Politics
NEW: Gretchen Whitmer Stuns Democrats With Pro-Trump Shift
Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer voiced support for elements of President Trump’s hardline tariff policy during a Wednesday speech in Washington, signaling a break from the Democratic Party’s vocal opposition to Trump’s trade agenda.
“I understand the motivation behind the tariffs,” Whitmer, viewed as a potential contender for the Democratic nomination in 2028, said. “And I can tell you, here’s where President Trump and I do agree—we do need to make more stuff in America. More cars and chips. More steel and ships. We do need fair trade.”
Whitmer’s remarks, delivered during her “Build, America, Build” address just ahead of her second Oval Office meeting with Trump in a month, marked a striking tonal shift. While she stopped short of endorsing all aspects of Trump’s policy, the governor emphasized the need for a bipartisan approach to revitalizing American manufacturing—particularly in industrial states like Michigan.
The comments came on the same day President Trump signed a sweeping executive order modifying the nation’s tariff policies. Trump announced a 90-day pause on new tariffs for most countries, keeping a universal 10% tariff in place on all imports.
WATCH:
However, tariffs on Chinese imports skyrocketed to 125%, with an added 20% duty on fentanyl-linked products—bringing that total to 145%. The result has been a sharp backlash from Chinese officials, who responded by slapping 84% tariffs on American goods and accusing the United States of economic bullying.
But in the domestic political arena, it was Whitmer’s apparent alignment—at least partially—with the Trump administration that lit up headlines. Whitmer also made a trip to the White House on Wednesday, joining a bipartisan group to discuss key issues facing her state.
What was meant to be a routine meeting took an unexpected turn. Despite their rocky past, Trump offered unusually warm praise for Whitmer at the top of his remarks.
“We’re honored to have Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, great state of Michigan, and she’s been, she’s really done an excellent job, very good person,” he said.
It marked a striking shift in tone from the combative dynamic between the two during Trump’s first term, when Whitmer was among his most vocal critics. Whitmer stood just feet away as Trump signed two memoranda directing the Justice Department to investigate a pair of his political adversaries, as well as an executive order targeting a law firm he has publicly clashed with.
Following the visit, Whitmer’s office released a statement making it clear she did not know the nature of the event in advance and emphasized that “her presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event.” According to her spokesperson, Whitmer was “surprised” to be ushered into the Oval Office “without any notice of the subject matter,” where President Trump was preparing to sign executive actions in front of the media.
Trump, for his part, seized the moment to highlight the unexpected bipartisan support. With Michigan serving as a key battleground state in both trade policy and presidential politics, Whitmer’s comments are likely to echo beyond the Beltway.
For Trump, it’s a chance to tout rare Democratic validation. For Whitmer, it’s a calculated risk that could pay off—if the economy holds.
