Last week, investors from Silicon Valley and senior officials from the Trump administration gathered at a convention hall in downtown Detroit for a conference aimed at promoting a "techno-industrial renaissance" in the United States.
The event, dubbed Reindustrialize 2025, featured various manufacturers showcasing products such as a flying boat, customizable electric trucks, air taxis, and humanoid robots. However, many discussions shifted towards national security, highlighting concerns about the U.S. industrial base's ability to meet defense needs.
In a video message, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged participants to help build a robust industrial base capable of quickly delivering critical weapons. The two-day summit was organized by an ad hoc group associated with Atomic Industries, a manufacturing firm in Warren, Michigan, and attracted approximately 1,200 attendees, doubling the turnout from the previous year.
Speakers stressed the urgency of revitalizing American manufacturing, a goal that has garnered bipartisan support, despite differing strategies between President Trump and President Biden. While Biden focused on subsidies for domestic factories, Trump proposed tariffs on foreign goods to boost local production.
A notable theme throughout the conference was the belief that military strength is contingent upon industrial strength, a notion that has gained traction as Americans increasingly recognize their dependence on foreign nations for essential goods.
Several attendees from Silicon Valley expressed a sense of patriotic duty to enhance American manufacturing, while speakers reflected on historical examples, such as World War II, when Detroit's factories shifted to produce wartime materials.
Participants emphasized the need to reclaim production capabilities, with officials warning that the U.S. is lagging behind China in critical manufacturing sectors. Mike Needham, a counselor to the Secretary of State, highlighted the importance of rekindling the American spirit of innovation to rebuild the industrial base.
The conference saw attendance from numerous Trump administration officials, including Kelly Loeffler from the Small Business Administration and Navy Secretary John Phelan, who discussed the erosion of the shipbuilding industry.
The Reindustrialize conference was conceived following a factory tour of Atomic in March 2024, with founders aiming to maintain momentum in discussions about revitalizing manufacturing through technology and policy changes.
Despite the strong political presence, the conference was intended to be nonpartisan, featuring speakers from both the Trump and Biden administrations. However, protests did arise from groups opposing certain corporate practices, illustrating the complex landscape surrounding the reindustrialization debate.
Some attendees voiced skepticism about the conference's emphasis on reindustrialization, noting that many companies have continued to produce tangible goods in America.