Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, long a darling in Democratic circles, was forced to clarify after she spent time in the Oval Office that her visit "was not an endorsement" of President Donald Trump or his policies.
Whitmer made headlines Wednesday when she appeared alongside Trump following a speech where she said she "understood" some of "the motivation" behind the president's tariffs. She had battled Trump in his previous term after he called her "that woman from Michigan."
Notably, the most sensational tariffs were later paused for 90 days when stock markets around the world melted down.
Whitmer later said she was supposed to meet privately with Trump to discuss how the tariffs would affect Michigan's auto industry, but that she was brought in front of the press "without any notice."
"They walked me in; I thought I was going into our private meeting — and course, it was that press conference," Whitmer told WWJ's Jon Hewett and other reporters on Thursday. "But I did have the opportunity to chat with the president, and as you heard him say some great things about Selfridge (Air National Guard Base), about protecting the Great Lakes. And also, the primary purpose was to talk about the ice storm."
While she was in the Oval, Whitmer stood by as Trump signed two presidential memoranda -- one that rolled back water conversation standards and another that revoked security clearances for former Homeland Security officials who had angered him personally. “We’re honored to have Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, great state of Michigan... she’s really done an excellent job. A very good person," Trump said.
Among some Democrats, it was seen as traitorous for the woman who heavily supported Kamala Harris on the campaign trail.
Newsweek quoted a Democratic operative as saying Whitmer appearing alongside Trump was a "f****** disaster" politically.
Whitmer defended working with Trump, stating, "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu." She emphasized the need for a clearly defined end goal if Trump reinstates tariffs.
Whitmer is a two-term governor who is term-limited from running for the seat again. Many consider her a top contender to seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2028.