Donald Trump news: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and President hug it out at 100 day rally

US President Donald Trump has taken all the fanfare and controversy that has enshrined his first 100 days in the White House to Michigan for two big events to celebrate the milestone.

Protests, wild celebrations, uncomfortable moments and the signature Trump dance moves were all on show after exiting Air Force One for a tarmac press conference and troop address, to a larger facility for a gala rally.

After praising his administration’s investments in defence and the foreign policy record of his first administration from 2017 to 2021, Mr Trump said Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was doing a “great job”, without mention of Mr Hegseth’s recent group chat foibles around mistakenly disclosing classified information

One of the most intriguing moments came when President Trump coerced Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer into speaking at the 100 day rally, even adjusting the microphone for her as she approached the lectern.

Ms Whitmer was one of the most outspoken opponents of Mr Trump in the race for the White House in 2024, and social media lit up at the idea she was now standing side-by-side with the president.

After being called to address the troops by the president, Ms Whitmer looked surprised and mentioned she “had not planned to speak”.

“I’m fairly sure pigs can fly now”, one political enthusiast posted on X after the President and Governor even shared a hug at one point.

Mr Trump lavished praise on the governor saying she had played a key role in “saving” the Selfridge Air National Guard Base northeast of Detroit before announcing a new fighter jet mission will commence at the facility.

“I’ll be supporting a record-setting $US1 trillion ($A1.6 trillion) investment in our national defence,” said Trump, speaking before dozens of troops, as well as Ms Whitmer and Mr Hegseth.

During the speech, he said the base in Selfridge would be receiving 21 Boeing F-15X jets.

Ms Whitmer said in a statement the move secured the base’s mission and was a “huge, bipartisan win for Michigan” that will protect jobs.

On Air Force One earlier on Tuesday, Mr Trump signed an order to soften the blow of his auto tariffs with a mix of credits and relief from other levies, before US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC he had reached one deal with a foreign power, which he declined to name, that should permanently ease the “reciprocal” tariffs Mr Trump plans to impose.

Mr Trump later spoke at an evening rally in Warren, near Detroit. That event, his biggest since assuming office on January 20, was an opportunity for him to tout what his administration sees as his core achievements in the opening months of his second non-consecutive term.

The event afforded the president the opportunity to reassure voters in the politically competitive auto-making state that he is a good economic steward.

A three-day Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Sunday showed that 42 per cent of respondents approved of Mr Trump’s performance so far, while 53 per cent disapproved. That is down from 47 per cent approval in the Reuters/Ipsos poll in January.

The share of respondents who approved of Mr Trump’s economic stewardship was only 36 per cent in the latest survey, the lowest level in his current term or in his 2017-2021 presidency.

Fears of a recession have surged in recent weeks as Mr Trump has launched a global trade war, hiking tariffs so high that economists warn that trade with some nations - notably China - could grind nearly to a halt.

With AAP.