Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan dodged a question about President Donald Trump's threats of jailing and executing political opponents during a recent TV interview. When asked if he believes Trump's rhetoric has gone too far, Duggan refused to answer, instead saying he's focused on state issues rather than national debates.
The exchange comes as Trump has accused Democratic lawmakers, including Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, of "seditious behavior" and suggested their actions could be punishable by death. Slotkin received a bomb threat last week after speaking out against the president's policies.
Duggan's campaign team claims he answered the question clearly, but the exchange raises questions about where Duggan stands on issues like sedition and violence against lawmakers. The mayor has shifted his posture in recent weeks, attacking Democrats more frequently than Trump or Republicans while touting his ability to "bring Democrats and Republicans together."
Duggan's refusal to condemn Trump for threatening the lives of Slotkin and others is a sharp departure from his past criticism of the president. It's unclear whether Duggan has changed his position on Trump or is willing to tolerate the administration's rhetoric.
The exchange highlights the challenges Duggan faces as an independent candidate running in the 2026 governor's race, particularly given his reliance on Republican donors and Trump supporters. Many have donated millions of dollars to Duggan's campaign, including billionaire Roger Penske and former Michigan GOP chair Ron Weiser.
For voters, the real question may not be whether Duggan is a Democrat, Republican, or independent but rather where he stands on issues that matter. Will he condemn Trump's rhetoric and policies, or will he continue to avoid taking a stance?
The exchange comes as Trump has accused Democratic lawmakers, including Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, of "seditious behavior" and suggested their actions could be punishable by death. Slotkin received a bomb threat last week after speaking out against the president's policies.
Duggan's campaign team claims he answered the question clearly, but the exchange raises questions about where Duggan stands on issues like sedition and violence against lawmakers. The mayor has shifted his posture in recent weeks, attacking Democrats more frequently than Trump or Republicans while touting his ability to "bring Democrats and Republicans together."
Duggan's refusal to condemn Trump for threatening the lives of Slotkin and others is a sharp departure from his past criticism of the president. It's unclear whether Duggan has changed his position on Trump or is willing to tolerate the administration's rhetoric.
The exchange highlights the challenges Duggan faces as an independent candidate running in the 2026 governor's race, particularly given his reliance on Republican donors and Trump supporters. Many have donated millions of dollars to Duggan's campaign, including billionaire Roger Penske and former Michigan GOP chair Ron Weiser.
For voters, the real question may not be whether Duggan is a Democrat, Republican, or independent but rather where he stands on issues that matter. Will he condemn Trump's rhetoric and policies, or will he continue to avoid taking a stance?
... like, can't they just say what's on their mind? This whole thing with Duggan dodging the question about Trump is major red flag 
. He's all about unity and bringing people together, but when it comes to taking a stand against Trump's threats, he just shuts down 
. What's the real agenda here? Is Duggan trying to appease his donors who are super pro-Trump? 
It's time for some transparency and honesty in politics 
.
. Like, I get it, he's trying to stay neutral and all, but at what cost? He's basically saying that Trump's threats are no big deal, which just doesn't sit right with me 
. I mean, can you imagine if someone was making death threats against Elissa Slotkin or any other politician? It's a totally different story when the president is doing it 
.
. The fact that he dodged it and changed his tune on Trump is pretty suspicious in my book 
. I'm just worried that if he wins, he'll be beholden to all these big donors and Trump supporters, which could lead to some super weird decisions 
.
. So, I'm curious to see where Duggan stands on this issue now 
.
dude i cant even believe what i just saw!!! so detroit mayor mike duggan dodges this major question about trumps threats and instead talks about state issues like what the heck is going on in his head?? 
he's got this big campaign team saying he answered the question clearly but i call foul 
. I mean, come on, dude, you're the mayor of Detroit! You gotta take a stand against that kinda crazy talk 
. It's not just about Trump, either; it's about showin' respect for democracy and all that jazz 
That's just code for "I don't wanna rock the boat." Newsflash, Mike: politics ain't just about Detroit; it's about the country 
. You gotta be willing to ruffle some feathers if you wanna make a real difference.
. I mean, come on Mike Duggan dodges that question like it's a punch in the face 
! How can you not address something that literally puts lives at risk? 
It's all about where your loyalties lie, right? 
He's always talking about being an independent and bringing people together, but when it comes down to it, he's got a whole lot of Republican donors throwing him some cash 
. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in the 2026 governor's race and whether his position on Trump's rhetoric will be a deciding factor for voters 
.
I wonder if Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is trying to play both sides... 
Or is he just trying to get re-elected in 2026 by being friends with everyone? 
... I mean, the mayor's team says he answered clearly, but for me, it's all about context 
.
.
Especially when it comes to issues that affect our community directly... like the safety of lawmakers and citizens. 
I'm worried that if Duggan can't or won't condemn Trump's rhetoric, it might give him a bad rep in the eyes of voters who care about these issues. 
. The fact that he refused to condemn Trump's threats is super concerning 
It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in the 2026 governor's race