**Trump Campaigns in Michigan, Criticizes Detroit Amid Tight Presidential Race**

In his recent campaign efforts, former President Donald Trump took aim at Detroit while courting votes in the nearby suburb of Novi, Michigan. Addressing his supporters on Saturday, Trump labeled Detroit and similar areas as comparable to developing nations, stating that while he is pressured to declare the city "great," he believes it is in dire need of assistance.

Earlier in the month, Trump cautioned an economic group in Detroit that the entire nation could mirror Detroit's fate should Democrat Kamala Harris secure the presidency. This comment was met with strong rebukes from Democratic figures who have lauded Detroit for its decreasing crime rates and growing population.

The choice of Novi as a campaign stop, following a Friday night event in Traverse City, underscores Michigan's pivotal role in the election campaign. With Harris slated to appear at a Kalamazoo rally alongside former First Lady Michelle Obama the same Saturday, the state becomes a battleground as early in-person voting kicks off. So far, over 1.4 million ballots, accounting for 20 percent of registered voters, have been cast. Trump won Michigan in 2016, but it turned blue for Joe Biden in the subsequent 2020 election.

Highlighting the significance of Michigan's diverse voter base, Trump brought local Muslim and Arab American leaders to the stage during his rally. Mayor Bill Bazzi of Dearborn Heights praised Trump’s previous tenure, asserting a period of peace without conflicts. Trump, aiming to leverage dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s stance on the Gaza conflict, is betting on robust support from these communities to sway the election outcome.

Trump's rapport with Arab Americans is complex, shaded by his administration's travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries and his pledge to broaden this ban to include refugees from Gaza if he wins on November 5. Despite these past actions, Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California, who has Lebanese roots, claimed that Trump is garnering increasing support among Arab American voters and fostering relationships with Middle Eastern leaders to ensure regional stability.

In his extended speech, Trump reiterated criticisms of Kamala Harris and the media, while spotlighting his familiar immigration and energy policies. He controversially asserted that immigrants are encroaching on jobs meant for Black and Hispanic populations— a claim that is contradicted by government data showcasing the positive economic contributions of immigrant labor.

Trump's campaign trail next leads him to a rally in State College, Pennsylvania, as the fight for votes in swing states intensifies.