President Donald Trump said Tuesday Renee Good’s “actions were pretty tough” after the mother of three was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis on January 7.
“I would bet you that she, under normal circumstances, was a very solid, wonderful person, but her actions were pretty tough,” Trump told CBS Evening News host Tony Dokoupil in an interview that aired Tuesday night.
Earlier Tuesday, Trump boasted about the state of the U.S. economy under his administration during his Detroit Economic Club speech, asserting that he had “defeated” inflation and growth was booming.
Kicking off the speech in Michigan, Trump immediately attacked his predecessor – a common talking point for the president – and claimed he had steered the “strongest and fastest economic turnaround” since taking office.
Despite the president’s claims, the Consumer Price Index, released Tuesday morning, indicated inflation remained steady, at the end of 2025, at 2.7 percent but accelerated at a 0.3 percent rate compared to November.
Throughout the wide-ranging speech, the president boasted about the U.S.’s successful intervention in Venezuela, his mass deportation policy, cracking down on Somali-American communities, environmental regulations and not relying on a teleprompter.
Key Points
- Trump touts US has the strongest economy under his administration
- Ford employees welcome Trump to view production of F-150 vehicles
- Manufacturing jobs have been down eight months in a row
- Most Americans give Trump negative marks on economy
- Trump complains about 'crooked' Fed Chair Jerome Powell before departure
- Trump calls Renee Good's actions 'pretty tough'
Live coverage ended
00:25 , Rachel DobkinLive coverage of the Trump administration has ended for the day. Here’s a full breakdown:
Trump uses affordability speech to air grievances and empty boasts
Welcome to The Independent’s live blog
Tuesday 13 January 2026 14:30 , Ariana BaioPresident Donald Trump is headed to Detroit, Michigan this Tuesday to tour a Ford manufacturing plant and give remarks at the Detroit Economic Club.
The Independent will be live-blogging today’s events and speech.
Manufacturing jobs have been down eight months in a row
Tuesday 13 January 2026 14:43 , Ariana BaioFor eight months in a row last year, manufacturing jobs declined in the United States – with many experts attributing the loss to President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs in April.
December data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated the U.S. lost around 8,000 manufacturing jobs.
Manufacturing jobs had been steadily declining since 2023, but those numbers jumped after Trump imposed tariffs, impacting nearly every sector in the U.S.
Automobile manufacturing was one of the hardest hit sectors due to Trump’s aluminum and steel tariffs in 2025. Car manufacturers had anticipated costs to rise because many of the parts used to assemble cars are imported from Canada and Mexico.
What is the Detroit Economic Club?
Tuesday 13 January 2026 14:54 , Ariana BaioTrump will give remarks at the Detroit Economic Club this afternoon – the third time he will have given remarks to members.
The Detroit Economic Club is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that is focused on business, government and social issues. The organization has hosted every single sitting president since former President Richard Nixon.
Trump is speaking at 2 p.m. EST at the group’s MotorCity Casino’s Sound Board Theater.
Details about Trump’s speech have not been disclosed.
Inflation steadied in December, Trump brags
Tuesday 13 January 2026 15:05 , Ariana BaioThe Consumer Price Index indicated inflation ended on a relatively steady note, with consumer prices around 2.7 percent higher than a year ago – numbers that remain consistent with November’s report.
“JUST OUT: Great (LOW!) Inflation numbers for the USA. That means that Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell should cut interest rates, MEANINGFULLY!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday morning. He attributed the lower inflation numbers to his tariffs.
The president’s comments arrive as his administration is increasing pressure on Powell and Fed chairs to cut interest rates faster.
The latest CPI also pulled down the cost of used cars and trucks, which fell slightly more than 1 percent in December.
Trump may mention the new report in his Tuesday address at the Detroit Economic Club.
Catch up: Trump claims prices are ‘way down’ in rant on economy
Tuesday 13 January 2026 15:20 , Owen ScottDonald Trump claimed that “prices are way down” for Americans in a new interview touting his apparent economic success.
The president said his administration was doing a “great job on the word ‘affordability’” despite claiming just weeks ago that the word was a “hoax” created by the Democratic Party.
Read more here:
Trump claims prices are way down: ‘We’ve done a great job on the word affordability’
Trump departs for Michigan
Tuesday 13 January 2026 15:27 , Ariana Baio
Trump complains about 'crooked' Jerome Powell before departure
Tuesday 13 January 2026 15:43 , Ariana BaioSpeaking to reporters briefly, Trump lashed out at Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell before boarding Marine One for Michigan.
