Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said her appearance at the Oval Office was not an “endorsement” of President Donald Trump, as the Democrat has faced backlash for her latest White House visit.
Whitmer appeared alongside Trump on Wednesday after delivering a speech in which she said she understood some of “the motivation” behind the president’s now largely paused global tariff plans.
Newsweek has contacted Whitmer’s office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Whitmer is considered a potential Democratic candidate for president in 2028. Her decision to work across the aisle with Trump could alienate some Democratic voters, or broaden her appeal ahead of a possible White House bid.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
What to Know
Whitmer was in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to deliver a speech warning against sweeping tariffs. She later appeared on the sidelines of the Oval Office as the president signed executive orders.
The governor was scheduled to meet privately to discuss how Trump’s tariff plans could severely affect Michigan, a state heavily reliant on the auto industry and international trade with countries such as Canada and Mexico.
In a statement, Whitmer’s office said the governor was brought into the Oval Office in front of the press “without any notice” and emphasized that her presence was not an “endorsement of the actions taken or statements” made at that event.
Trump on Wednesday signed executive orders targeting a law firm that represented Dominion Voting Systems in its $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News over false claims about the 2020 election. He also ordered the Department of Justice to investigate two officials from his first administration who later became vocal critics of the Republican.
Trump offered rare praise for a Democrat at the Oval Office, telling reporters that Whitmer is doing an “excellent job” as Michigan governor.
One unnamed Democratic operative told NBC News that Whitmer appearing alongside Trump was a “f****** disaster” politically.
Others also criticized Whitmer following her Oval Office appearance.
Richard Yeselson, a labor strategist and contributing editor at the left-wing magazine Dissent, said Whitmer displayed “utter carelessness” by allowing herself to be “trolled” by Trump.
Whitmer defended her efforts to work with Trump in order to protect the people of Michigan. “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” Whitmer told reporters Wednesday.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a fellow Democrat, criticized Whitmer’s “Build, American Build” speech delivered before her Oval Office appearance.
Whitmer said she understood the “motivation” behind Trump’s tariffs and agreed with the president that “we need to make more stuff in America.”
“I’m not against tariffs outright, but it is a blunt tool. You can’t just pull out the tariff hammer to swing at every problem without a clearly defined end goal,” Whitmer said.
While sharing a clip of her remarks on X, formerly Twitter, Polis commented, “A ‘tariff hammer’ winds up hitting your own hand rather than the nail.”
Whitmer’s speech came before Trump announced a 90-day pause on most global tariffs, with the exception of those on China, which will now face a 125 percent levy.
She previously visited the White House on March 13 and later said she had a “productive meeting” with Trump about bringing “good-paying jobs to Michigan.”
What People Are Saying
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office in a Wednesday statement:
“This afternoon, the 90-day pause was announced, and that is a step in the right direction and will provide relief to so many businesses across the state. But we remain concerned about tariffs that will hurt American auto companies.
“The governor was surprised that she was brought into the Oval Office during President Trump’s press conference without any notice of the subject matter. Her presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event.”
Richard Yeselson posted on X: “Trump, in his feral way, trolled Whitmer, and she displayed terrible political instincts—or just utter carelessness—by letting herself get within a zillion miles of him and a camera. Not a wartime consigliere.”
Randall Barnes, founder of multimedia company HBCU Pulse, wrote: “‘She just went to the Oval Office! It’s not that deep.’ First, Gretchen Whitmer didn’t just go to the Oval Office. She gave that speech essentially cosigning Trump’s tariffs. Then she stood there as Trump signed his BS executive orders. I’m sorry, that’s a problem.”
Conservative commentator Bill Mitchell posted: “Donald Trump just praised Gretchen Whitmer at the White House. She is ruined with the Democrat Party.”
What Happens Next
Whitmer is term-limited and will leave office in January 2027. It remains to be seen whether she will launch a presidential bid in 2028.
