Gretchen Whitmer, who rose to the Michigan governorship on the slogan "Fix the damn roads," is making political moves that are drawing attention. Her recent actions, seemingly with an eye on a 2028 White House bid, are causing controversy even within her own Democratic party.
During a visit to Washington D.C. on Wednesday, Whitmer found herself in the spotlight regarding her potential 2028 presidential ambitions, but also faced significant criticism from fellow Democrats on two major fronts.
First, in a policy speech laying out what she called a "consistent national strategy," Whitmer drew parallels with the former President. While critical of his broad tariff policies, Whitmer stated she was "not entirely against tariffs" and understood his "motivation." This prompted a public rebuke on X (formerly Twitter) from Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
"Tariffs are entirely bad as they lead to higher prices and destroy American manufacturing," Polis posted. "Trade is inherently good as both sides in a consensual deal benefit." Polis himself is also considered a potential 2028 presidential contender who has sought common ground with the former President.
Second, later the same day, Whitmer met with the former President in the Oval Office. The private meeting, intended to discuss issues important to Michigan, took an unexpected turn.
Whitmer found herself present as the former President signed executive orders regarding the Justice Department investigations into officials who served in his first administration and falsely claiming the 2020 election was stolen. The former President reiterated the false claim on Wednesday that the election was "rigged."
Whitmer, along with Republican Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives Matt Hall, had been invited into the Oval Office, and both were present as the former President signed the executive orders with reporters present. In released photos, Whitmer appeared uncomfortably standing near a doorway as the cameras rolled.
During an impromptu press gaggle, the former President praised Whitmer, saying she's done a "fantastic job" and is a "very good person."
While the former President reportedly engaged with the issues Whitmer came to discuss, her presence at the former President's actions targeting his political critics left supporters angry and confused.
"A complete disaster," said one Democratic operative who respects Whitmer. "It feels like she lost some of the momentum she had as a politically savvy swing state Democrat."
Whitmer's team immediately went into damage control, attempting to address the intra-party criticism.
"Governor Whitmer was surprised to be pulled into the Oval Office during the former President's press availability and was not aware of the subject matter being discussed," a Whitmer spokesperson said in a statement. "Her presence does not represent an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event."
Democrats have long viewed Whitmer as one of the party's strongest figures. She won re-election in the critical swing state of Michigan by a landslide and gained significant national recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic, even being considered as a potential running mate for President Joe Biden in 2020. Whitmer is one of the few prominent Democratic governors seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender.
However, Whitmer has seemingly been making moves to build a stronger working relationship with the former President during his second term in office. The former President won Michigan last fall, and Whitmer sees herself as representing a center-left, Midwestern electorate that responded favorably to his message, particularly on manufacturing and tariff policies.
In her Washington speech on Wednesday, Whitmer argued for reducing unnecessary regulations and increasing domestic production. She also railed against "partisanship," saying it "feels like it has infected every aspect of our lives, and it's exhausting."
"We should be offering a fair shot for more hard-working people to have a decent life," Whitmer said. "We should be ushering in what President Trump calls the 'golden era of American manufacturing.'"
However, Whitmer broke with the former President on the tariff policies he announced last week and partially walked back on Wednesday afternoon, calling them a "triple threat of higher costs, fewer jobs, and more uncertainty."
"I understand the motivation for tariffs, and there are areas where President Trump and I agree," Whitmer argued. "We need to make more things, more cars and chips and steel and ships, right here in America. We need fair trade."
Whitmer's stance on tariffs puts her at odds with other potential Democratic presidential candidates like Polis and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who offered sharp critiques of the former President's "wrongheaded" actions in their respective states on Wednesday.
In a question-and-answer session with journalist Gretchen Carlson after her speech, Whitmer expressed empathy for the many Democrats who don't want to see top figures in the party working with the former President. However, Whitmer stressed the need for cooperation, saying, "I took an oath to try to get as much done as possible for the people of Michigan."
Whitmer also said she hadn't "deeply thought about" how she would handle tariffs differently than the former President, saying they should be used "like a scalpel."
"To not have an answer prepared on tariffs, to go to the White House, and to get completely played by Trump by being trapped in the Oval Office while he signed executive orders retaliating and seeking retribution and claiming the 2020 election was stolen is a massive indictment of Whitmer and her team's judgment," one Democratic strategist said.
On the tariff issue, Whitmer's spokesperson emphasized the differences in their policies rather than any common ground.
"This morning in D.C., the Governor gave a speech on the devastating impact tariffs have on Michiganders — higher prices for businesses and working families, job losses, and jeopardizing retirement accounts," the spokesperson said. "A 90-day pause was announced this afternoon, which is a step in the right direction and will provide relief to many businesses across the state. However, we remain concerned about tariffs that harm American auto companies."
Whitmer and Speaker Hall were scheduled to discuss federal investment in Michigan's Selfridge Air National Guard Base, the recent historic storms that have hit Michigan, and plans to address invasive Asian carp in the Great Lakes with the former President. Whitmer's team and allies framed the meeting as a success.
"Governor Whitmer appreciates President Trump's engagement on protecting the Great Lakes from invasive carp, his commitment to Selfridge Air National Guard Base, and his openness to the requests she made for support in Northern Michigan," Whitmer's spokesperson said.
One Democrat who has worked with Whitmer said the engagement with the former President showed that Whitmer is "very good at advocating for her state."
"President Trump clearly listens to what she has to say and what she does," the person said. "You can see that today on the tariffs, on the progress they made at Selfridge, and on the other issues she came to discuss."
Whitmer's day also underscored the political tightrope she is walking. The Oval Office visit rankled not only Democrats but also Republicans, who complained she was providing an unnecessary boost to a leader they have long tried to demonize in a critical battleground state.
"Trump completely screwed Michigan Republicans by saying Whitmer is doing a great job," a Michigan Republican strategist texted. "She's running to replace him in 2028."
Just months ago, the relationship between the former President and Whitmer seemed unimaginable. In Whitmer's political memoir, released last year, the former President looms large, and their long-running feud takes up a significant portion of the first chapter.
Whitmer wrote about his dismissive "that woman from Michigan" moniker in response to her criticism of his leadership early in the pandemic. Whitmer and her team embraced the insulting nickname, making it a key element of progressive merchandise.
"The key to dealing with bullies is to take away their weapons and make them your shield," Whitmer wrote. "Every time Trump gave me a nickname, I owned it."
Because of this history, some observers experienced cognitive dissonance on Wednesday.
"Whitmer hurt her presidential chances today," one Democratic strategist said. "She looked and sounded uncomfortable in the Oval Office. That visual will last. As will the image of Trump praising her as he signed executive orders targeting his critics."
Another Democrat who has worked with Whitmer said her speech earlier in the day felt like an "opening salvo" for a presidential run.
"There is an absolutism among Democrats where you are either all the way against him or not enough against him," the person said. "There are certainly times where a Midwestern governor should be supportive of tariffs."
The person expressed surprise at the blowback Polis received after his post, adding that the criticism showed "2028 has begun." However, the person did not hide their discomfort with Whitmer's Oval Office appearance.
"Overall, it just looked bad," the person said. "The photo of her awkwardly standing in the corner, the weird banter, none of it made sense. Why did it happen? Whose idea was it?"
However, the person said Whitmer could emphasize the tangible results she secured from the visit, given her commitment to working across the aisle, including with the former President, to deliver for Michiganders.
Nationally, however, the conversation about her visit will likely be very different.
"Overall good visit," the person assessed, listing the local issues Whitmer came to discuss before pivoting to the spectacle of the executive orders. "Oof, what the hell just happened?"
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