Vice President J.D. Vance told workers during a speech Friday in Bay City, Michigan, that demonstrators outside the event should “get off the streets and back to work.”
Vance and U.S. Small Business Administration chief Kelly Loeffler toured Vantage Plastics, a plastic manufacturer located in Michigan, and delivered remarks on “highlighting America’s industrial resurgence.” The vice president, during a speech at the facility, said the protesters outside of the event are proof that President Donald Trump’s administration needs to bring back manufacturing to the U.S. in order for them to have less time on their hands.
“We’ve got this great event, this great facility, great business and of course, great workers and I’m sure all of us saw there were a few protesters outside and I can’t be the only person wondering, you know, it’s a little after noon on a Friday, and don’t you all have jobs?” Vance said. “I mean, who are the people? And I think that’s one of the reasons why we’ve got to rebuild American manufacturing and support great companies like Vantage Plastics because we want these people to get off the streets and back to work. It’d be good for them and it’s be good for everybody else too.”
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Vantage Plastics received a $1.2 million grant from Michigan in 2023 to be based in the state and create 93 new jobs, according to Bridge Michigan. The event, attended by Vance and Loeffler, addressed the “future of American manufacturing,” which the Trump administration has strived to improve.
Trump plans to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, including 50% tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel imported to the U.S., with the intent of returning manufacturing to the U.S. from overseas. The president also announced the creation of the “Office of Shipbuilding” with the intent to revive both commercial and military shipbuilding at a time where China has outpaced the U.S. in maritime manufacturing.
The White House celebrated the creation of 10,000 manufacturing jobs in February, particularly in the automobile industry, where 9,000 jobs were created.
Hecklers shouted at Vance during his Monday speech at the National League of Cities in Washington, D.C. for calling out the negative consequences of illegal immigration. The vice president fired back, stating that some people want the U.S. to suffer from economic consequences due to illegal immigration.
The vice president also laughed off attendees who booed him inside the John F. Kennedy Center by casually waving and sipping his beverage during a symphony orchestra performance Thursday.
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