Working with a president shouldn’t be taboo.

Something rare happened at an event in Michigan this week: President Trump, a Republican, praised the state’s Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer.  

The event was the announcement of 20 new F-15 fighter jets for the Michigan Air National Guard. Governor Whitmer touted the investment as “a huge, bipartisan win for Michigan” that will grow the local economy and create military and civilian jobs in the state.  

President Trump understood the political dynamic. Shouting out Governor Whitmer, who attended his speech, Trump said, “She’s a Democrat. They say, ‘Don’t do that. Don’t have her here.’ I said, no, she’s going to be here. She’s done a very good job frankly.” 

Behind the Scenes 

It was the second big win for Michigan recently. Earlier that same day, President Trump announced tariff relief for the auto industry, which is highly concentrated in the wolverine state. The White House confirmed U.S. car manufacturers will pay lower tariff rates and that auto tariffs won’t stack on top of other duties like those on steel and aluminum.

RELATED: Winners and Losers of the Trump Tariffs

These wins did not come accidentally; they were the product of weeks of work by Governor Whitmer and her team, much of which was panned by her fellow Democrats.  

In early April, Governor Whitmer traveled to Washington to call for bipartisan action to strengthen U.S. manufacturing. While there, she held a one-on-one meeting with President Trump – their second such talk in less than a month – to discuss the effects of tariffs on Michigan as well as the new fighter jets for the Air National Guard.

Blowback from the Left 

Working with the Trump administration came at a cost.  

  • Sunny Hostin, co-host of The View, mocked Governor Whitmer and said, “she just got used and played.”  
  • Ezra Levin, co-executive director of the left-wing group Indivisible, warned that Whitmer “risks getting left behind” for ignoring the “fight-back faction of the Democratic Party.”  
  • Michigan Democratic attorney general Dana Nessel tweeted, “Appeasement is not a workable strategy with a fascist.”  

And that’s on top of plenty of anonymous Democratic strategists saying Governor Whitmer’s move could hurt her chances to be president if she decides to run in 2028. 

Country Over Party 

But to Governor Whitmer, the results were worth it. Ahead of President Trump’s announcements, Whitmer said, “I’ll work with anyone who’s serious about getting things done. But I’ll never compromise on what I believe.”  

Governor Whitmer added, “Bipartisanship isn’t about sacrificing our values. It’s about standing strong and finding common ground to get things done. It’s about putting people first, every single time. 

In a time when cooperation across party lines is often viewed with suspicion, this moment stood out. Whether it pays off politically remains to be seen – but for now, Michigan stands to benefit. 

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