Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, a Democrat, is facing a backlash from her party. This backlash comes on the heels of her much–maligned recent appearance with President Donald Trump at the White House. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s meeting on April 9 was anything but routine. It was the first time that a Democratic governor had gone directly to a Republican president. Whitmer joined the meeting to talk about urgent issues impacting her state. She soon found herself in a touchy position when she was dragged into the Oval Office for the signing of executive orders.
Whitmer’s relationship with Trump has been contentious. Until very recently, her Republican counterpart publicly mocked her on social media with the moniker, “Gretchen ‘Half’ Whitmer.” Given this unfortunate history, Whitmer’s decision to recently meet with Trump was seen as a unique opportunity to stand up for her constituents. The ramifications of that meeting have led to fierce criticism of her among members of her own party. They criticize her judgment for wanting to meet with a president who has constantly belittled her.
Representing the national perspective on “The View,” co-host Sunny Hostin described Governor Whitmer’s attitude in that meeting as grumpy. She compared her expression to that of Senator Marco Rubio during a tense moment in a previous Oval Office encounter. Hostin stated,
“You’re right. She looks very unhappy. I haven’t seen anybody that unhappy in the Oval Office since Marco Rubio was sinking into that sofa during the Zelenskyy meeting.”
The criticism did not stop there. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg added to the irony, describing Whitmer as the subject of an ideological test case, saying,
“Maybe he doesn’t remember that he didn’t care for her.”
Hostin defended Whitmer’s decision to attend the meeting, emphasizing the governor’s responsibility to her state.
“I know that she’s getting a lot of flack from it, but as the governor of the great state of Michigan, she has an absolute obligation, I think, to show up there, do business for the people of her state,” – Sunny Hostin.
Whitmer’s spokesperson clarified that while she attended the White House to address Michigan matters, she was “surprised to have been pulled into the Oval Office for the executive order signing and that her presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken.”
Hostin went on to determine that Whitmer was in the end used and trumped by Trump throughout the meeting, saying,
“I think she just got used and played.”
The consequences of this particular meeting illustrate the challenges politicians face. Yet they are faced with the challenge of crossing partisan divides to do what is best for their constituents. Governor Whitmer, like any governor, is going to get bashed from both sides. Given the current friction in the Democratic Party, her decision to give President Trump a seat could pretty drastically affect her political future back home in Michigan.
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