Michigan's Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer has expressed a willingness to work with President Donald Trump, despite her previous opposition to his policies.
This shift in stance comes after she had previously embraced policies that were diametrically opposed to those of the Trump administration.
In an interview with CBS Mornings, as reported by the Daily Caller, Whitmer acknowledged the issues at the southern border, stating, We do have a problem at our southern border. Ive sent my national guard down to help with surveillance under both a Biden administration and a Trump administration. This statement is a significant departure from her 2018 campaign stance, where she advocated for the abolishment of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), labeling their work as "fundamentally cruel and unconstitutional, undemocratic work."
Throughout Trump's first term, Whitmer was a vocal critic of his policies. She expressed her disapproval of his suggestion to deploy federal law enforcement officers to cities experiencing rioting during the George Floyd demonstrations in 2020. She also criticized his concerns over universal mail-in ballots, his criticism of the U.S. Postal Service, and his decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accords. In a 2020 Washington Post op-ed, she wrote, I will hold the president accountable for endangering and dividing America, linking Trump's rhetoric to attempts at political violence.
However, Whitmer's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic drew significant criticism. Her aggressive stay-at-home order, which banned all public gatherings and restricted residents from traveling between homes, was seen as an overreach. In a March 2023 interview with CNN, she admitted, You know, there were moments where, you know, we had to make some decisions that in retrospect dont make a lot of sense. She further acknowledged, Some of those policies I look back and think maybe that was a little more than what we needed to do.
Despite her previous opposition to Trump, Whitmer has shown a willingness to collaborate with his administration. At a Detroit Auto Show, she stated, Michiganders elected both me and Donald Trump twice just two years apart. Every one of us swore an oath to the people we serve, and the people expect us to find common ground.
Whitmer also faced backlash from the Catholic community for a video showing her feeding a Dorito to a feminist social media influencer, which was interpreted as a mockery of the Eucharist. President Bill Donohue of the Catholic League said in a statement, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer insulted Catholics nationwide when she intentionally ridiculed the Eucharist in a video.
Trump's victory in Michigan by 1.4% in the 2024 presidential election, as well as a Washington Post poll showing Michiganders trusted Trump more than Kamala Harris to handle the economy and immigration, underscores the state's conservative leanings.
Whitmer is not alone in her willingness to work with Trump. Other Democrats, such as Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, have also signaled their readiness to collaborate with the Trump administration. Fetterman has joined his Republican peers in passing the Laken Riley Act, which Trump is expected to sign, and expressed openness to the idea of purchasing Greenland. Murphy, on the other hand, wrote a letter to Trump expressing his desire to address New Yorks congestion pricing scheme.
These instances of Democrats expressing a willingness to work with Trump highlight the shifting political landscape and the potential for bipartisan collaboration. However, it remains to be seen how these overtures will be received by the Trump administration and the conservative base.
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