Most Democrats rejected President Donald Trump throughout their second term, but Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer backed the party’s line during his trip to Washington on Wednesday amid speculation about his 2028 campaign aspirations.
The Democratic governor, rumoured to have the presidential ambitions of 2028, opposed Trump’s tariffs this week, as Governor JB Pretzker and Gavin Newsom attempted to become independent of their trading partners to ease the damage to the national economy. Whitmer’s diplomatic moves took her party a step forward.
Brad Bannon, a Democratic strategist and president of Bannon Communications Research, said Fox News digital dialogue with Trump is important for Whitmer, who delivers to Michigan, especially through uncertainty in Trump’s tariff deals. But he said that potential 2028 presidential candidate Whitmer could end up getting too close to Trump, alongside Governors Josh Shapiro, Andy Beshear and Newsom, could endanger her position as a “first-class presidential candidate.”
“This is a double-edged sword,” Bannon said. “She has to have an open dialogue with the president, but at the same time, if she has the opportunity to win or win a democratic presidential nomination, she must be very critical of Trump.”
Dem Governor rebels against Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is turning his eyes as President Donald Trump signs an executive order in Washington on April 9, 2025 at the White House oval office. (Getty Images)
Trump praises the DEM government. Gretchen Whitmer after hitting her last year: “Super good guy.”
“In this political environment, there is no room for subtle debate about Donald Trump among the leading Democratic voters,” Bannon said.
“Anyone who will become a Democratic candidate will be very critical of the president, and that applies to Andy Besher in Kentucky or Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania, and even Gavin Newsom in California,” Bannon added.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is aiming for President Donald Trump to sign an executive order on April 9, 2025 at the White House oval office in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images).
A long-standing conceivable chance of a presidential candidate in 2028, newspapers have embraced political dialogue across party lines since the Democrats’ huge losses in November. Newsom has invited Trump allies, including Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon, and conservative guests to the show, and is also trying to show that he is open to “also criticizing and debating without sloppy or dehumanizing each other.” The strategy follows criticism that after the 2024 presidential election, Democrats did not prioritize the new media appearance and unscripted conversations well.
Whitmer appeared to embrace a bipartisan strategy this week, carefully criticizing Trump’s tariffs, understanding the president’s “motivation behind the tariffs” and acknowledging Trump’s agreement that “we need to make more in America.”
Gretchen Whitmer angers Democrats and suffers “great embarrassment” at Trump meeting in the White House
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer answers questions after speaking in Washington on April 9, 2025. (Get McNamee/Getty Images)
Later that day, Whitmer met Trump for the second time in a month. When Trump signed the executive order and answered questions from the press in the oval office, he said Whitmer “did you do a great job” as governor and called her “a very good guy.”
“One of her opponents will dig up the clip and put it in a TV ad,” Bannon said.
This week, the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), which praised the Democratic governors’ governors for standing up and speaking out against Trump’s tariffs, characterized Whitmer’s trip to Washington as a willingness to work with “anyone” to get into Michigan.
“Governor Whitmer and Democrat governors across the country have always done what they have done as strong and successful state executives. They are also working together to help Trump and Republicans in DC stand up to policies that harm residents and get real national outcomes, telling Fox News Digital.
Whitmer vowed to continue showing up in Michigan, regardless of who is in the White House.
President Donald Trump is sitting at the White House Oval Office in Washington on March 7, 2025 (Reuters/Lea Miliss)
“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” Whitmer said after his speech in Washington. “My vow to Michiganians is that it will continue to show up, even when I’m trying to get my lunch. I’m going to continue to show up and fight for Michigans, even when I’m on the other side of the table. That’s my job.
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Just a month ago, Trump and Whitmer became modest after the governor of Michigan warned her members during their 2025 state speech that Trump’s tariffs could put Michigan’s automotive industry at risk. The White House trolled her to “run more for the Canadian governor” by supporting the “fatal status quo.”
Fox News Digital contacted Whitmer’s office to comment on her political aspirations, but did not receive a response.
Deirdre Heavey is a political writer for Fox News Digital.
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