A first-term Michigan senator is set to deliver the Democratic response
to Trump's speech
[March 04, 2025]
By JOEY CAPPELLETTI
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Democratic response to President Donald
Trump’s first joint congressional address of his second presidency will
be delivered by a freshman Michigan senator who built an extensive
national security background before entering politics less than a decade
ago.
Elissa Slotkin will deliver the Democratic rebuttal to Trump just two
months into her tenure in the U.S. Senate, having narrowly defeated
Republican Mike Rogers to win an open battleground seat — despite Trump
carrying the state. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.,
praised Slotkin as “nothing short of a rising star in our party” when
announcing her selection on Thursday.
The move comes as Democrats struggle to settle on a unified message
against Trump, who has moved swiftly to implement his agenda in his
second term while wielding vast executive power. Trump is set to outline
his priorities for the year ahead during his address, which is scheduled
for Tuesday at 9 p.m. Eastern time.
Slotkin is expected to focus on economic issues in her rebuttal amid
Trump’s Monday announcement that 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and
Canada would begin Tuesday. The move has reignited fears of a North
American trade war, which has already shown signs of driving up
inflation and stalling growth.
Those close to Slotkin have suggested she plans to use the speech not
just as a rebuttal to Trump, but as a chance to highlight Democrats’
broader platform. Known for her more moderate stance, Slotkin has not
hesitated in the past to critique her party’s messaging when necessary.
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Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., speaks during a hearing at the Capitol
in Washington, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)
“We didn’t do as good a job as we could have at showing what our
priorities are,” Slotkin told The Associated Press after the
November election. “Our priorities, in my mind, should start with
people’s pocketbooks and their kids. And I think the message got
muddled for a lot of people, certainly at the national level.”
Her team announced Monday that she would be joined at Trump's speech
by Marine veteran Andrew Lennox, who recently spoke out after losing
his job at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Ann Arbor due to cuts
implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, led
by billionaire Elon Musk.
The 48-year-old Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, is seen as a leading
figure in the party’s next generation. She first ran for office in
2018, defeating a two-term incumbent Republican. After
redistricting, she consistently won one of the nation’s most
competitive House seats, earning a reputation as one of the party’s
top fundraisers. In 2023, she announced a run for Michigan's open
Senate seat after Sen. Debbie Stabenow announced she would not seek
a fifth term.
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