As the political dynamics in the U.S. shift with a new presidential administration, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer seeks to establish a cooperative relationship while addressing potential conflicts. Her primary concern centers on tariffs that could potentially impact Michigan’s critical auto industry.
In her first significant address following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, Whitmer, who was an active campaigner for Harris in the Midwest, made her stance clear at the Detroit Auto Show. Her speech drew attention from both state residents, where she is in her final term, and national Democratic Party observers considering fresh leadership.
Facing a divided state legislature, Whitmer’s political landscape is uniquely challenging compared to other Democrats eyeing the 2028 presidential race. She emphasized the necessity for bipartisan collaboration, saying, “I don’t want to pretend we’re always going to agree, but I will always seek collaboration first. I won’t go looking for fights. I won’t back down from them, either.”
Whitmer urged members of both parties to find common ground, particularly on issues vital to Michigan’s economy, such as infrastructure and the automotive sector. “Both our state and national economy depend on our ability to work together in Lansing and with our partners in D.C.,” she stated, calling for renewed legislative negotiations.
In a move indicating her proactive approach, Whitmer is engaging with Canadian officials, despite Trump’s criticisms of Canada’s trade practices. Speaking near the Canadian border, she remarked, “There’s been a lot of talk about tariffs. I’m not opposed to tariffs outright, but we can’t treat them like a one size fits all solution. And we certainly shouldn’t use them to punish our closest trading partners.”
Prior to the speech, Whitmer discussed her forward-looking strategy in an interview with The Associated Press. Below are highlights from that exchange:
Outreach with Trump
While Whitmer has yet to speak directly with Trump, she expressed her intent to engage soon. “I am planning to attend the National Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C. — I think it’s the beginning of next month — and attend the dinner at the White House that the governors always have with the president,” she said. Whitmer is hopeful for collaboration, noting the shared electoral support in Michigan.
Approach with Fellow Democrats
Her strategy also involves dialogue with other Democratic governors. Whitmer noted, “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.”
Stance on Immigration Enforcement
Addressing Trump’s proposed immigration policies, Whitmer remained cautious. “I think that it’s premature to say, to anticipate exactly what the Trump administration will do. We’ve been doing some preparation for a number of different scenarios, but I don’t want to prejudge it,” she explained, emphasizing the distinction between campaign rhetoric and governance.
Prospects for Female Presidential Candidates
On the topic of female presidential candidates, Whitmer was optimistic. Despite the U.S. not having elected a woman as president thus far, she stated, “Absolutely. And, you know, lots of men have run for president and lost. And no one concludes that people don’t want a male president,” highlighting the need to look beyond gender in political analysis.
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The Associated Press’ women in the workforce and state government coverage receives financial support from Pivotal Ventures. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
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