DETROIT, MICHIGAN — Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., expressed support for three economic policies from the Trump administration in an interview with Fox News Digital. She highlighted collaboration between ratepayers and data center developers, public stakes in high-growth industries, and loan guarantees for critical mineral extraction as areas where she believes the Trump administration is taking the right approach. Stevens also mentioned the importance of bolstering American manufacturing and preventing adversaries from hostage-taking as potential areas for bipartisan collaboration.
Stevens stated, "It's not just about taxation," when discussing how to raise revenues for healthcare and infrastructure programs. She suggested that federal dollars, similar to those received by Elon Musk, could lead to ownership stakes being considered.
The Trump administration has pursued direct equity stakes alongside grants and loans to direct capital into strategically important industries, such as semiconductors and critical minerals. For example, the administration converted $8.9 billion in federal funding into a 9.9% nonvoting stake in Intel, while the Pentagon acquired a 15% stake in rare-earth producer MP Materials. Both investments have reportedly increased in value since their acquisition, although gains are not realized until the shares are sold.
While Stevens believes stimulating economic growth is essential for balancing the federal budget, she also stated that the wealthiest individuals should "absolutely" pay more in taxes. Stevens gained national attention during her primary contest against Abdul El-Sayed, who is now the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan. She positioned herself as a moderate alternative to El-Sayed, whom she accused of unfairly targeting Jewish Americans.
Despite the intense primary rivalry, Stevens endorsed El-Sayed after a narrow defeat, indicating that while she agrees with Trump on some issues, she views his broader agenda as potentially harmful. She remarked, "I personally think [Republican nominee] Mike Rogers is going to continue to rubber-stamp Donald Trump’s chaotic agenda. People are going to make a personal and private decision. I am not on the ballot in Michigan."
The White House responded critically to Stevens' support for Trump's economic agenda, with spokesman Kush Desai stating, "It’s rich that Haley Stevens claims to support President Trump’s proven economic agenda after voting against the President over 80 percent of the time in Congress – including on the Great One Big Beautiful Bill, which is the largest working-class tax cut in history."
Stevens, while identifying as a loyal Democrat, emphasized her willingness to work across party lines, particularly on local issues. She endorsed the Trump administration’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, which aims to bring together utilities, data center developers, cooperatives, and state governments to manage energy prices amid the expansion of AI infrastructure.
"I think collaboration is always a promising first step and path forward," Stevens stated regarding the Ratepayer Protection Pledge. She referenced her previous work on the bipartisan auto-rescue task force during the Obama administration, where she collaborated with both Democrats and Republicans.
Stevens expressed strong support for increasing domestic production of critical minerals, arguing that the U.S. risks vulnerability to China by not enhancing its production capabilities. She supports loan guarantees for mining firms, a policy currently implemented by the Trump administration.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment when contacted by Fox News Digital on Tuesday. Looking ahead, Stevens highlighted areas for potential bipartisan collaboration, mentioning her work with Republican Rep. French Hill from Arkansas on legislation aimed at addressing threats from adversaries. She also noted her role as the bipartisan caucus chair of the manufacturing caucus and her commitment to growing the manufacturing economy through cross-party cooperation.