Governor Gretchen Whitmer was in Washington on Wednesday to deliver a speech on bringing more manufacturing back to the U.S. and Michigan, and ended up in the Oval Office, being praised by Trump as a “very good person… who’s done an excellent job.”
Democrats are calling it a “disaster” in comparison with other Democratic governors who are openly critical of Trump. Whitmer was one of those critical governors during Trump’s first term. But this time around, Whitmer has taken a more conciliatory tone, and has vowed to work with Trump to find “common ground” where it might benefit the people of Michigan.
“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” Whitmer said during a discussion after her speech. “My oath to the people of Michigan is to continue to show up, even when it means I’m going to get my lunch handed to me.”
Whitmer delivered a speech before meeting with Trump where she agreed with Trump’s message to build more in America, but she criticized his blanket tariffs as too broad to offer a positive net gain.
While automakers in Michigan are against the tariffs, many union members are not against tariffs in general. Approximately 20% of Michigan’s economy is from auto manufacturing.
Whitmer and the Republican Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall were later invited to Oval Office for the signing of EOs.
Whitmer’s spokesperson said she was surprised by the invite, and clarified her presence there was not an endorsement of Trump’s statements and actions.
The discussions with Trump centered on two important issues affecting the state — keeping an Air National Guard base open and an invasive species of fish, Asian carp (“a very strong fish!”), out of Lake Michigan. Whitmer was also requesting assistance from Trump on a devastating ice storm that affected tens of thousands in Northern Michigan.
