Whitmer Says Working With Trump ‘Doesn’t Mean I’ve Abandoned Any Of My Values’

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) justified her recent appearances with President Donald Trump on Thursday.

“It doesn’t mean I’ve abandoned any of my values. It doesn’t mean that I’m not gonna stand my ground,” Whitmer, who is a potential 2028 presidential candidate, said in an episode of “Pod Save America” released Thursday. “This is one of those moments where, as a public servant, you’re reminded your job is to put service above self, and that’s what it was all about.”

The episode aired two days after Trump seemingly took Whitmer by surprise at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan as he was announcing a new fighter mission of roughly 20 F-15EX jets at the base.

After praising the governor, Trump invited her onstage to speak about the accomplishment, which she had lobbied for. She spoke briefly, shook his hand and left the stage.

Earlier in April, Whitmer was photographed at the Oval Office hiding her face behind a folder, reportedly while she was there to lobby for the new mission. She claimed she had been under the impression that she and Trump would be having a one-on-one, but first, he signed a series of controversial executive orders.

“But I also left the room. No one reported that I left the room to go talk to my staff person. I said, ‘We gotta get word out, because the stuff that’s going on in there — I cannot be associated with that. I do not endorse that. I’m not here for that,’” Whitmer said on the podcast. “But I had to stay and have my meeting after that was done.”

The New York Times equated her Oval Office appearance with efforts that other Democrats — including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul — have made to work with Trump, and presumably, support their constituencies and their own political interests.

Some Democrats have already voiced concerns and disappointment with Whitmer’s approach, but she insisted on the podcast that she’s prioritizing the people of Michigan.

Whitmer has previously criticized Trump, and he’s done the same to her. Even during the podcast, she said the U.S. was in a “constitutional crisis” under the Trump administration.

“It is not easy to navigate these times, but one of the things that I’ve learned is I’ve gotta put the people in Michigan first over my self-interest, over maybe what people assume are gonna be my political interests,” Whitmer said, adding that she doesn’t think her association with Trump will hurt her political career.

Online on Tuesday, Whitmer also defended her decision to try to work amicably with Trump by claiming that she will “work with anyone to move our state forward.”

“But let me be clear: I will never back down from protecting our fundamental rights, defending our democracy, or fighting for every Michigander’s future,” she continued. “Bipartisanship isn’t about sacrificing our values. It’s about standing strong and finding common ground to get things done. It’s about putting people first, every single time.”