A former Michigan GOP lawmaker said Friday he believes he knows the origins to President Trump’s claim that he won “Michigan Man of the Year,” an award that seemingly doesn’t exist.
Mr. Trump’s claim came as he was praising Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel — former head of Michigan’s GOP — for her help in the 2016 presidential election.
“I used to complain and you know I just — I’d go [to Michigan] and I’d say, ’They’re stealing your car business,’ ” Mr. Trump said. “I go for years. In fact, five or six years before I even thought about running, for whatever reason they named me man of the year in Michigan. I said, how come? I didn’t even understand it myself, but I was named man of the year. I wasn’t even political. That was years before I did this, but I was always complaining that our car business is being stolen.”
The president’s claim sparked confusion as searches for a “Man of the Year” award in Michigan do not turn up a state-sponsored honor with that name. In similar searches of specific groups and nonprofit organizations, Mr. Trump’s name is not listed as an honoree, and several publications found no records of the award, either.
However, former Rep. Dave Trott — who served in the U.S. Congress from 2015 to 2019 — told Crain’s Detroit Business he thinks this elusive award might have started from an event he chaired in 2013.
Mr. Trott said Mr. Trump was the keynote speaker at Oakland County Republican Party’s 2013 Lincoln Day dinner in Novi, Michigan, where he reportedly flew out on his own dime.
Mr. Trott said they gave the president some gifts for speaking at what became their largest event.
“There was no Michigan Man of the Year award. There was certainly nothing like that bestowed upon him,” Mr. Trott said.
Four years later, now President Trump was at an automotive roundtable when Mr. Trott took time to thank the president for being at that 2013 dinner.
“I think it’s still the largest Lincoln dinner in our state’s history,” Mr. Trott said.
“And I want to thank you, Dave,” Mr. Trump replied. “It’s true, about five or six years ago I was given the Man of the Year (award) in Michigan. And I made a speech. I didn’t know I’d be doing this. I didn’t know I’d be running for president. I made a speech, and I said, ’Your car industry is being stolen from you.’ “
“Is that right?” Mr. Trump asked Mr. Trott, who said “great speech” because he said he didn’t feel comfortable correcting the president.
“I just kind of nodded. You see what happens to people who do that,” Mr. Trott said.
Mr. Trump has reportedly made the claim he won “Michigan Man of the Year” seven times, with Huffington Post dating the first usage to November 2016.
• Bailey Vogt can be reached at bvogt@washingtontimes.com.
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