Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered a speech highlighting areas of agreement with President Donald Trump on economic policy, just hours before their scheduled meeting. This reflects her more diplomatic approach toward Trump, especially as her party intensifies its critiques of him.
In her address, titled “Build, America, Build,” Whitmer outlined a vision for bipartisan cooperation to enhance American manufacturing. While she expressed mild criticism of Trump, she also emphasized shared priorities. She acknowledged the motivations behind the president’s tariffs but suggested that tariffs should not be a catch-all solution. “We do need to make more stuff in America,” Whitmer said, before adding that tariffs are a blunt tool that should be used strategically with clear goals in mind.
This speech, which had been rescheduled from the previous week due to severe ice storms in northern Michigan, came ahead of her second meeting with Trump in less than a month. In addition to their meeting, she had dinner with Trump at the White House, sitting next to him. This meeting follows Trump’s announcement of new tariffs expected to impact Michigan, where the economy is heavily linked to the auto industry and trade with countries like Canada and Mexico. Whitmer also planned to meet with Trump’s Cabinet members to discuss the potential effects of the tariffs.
Once a vocal critic of Trump, Whitmer has adopted a more measured tone toward the president since his reelection. She has called for finding common ground in several speeches. During a discussion after her speech, Whitmer explained, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” emphasizing her commitment to working with the president even when it’s challenging.
Her approach contrasts with other prominent Democratic governors, such as Colorado’s Jared Polis, who criticized the use of tariffs, saying they hurt American manufacturing and lead to higher prices. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has also been a strong critic of Trump’s tariffs, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom has urged international partners to avoid retaliatory measures, asserting, “California is not Washington, D.C.”
Whitmer faces a more complex political environment, with a divided state legislature and a state that supported Trump in two of the last three elections. Even Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who represents a state that voted for Trump in 2024, has been outspoken against Trump’s tariffs, claiming they harm farmers.
Despite the political challenges, Whitmer maintained a balanced approach in her speech, agreeing with Trump on the need to build more in America but stressing that her vision for reindustrialization would require careful planning. “Strategic reindustrialization must be a bipartisan project that spans multiple presidential administrations,” she said. Whitmer added that a more thoughtful approach to tariffs would be necessary for fostering technology industries in America.
Whitmer, who has less than two years left in office due to term limits, has spent a significant amount of time this year traveling for international trade missions and visits to Washington, D.C. She reiterated that she is not signaling a presidential run in 2028, though her speech is likely to fuel such speculation.
In closing, Whitmer emphasized the need to invest in American workers, bring chip manufacturers back to the U.S., and innovate across various industries. “Let’s dominate the seas and the skies and the roads. Let’s innovate and let’s build,” she said.