Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a potential 2028 White House candidate, found herself in an awkward position in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump signed executive orders and criticized his political opponents. Despite Trump’s praise for her job as governor, Whitmer’s office clarified that her presence did not indicate endorsement of the actions taken by Trump.
Whitmer, who was in Washington to discuss tariffs affecting Michigan’s auto industry, emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation to strengthen American manufacturing in her speech. She highlighted areas of agreement with Trump on tariffs but criticized the way they had been implemented, calling them a “blunt tool” with no clear end-goal.
Unlike other Democratic governors who have taken a more critical approach towards Trump, Whitmer has adopted a more measured tone since his reelection, focusing on finding common ground. Despite facing a divided state legislature and representing a state that went for Trump in past elections, Whitmer has emphasized the importance of being at the table to avoid being on the menu.
Democratic Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado and Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois have voiced opposition to Trump’s tariffs, with Polis stating that tariffs lead to higher prices and destroy American manufacturing. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has directly appealed to international partners to spare his state from retaliatory measures, declaring that “California is not Washington, D.C.” despite the ongoing political tensions.
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