“Well, he’s billions of dollars over budget, so he’s either incompetent or he’s crooked. I don’t know what he is, but he certainly doesn’t do a very good job,” Trump told reporters on the White House lawn.
Trump will talk about economy in Detroit
Tuesday 13 January 2026 15:50 , Ariana BaioTrump told reporters this morning he will be talking about “how well the economy is doing,” during his visit to Detroit.
“We have tremendous growth numbers, so growth is going up,” Trump began.
“So I’ll be talking about that today in Detroit, it’s a big speech, and I can only say the country’s doing well.”
The president has often bragged about the strength of the U.S. economy – despite recent polling findings that fewer Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy.
How do Americans feel about Trump’s handling of the economy?
Tuesday 13 January 2026 16:16 , Ariana BaioAcross the board, polling shows that Americans are largely dissatisfied with Donald Trump’s handling of the economy. Though the president touts his administration’s ability to lower prices and make housing more affordable, most people do not appear to agree with that.
As of December, Trump had a 67 percent disapproval rating on the economy, according to an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll.
The Economist found Trump had approximately an 18 percent net disapproval rating when it comes to jobs and the economy at the end of December.
Real Clear Polling indicated, as of early January, Trump had an overall 55.6 percent disapproval rating and 40 percent approval rating when it comes to the economy.
In a survey by Fox News, 72 percent of respondents rated economic conditions poorly and just 39 percent said they approve of the way Trump was handling the economy.
What else is going on today?
Tuesday 13 January 2026 16:45 , Ariana BaioTrump encouraged Iranian protesters to keep going and promised, “Help is on the way.”
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in two cases about whether states can ban transgender athletes from participating on the sports team consistent with their gender identity.
Trump threatened Minnesota Democrats with “retribution” and a “day of reckoning” on Truth Social, accusing them of using the killing of Renee Good to distract from allegations of widespread fraud.
Watch: House Speaker Mike Johnson dodges when asked about DOJ investigating Jerome Powell
Tuesday 13 January 2026 17:02 , Independent VideoTrump arrives in Michigan
Tuesday 13 January 2026 17:15 , Ariana BaioPresident Donald Trump has arrived in Michigan and will now head to a Ford factory that manufactures F-150s, the most popular domestic vehicle of 2025.
Trump touring Ford factory with Ford executives
Tuesday 13 January 2026 17:39 , Ariana BaioThe president is joined by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, CEO of Ford Jim Barley, Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford and the River Rouge Plant Manager Corey Williams in touring the Ford factory
Ford employees welcome Trump to view production of F-150s
Tuesday 13 January 2026 17:56 , Ariana BaioAt the Ford Rouge Center, Trump is viewing assembly lines where the Ford F-150 truck bodies are assembled and installed with hose connections, according to reporters on the scene.
Trump, joined by Bill Ford and Jim Farley, is walking around the factory floor, viewing the manufacturing of the popular vehicles.
Ford factory workers cheered when Trump stepped onto the factory floor, according to the report. The president briefly took selfies with some of the employees.
Trump does exclusive interview with CBS after touring Ford factory
Tuesday 13 January 2026 18:19 , Ariana BaioPresident Donald Trump conducted a brief exclusive interview with CBS Evening News after touring the Ford factory floor, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said
Leavitt encouraged people to “tune in” to the show Tuesday evening to hear more from the president.
HAPPENING NOW: President Trump does an interview with @CBSEveningNews on Ford’s factory floor in Michigan. Tune in tonight! 📺 pic.twitter.com/puvWf62Unp
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 13, 2026
Trump dismisses necessity of US-Mexico-Canada agreement for autoworkers
Tuesday 13 January 2026 18:39 , Ariana BaioDuring his tour of the Ford factory, Trump praised Ford and other US vehicle manufacturers for building their cars in the U.S. and claimed the country did not need help from Canada or Mexico.
“General Motors is doing really well. Stellantis is doing really well… I just want them to build their product in the U.S.A.,” Trump told reporters Tuesday afternoon.
When asked about renegotiating the US-Mexico-Canada agreement in favor of autoworkers, the president said he doesn’t “think about” the agreement and claimed it “wouldn’t matter” if it were re-negotiated.
“We could have it or not, it wouldn’t matter to me. I think they want it. I don’t really care about it,” Trump said of the agreement.
