WASHINGTON – Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) delivered the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress Tuesday night, providing a sharp contrast to the partisanship displayed by Trump.
Unity was the theme of the address, with Slotkin saying that “whether you’re from Wyandotte or Wichita, most Americans share three core beliefs: that the middle class is the engine of our country, that strong national security protects us from harm, and that our democracy, no matter how messy, is unparalleled and worth fighting for.”
Slotkin spoke directly to the middle class, a term that was never mentioned in Trump’s over 90-minute speech. She addressed the nation from Wyandotte, Michigan, a working-class city south of Detroit. She narrowly won her seat in 2024 despite President Trump winning the state in the election.
“It might not seem like it, but plenty of places like this still exist across the United States, places where people believe that if you work hard and play by the rules, you should do well and your kids should do better,” she said.
The freshman senator from Michigan’s appeals to the middle class represents the larger push by the Democratic party to win back this demographic that has shifted right in recent years. She pushed the message of bipartisanship throughout her speech last night, referencing growing up in a split-party household.
“It was never a big deal,” said Slotkin. “We had shared values that were bigger than any one party.”
In her speech, Slotkin criticized Trump’s economic policy, a sentiment shared by Common Cause, a liberal-learning government watchdog think tank.
“We’re continuing to see those billionaires and multi millionaire donors line their own pockets at the expense of everyday Americans, which is just astounding, given that so many Americans are facing the increased cost of living and increased cost of food,” said Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs at Common Cause.
Slotkin referenced Michigan’s historical role in American manufacturing as the birthplace of the auto industry.
“Michigan literally invented the middle class, the revolutionary idea that you can work at an auto plant and afford the car you are building. That’s the American dream,” she said.
The senator also discussed national security, touching on her time in the CIA as well as advising on national security to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. She noted the importance of allies across the globe, referencing the heated meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Friday.
“That scene in the Oval Office wasn’t just a bad episode of reality TV, it summed up Trump’s whole approach to the world,” she said.
The decision by the Democrats to select Slotkin for this address speaks to Michigan’s crucial role as a battleground state during national elections.
“I think this is the Democratic Party yet again, signaling how important Michigan is for our future presidential races and keeping eyes on us as well as we head into the midterm elections in 2026,” said Kalamazoo County Democratic Party chair Justin Mendoza.
Slotkin ended her speech with a call to action and stressed the importance of preserving American democracy.
“So as much as we need to make our government more responsive to our lives today, don’t for one moment fool yourself that democracy isn’t precious and worth saving,” said Slotkin.
