruct the enforcement of our laws and assume the duties that belong solely to the President of the United States,” Trump said.

He described the dynamic: “Judges are trying to take away the power given to the President to keep our country safe. And it’s not a good thing.”

He expressed hope: “But I hope for the sake of our country that the Supreme Court is going to save this, because we have to do something. These people are just looking to destroy our country.”

He stated his resolve: “Nothing will stop me and the mission to keep America safe again. It’s very simple. Keep America safe again.”

The “communist” characterization was Trump’s most aggressive language about the judiciary to date. It reflected mounting frustration with federal judges who had blocked immigration enforcement, tariff implementation, and other executive actions through nationwide injunctions. The administration’s position was that these judges were not exercising legitimate judicial review but were effectively running the executive branch from the bench — “assuming duties that belong solely to the President.”

The appeal to the Supreme Court was strategic. Trump was signaling that he expected the Court — with its 6-3 conservative majority — to resolve the nationwide injunction crisis by limiting the power of individual district judges to block presidential policy across the entire country.

Gabbard: “Historic Change”

DNI Tulsi Gabbard provided the intelligence community’s assessment of the first 100 days.

“Today is the hundredth day of the Trump-Vance administration,” Gabbard said. “And there’s been a lot of action, a lot of historic action to bring back our government to what it should be.”

She cited border security: “Our borders are secure thanks to President Trump’s leadership. Our National Counterterrorism Center has played a unique role in supporting DHS, Border Patrol, and local and state law enforcement.”

She cited the threat identification: “Identifying those within our country — over 700 members of dangerous” groups targeted.

She connected security to prosperity: “President Trump is focused on ensuring our economic security. He is leading peace talks and negotiations with countries around the world.”

She invoked the anniversary: “This year we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation. And what better time for us to stand together as Americans and reignite that light of freedom that defines us.”

Gabbard’s appearance — a former Democratic congresswoman and presidential candidate now serving as Trump’s Director of National Intelligence — was itself a statement about the breadth of the Trump coalition. Her endorsement of the administration’s 100-day record carried unique credibility because she had crossed partisan lines to join it.

Key Takeaways

• Trump announced Kennedy’s food dye ban at the rally: “Bobby is banning 8 major artificial dyes from our food supply. Sounds good to me.”
• EV mandate terminated for Michigan: “You can’t be mandated to buy anything.” Plus tariff rebates for U.S. auto assembly — 15% then 10% parts flexibility.
• On judges: “We cannot allow a handful of communist, radical-left judges to obstruct law enforcement. Nothing will stop me.”
• DNI Gabbard: “100 days of historic action. Borders secure, over 700 dangerous individuals identified, peace talks advancing.”
• Trump on the tariff rebate: “We give them a little time before we slaughter them if they don’t do this.”