Democrats Blame President Trump's Policies for SK Siltron Plant Closure in Bay City, Michigan
SK Siltron, a South Korean company, announced the closure of its semiconductor and microchip manufacturing facility near Bay City, Michigan, in July 2026, leading to 140 job losses. The plant, which produced semiconductor wafers and microchips for electric vehicles and solar panels, opened in the fall of 2022 after a $300 million investment by the company. Governor Gretchen Whitmer and other officials celebrated its opening, with the facility receiving a $544 million federal loan and a $1.5 million performance-based grant from Michigan. U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, and U.S. Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, attribute the closure to President Trump's economic policies, specifically citing tariffs as a cause of market instability and the cancellation of green-energy programs. McDonald Rivet stated that the plant was not lost due to an economic incentive plan but because the market is collapsing, making growth unpredictable. 