“No real advantage to it. It’s irrelevant to me. Canada would love it. Canda wants it. They need it because we don’t need Canada product. That’s the thing. I want to see Canada and Mexico do well, but the problem is we don’t need their product,” Trump said.
'Hopefully he'll be out of there soon' Trump says of Powell
Tuesday 13 January 2026 18:47 , Ariana BaioContinuing to lash out at Fed Chair Jerome Powell, Trump said he was hopeful that Powell would be “out of” the Fed “soon” while touring a Ford factory in Michigan.
“It’s the most expensive job in history and it’s only a renovation. I could have done that job for $25 million; they’re spending billions and billions of dollars. He either doesn’t know what he’s doing or it’s worse than that,” Trump told reporters.
“So hopefully he’ll be out of there soon.”
Powell’s term is up in May.
Trump takes the stage at Detroit Economic Club
Tuesday 13 January 2026 18:57 , Ariana BaioTrump has taken the stage at the Detroit Economic Club, where he’s expected to give a speech about the state of the economy.
Watch Live: Trump gives economic speech in Detroit
Tuesday 13 January 2026 19:02 , Independent VideoTrump touts US has the strongest economy under his administration
Tuesday 13 January 2026 19:09 , Ariana BaioPresident Donald Trump began his speech by bragging about the strength of the U.S. economy under his administration – claiming inflation was “defeated,” and growth was booming.
As usual, the president insulted his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, and compared the current state of the U.S. to 2024.
Trump said his White House takeover had led to the “Strongest and fastest economic turnaround in our country.”
According to Tuesday morning’s CPI, inflation remained steady in December at 2.7 percent, which was consistent with inflation numbers in November.
Trump aggressively defends tariffs
Tuesday 13 January 2026 19:27 , Ariana BaioThe president has dedicated several minutes to defending his “favorite word:” tariffs.
As expected, Trump is brushing off criticisms of his sweeping tariffs, which sent global markets into a tailspin when he unveiled them in April. He denied that consumers are paying the price for tariffs – despite economists across the political spectrum agreeing that consumers pay the extra cost.
Trump stressed the importance of tariffs, for economic and national security reasons, a claim that comes as the Supreme Court is weighing whether to allow the president to inact the tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
‘We have a real stiff in the Fed’
Tuesday 13 January 2026 19:43 , Ariana BaioAll day, Trump has been lashing out at Federal Reserve Jerome Powell for not cutting interest rates at a speed and volume that he wants.
In his speech, the president attributed stock market dips, even after good economic news, to investors' fear that the Fed will raise interest rates. That pattern does occur, but many economists claim it's justified. “
“You announce unbelievable numbers, and the market goes down,” Trump said.
“We have a real stiff in the Fed, but that's for another day.”
Trump will announce housing affordability policies at Davos
Tuesday 13 January 2026 19:44 , Ariana BaioTrump reiterated that he will announce new policies on housing affordability at the World Economic Forum at Davos next week.
"In the coming weeks, I will be laying out even more plans to help bring back affordability. And again, remember, that's a fake word by Democrats,” Trump said
Later this week: Trump will announce 'health care affordability framework''
Tuesday 13 January 2026 19:48 , Ariana BaioTrump said he would announce policies later this week about healthcare affordability that will “reduce premiums for millions.”
That may include lower drug prices, increasing price transparency and accountability to insurance companies.
Trump spends several minutes attacking Somalis
Tuesday 13 January 2026 20:05 , Ariana BaioThe president’s speech at the Detroit Economic Club is wide-ranging. Trump appears to be using it to give a familiar campaign stump speech about reducing immigration, adopting an aggressive foreign policy, complaining about lost elections, targeting his enemies and squashing his predecessor.
At one point, Trump dedicated several minutes to attacking Somali-Americans or Somali immigrants, making sweeping, generalized statements about the community committing fraud.
The president falsely characterized all Somalis as fraudsters who come to the United States seeking to take advantage of welfare programs. He promised to denaturalize those accused of fraud.
"All they have is murder and robbing, ships bringing in pirates,” Trump said of Somalia.
The president also attacked Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, calling her bad for the country.
Trump's remarks end after one hour
Tuesday 13 January 2026 20:16 , Ariana BaioAfter speaking for approximately one hour, Trump ended his remarks.
