EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited a Ford manufacturing plant in Ohio this week as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to highlight policies they say are strengthening the U.S. auto industry.
According to The Detroit News, three senior cabinet officials are touring Michigan and Ohio to promote administration initiatives they argue are boosting domestic manufacturing. The officials include Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Each of their agencies plays a major role in shaping federal policy affecting the auto sector, particularly in the areas of environmental regulation, vehicle safety, and trade. On Friday, the group toured Ford Motor Co.’s Ohio Assembly Plant near Cleveland and was scheduled to visit Stellantis’ Toledo Assembly Complex later in the day, ahead of attending the Detroit Auto Show on Saturday.
Duffy criticized policies from the previous administration, saying in December that it had “illegally twisted mileage standards to create an electric vehicle mandate,” which he argued drove up car prices for American families and forced manufacturers to build vehicles consumers didn’t want.
While visiting a Ford Plant in Ohio just now with @SecDuffy @USTradeRep, a reporter asked how making American vehicles more affordable helps American auto workers. pic.twitter.com/JfhXRb6GND
— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) January 16, 2026
The Department of Transportation estimates that the Trump administration’s proposed rules could reduce the average cost of a new vehicle by more than $900, while also improving safety by making it easier for families to purchase newer, safer cars.
During the event, Zeldin addressed a question from a reporter that revealed a basic misunderstanding of economics. He patiently explained that lower vehicle prices lead to increased consumer demand, which in turn means more production, more work for auto employees, and greater overall economic output.
This reporter question is a top contender for one of the dumbest reporter questions ever. https://t.co/gJhWwRme4a
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 16, 2026
While this is a straightforward economic principle, it appeared to be lost on the reporter. Zeldin handled the exchange with notable patience. Moments like this help explain why some in the media continue to promote policies—such as those advanced by Zohran Mamdani—that many economists view as deeply flawed.