Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, seen on the far right, at a meeting in the Oval Office on April 9. Reuters
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, seen as a potential candidate for the 2028 White House race, is trying to distance herself from a recent Oval Office appearance with former President Donald Trump. The meeting took place on Wednesday, where Whitmer joined a bipartisan delegation to discuss issues like a northern Michigan ice storm, defense assets, and tariffs.
Following the meeting, Whitmer was unexpectedly brought into the Oval Office for a press conference. During the event, Trump signed several executive orders targeting political opponents, with Whitmer standing in the background. As the press conference unfolded, Whitmer appeared “glum” and was caught on camera blocking her face with binders.
Whitmer’s spokesperson later clarified the situation, saying the governor was surprised to be brought into the press conference without prior notice about the event's focus. The spokesperson emphasized that Whitmer’s presence should not be interpreted as an endorsement of Trump’s actions or statements during the conference.
Trump had previously praised Whitmer during the event, calling her “a great person” who has done an excellent job for Michigan. This praise marked a stark contrast to his comments from five years ago, when he criticized Whitmer during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling her a “young, woman governor” who only blamed the federal government.
Whitmer’s response to the praise was focused on her duties to Michigan. Speaking at a college event later that day, she said, “It was not where I wanted to be or planned to be or would have liked to have been. I disagree with a lot of stuff that was said and the actions that were taken. But I stayed in the room because I needed to make the case for Michigan, and that’s my job.”
While Whitmer tried to justify her presence, the incident has sparked criticism, especially on social media. Some criticized her for standing quietly as Trump signed the executive orders. One user commented, “She just stood there as he signed executive orders. Democrats, NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE YOU.” Another person criticized her for hiding behind binders, saying, “She would’ve been better off just having her photo taken.”
Whitmer has faced similar criticism in the past, particularly for trying to maintain a working relationship with Trump despite their political differences. Michigan is a crucial swing state, and Whitmer’s efforts to collaborate with the federal government have been viewed by some as necessary for her state’s success.
However, some Democrats have been critical of her approach, arguing that she should take a harder stance against Trump. Whitmer herself has said that she does not see herself as “the leader of the opposition” and prefers to focus on delivering results for Michigan, where she works with a Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Political experts, such as Adrian Hemond, argue that Whitmer’s bipartisan efforts are appropriate given Michigan’s swing-state status. David Dulio, a political science professor, noted that Whitmer’s approach to working with Trump is reflective of the state of the Democratic Party, where governors like Whitmer are trying to get bipartisan wins while facing criticism from their own party.
Whitmer first became Michigan’s governor in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022 with an even larger margin.