The president touched on the economy and auto manufacturing jobs, but also boasted about the U.S. foreign intervention in Venezuela and Iran, defended the administration’s mass deportation agenda and more.
As usual, the president ended his remarks by doing a little dance to the Y.M.C.A.
Trump claims he could ‘balance’ budget by cracking down on fraud
Tuesday 13 January 2026 21:00 , Ariana BaioIn a memorable moment during today’s speech, the president asserted, without evidence, that he could balance the U.S. budget by targeting fraud in Democratic-led states.
In the unsubstantiated claim, the president insisted that by getting rid of welfare fraud in those states, the U.S. could balance its budget – even though it was estimated to be a staggering $1.7 trillion in 2025.
While the U.S. deals with fraud, the highest amount the Government Accountability Office has estimated is $521 billion, well below the trillions of dollars in the U.S. deficit.
Watch: Trump greets Ford factory workers in Michigan during tour of manufacturing plant
Tuesday 13 January 2026 21:30 , Ariana BaioTrump threatens Iran with ‘very strong action’
Tuesday 13 January 2026 21:45 , Ariana BaioIn an exclusive interview with CBS News, Trump threatened Iran with “very strong action” if the government hangs protesters this week.
"We will take very strong action. If they do such a thing, we will take very strong action," the president told "CBS Evening News" in Dearborn, Michigan Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, the president insisted the U.S. would send “a lot of help” to Iranian citizens. Trump told CBS it was being offered in “different” forms, including economic assistance.
"We don't want to see what's happening in Iran happen. And you know, if they want to have protests, that's one thing, when they start killing thousands of people, and now you're telling me about hanging — we'll see how that works out for them. It's not going to work out good,” Trump said.
Trump uses affordability speech to air grievances and empty boasts – but offers little to bring down prices
Tuesday 13 January 2026 22:00 , Andrew FeinbergPresident Donald Trump on Tuesday turned what was supposed to be a routine address to Michigan business leaders to highlight his administration's economic policies into an hour-long airing of grievances and empty boasts that offered little in the way of details on how he will address Americans’ concerns in the months before voters decide whether to permit his party to retain unified control of Washington.
Read more from White House Correspondent Andrew Feinberg here:
Trump uses affordability speech to air grievances and empty boasts
Watch: Trump claims Minnesota anti-ICE protesters are 'fake'
Tuesday 13 January 2026 22:30 , Independent VideoTrump boasts about economy in CBS interview
Tuesday 13 January 2026 23:37 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump has boasted about the economy in a Tuesday night interview with CBS’ Tony Dokoupil.
“We have the strongest economy, maybe in the history of our country,” Trump said at a Ford factory in Michigan. “We're building more [car manufacturing] plants in the country than we've ever built. There's no inflation. You saw the inflation numbers. Inflation is very low.”
The Consumer Price Index, released Tuesday morning, indicated inflation remained steady at 2.7 percent but accelerated at a 0.3 percent rate compared to November.
Trump warns Iran amid protests: 'It's not going to work out good'
Tuesday 13 January 2026 23:42 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump sent a warning to Iranian officials amid anti-government protests in the country.
Thousands of protesters have been reportedly killed in recent weeks.
“If they want to have protests, that's one thing. When they start killing thousands of people, and now you're telling me about hanging, we'll see how that works out for them. It's not going to work out good,” Trump told CBS’ Tony Dokoupil Tuesday.
Trump says he bets Renee Good was a 'wonderful person,' but calls her actions 'pretty tough'
Tuesday 13 January 2026 23:53 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump told CBS Evening News host Tony Dokoupil Tuesday that he bets Renee Good was a “wonderful person,” but calls her actions “pretty tough.”
The 37-year-old mother of three was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis on January 7.
“I would bet you that she, under normal circumstances, was a very solid, wonderful person, but her actions were pretty tough,” Trump said.
Trump calls Fed chair Jerome Powell 'either corrupt or incompetent'
00:03 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump has called Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell “either corrupt or incompetent.”
It was recently revealed that Powell is under criminal investigation by the Justice Department over the renovation of the central bank’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.
Trump, who has claimed to know nothing about the investigation, told CBS Evening News host Tony Dokoupil Tuesday of Powell, “He heads up a construction situation on a rebuilding of a little building, two little buildings called the Fed... I think I could have done that job— I could have fixed them up for 25 million. He's into billions and billions of dollars, and it looks like they won't open for a long time, and he's either corrupt or incompetent.”
