Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, considered a potential contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, is attempting to distance herself from a recent appearance in the Oval Office alongside former President Donald Trump.
During the visit on Wednesday, Whitmer was part of a bipartisan delegation discussing a northern Michigan ice storm, the state’s defense assets, and tariffs, among other issues.
After the meeting, she joined Trump for a press conference in the Oval Office, where he signed several executive orders targeting his political opponents.
The New York Times characterized Whitmer as having “stood glumly” during the event, which sparked online criticism when images surfaced of her shielding her face with binders.
In response to the backlash, a spokesperson for the governor issued a statement to CNN, clarifying that Whitmer was caught off guard by her inclusion in the press conference.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
“Her presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event.”
The situation has garnered attention particularly because Trump previously made derogatory remarks about Whitmer during the COVID-19 pandemic, describing her as having a “big problem” and claiming that she merely blamed the federal government.
At the press conference, Trump also surprisingly praised Whitmer, saying, “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.”
Whitmer had a complicated history with the former president, having mentioned in the past how he was linked to a failed kidnapping plot orchestrated by rightwing extremists against her. The case resulted in nine convictions.
Following the press conference, Whitmer addressed reporters at a college event in Michigan and stated, “It was not where I wanted to be or planned to be or would have liked to have been.”
She further clarified, “I disagree with a lot of stuff that was said and the actions that were taken. But I stayed in the room because I needed to make the case for Michigan, and that’s my job.”
Despite her attempts to justify her presence, criticism mounted, particularly on social media, where images of her trying to shield her face brought forth a wave of ridicule.
One user on X remarked, “She just stood there as he signed executive orders. Democrats, NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE YOU.”
Another commented, “One of my favorite things about things like this is that she would’ve been better off just having her photo taken. ‘(Normal) Gretchen Whitmer in the White House’ would’ve been a lot less embarrassing than ‘(Hiding) Gretchen Whitmer.'”
Others took jabs at her, with one user asking, “Is [Whitmer] hiding from the press here? Or still hiding from the people of Michigan?”
Whitmer’s state of Michigan is seen as a crucial battleground in upcoming elections, and there is increasing pressure on Democratic leaders to adopt a more assertive stance against Trump and his administration.
Despite the scrutiny, Whitmer has consistently asserted that she does not see herself as “the leader of the opposition.”
In January, she shared with the Associated Press, “I have shared with some of my colleagues from some of the very blue states that my situation here in Michigan is very different than theirs. I’ve got a Republican House of Representatives – majority-Republican House – now to work with.”
She emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration, stating, “I’ve got to make sure that I can deliver and work with folks of the federal government, and so I don’t view myself as the leader of the opposition like some might.”
Adrian Hemond, chief executive of political consulting firm Grassroots Midwest, echoed this sentiment, saying, “She’s been trying to work with Trump since he got back in office, which is appropriate. She’s a swing-state governor.”
Political science professor David Dulio from Michigan’s Oakland University added context, stating, “It is more a reflection of the state of the Democratic party that a popular Midwestern governor can go to Washington, get some wins on bipartisan issues and get attacked for it by her own people.”
Whitmer has been in office since first being elected as Michigan’s governor in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022 with a larger winning margin than her first campaign.
image source from：https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/13/governor-gretchen-whitmer-trump-oval-office-visit
