Gretchen Whitmer goes to Washington with a call for bipartisanship to grow the economy

[Polybius]

Source: NBC News

WASHINGTON — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer laid out what she called a “consistent national strategy” for bringing manufacturing back to the United States in a lengthy speech Wednesday in the nation's capital, just hours after President Donald Trump’s tariffs on the U.S.’ largest trading partners went into effect.

After highlighting her work in Michigan to boost manufacturing, the second-term Democrat told attendees: “Here’s my pitch: Let’s keep going. Let’s make more ships, planes and semiconductor chips in America. Let’s cut red tape and unleash the extraordinary potential of American industry.”

“Let’s give more hard-working people a fair shot at a decent life. And let’s usher in, as President Trump says, a 'Golden Age' of American manufacturing,” Whitmer added.

The speech was a notable political foray outside Michigan for a Democrat seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, though Whitmer brushed off a question after the speech about any future political ambitions. She focused not only on policy goals but broadly on the idea of re-establishing trust and the ability to work across party lines, at a time when rank-and-file Democrats are looking for the party to fight Trump harder. She referred to partisanship like a disease, telling attendees, “Partisanship seems to have infected every aspect of our lives and it’s exhausting."

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/gretchen-whitmer-goes-washington-call-bipartisanship-grow-economy-rcna200375

[kimbutgar]

1. She lost my respect

[republianmushroom]

69. I'm so God damn tired of this reach across for bipartisanship.

It doesn't work, it is like trickle down sounds good, but just doesn't work.

[SheltieLover]

76. Ditto

[SunSeeker]

2. It's not partisanship. It's good vs. evil. nt

[wordstroken]

3. What is going on with her?

[bdamomma]

17. Good question

what IS going on with her??? Is she being threatened or is it something else???

[everyonematters]

33. 40% of voters are not registered as Democrats or Republicans.

This is what they think they want, the two parties working together. You want to win a general election, win the independents.

[choie]

36. And who on the republican's side

is willing to work together? That's an hallucination.

[Cirsium]

37. That's just swell

The public wants the two parties working together. Sooooo... Democrats tell the public "that would be nice, but the Republicans refuse to work with us. In fact, they want to kill us - and you.

[mpcamb]

39. She might be right. Or at least inject some sanity.

[SunSeeker]

45. Rather than injecting sanity, Trump used her as a prop in his photo op for his fascist EO signing.

It was a "disaster" for Gretchen:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/disaster-gretchen-whitmers-talk-tariffs-meeting-trump-anger-fellow-dem-rcna200530

There is no working with Trump. He is pure evil.

[True Dough]

51. On the one hand, I'm glad that the Dems have at least one person

trying to find common ground. No matter what happens in the future, the ReThugs cannot say (as we always say about them) that the Dems were rigidly obstructionist and unwilling to compromise. We can point to Whitmer as an example.

On the other hand, she has to be aware that she's potentially a sacrificial lamb in that effort. From the article you linked:

“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,” a Whitmer spokesperson said in a statement. “Her presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event.”

This is most definitely the risk. Anyone seeking bipartisanship, particularly on their own, could easily be exploited and quickly cast aside.

Maybe, just maybe, as Trump's popular support plummets due to his reckless policies, some ReThugs will be willing to work together. This is where we have a glimmer of hope. Case in point:

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/08/house-republicans-tariff-bill-trump-don-bacon

[Cirsium]

67. I am so scared

OMG!! What if the Republicans say we were rigidly obstructionist and unwilling to compromise? Then what will we do??

Our most important concern must always be what the Republicans might say about us. We must at all times act in such a way that they can't criticize us.

Remember how rigidly obstructionist and unwilling to compromise Lincoln was with the Confederacy? Then the Confederate leaders criticized him, so he looked for common ground and that is why we still have slavery.



I think it is time to be rigidly obstructionist and unwilling to compromise if there ever was such a time.

[True Dough]

68. I never implied that we SHOULD give in to them

Just that we can, in reality, talk away their talking point if/when they accuse us of doing nothing but throwing up roadblocks.

But it doesn't much matter in this day and age anyway. There are so many lies propagated that people believe without researching that it's hard to know how we'll ever find middle ground again. Certainly not with Trump calling the shots.

[tulipsandroses]

77. "The governor was surprised that she was brought into the Oval Office" during President Trump's press conference

Why did she allow herself to get played like that? UGH! At some point, you can bet that trump will be saying she came begging like a dog.

[Cirsium]

65. Sure

Nothing like normalizing Trump when you want to inject some sanity.

[kacekwl]

66. How does hyping trumps Golden Age

appeal to independents ?

[cadoman]

40. she determined that the tariffs are going to work to the country's benefit

Folks need to consider the possibility that TFG implements a tariff system that generates revenue and protects our industry. Whitmer is ambitious and intelligent--and she just made the determination that he is going to succeed and that it's going to be a win for manufacturing states like hers.

Historically, Democrats would have supported the policy that TFG is reaching for.. The way he's doing it is horrifying, but you can't deny he is making it happen where others failed to even attempt it. Countries are dropping their punitive tariffs and we appear to be aiming for a 10% standard that will generate revenue.

[SunSeeker]

46. Are you fucking kidding me? A 10% across the board tariff is a horrifically regressive tax that stunts trade.

Last edited Thu Apr 10, 2025, 06:17 AM - Edit history (1)

It is one thing to be strategic with tariffs and target imports that compete with products we already manufacture. But we can't grow bananas and coffee. Why tariff that? And it will take years to build factories, in the meantime all working Americans will suffer and some will lose everything. For tariffs to have any chance of working, they must be implemented gradually, with subsidization of factory building and aid to Americans who are hurt by the tariffs. None of that happened here. Trump dismantled the programs Biden signed into law under his Inflation Reduction Act to help build factories. And the tariffs were imposed arbitrarily, without industry input. That is because they weren't really about trade. Nor were they about fentanyl. Nor illegal immigration, nor any of the other false justifications Trump gave.

Project 2025 calls for eliminating the IRS and using tariffs to raise revenue instead. This turns working people into serfs, paying taxes for the rich. That is what Trump tariffs are all about. Democrats have never supported this evil policy.

What Whitmer called for in her policy speech was a “consistent national strategy,” and criticized Trump’s sweeping, roller-coaster rollout of — and subsequent retreat from — tariffs. She said she was not against tariffs “outright” and expressed understanding of Trump’s “motivation” behind deploying them. But that rightfully drew a social media rebuke from Colorado’s Democratic governor, Jared Polis. “Tariffs are bad outright because they lead to higher prices and destroy American manufacturing,” Polis, wrote on X. “Trade is inherently good because both parties emerge better off from a consensual transaction.” https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/disaster-gretchen-whitmers-talk-tariffs-meeting-trump-anger-fellow-dem-rcna200530

Steep across'the-board tariffs invariably invite retaliatory tariffs and hurt our overall trade. I suggest you Google "Smoot Hawley Tariff Act," a disastrously broad tariff law written by Republicans Smoot and Hawley, and signed into law by Republican President Herbert Hoover in 1930, that turned a recession into the Great Depression. That is what Trump's tariffs resemble.

[Deminpenn]

50. Excellent summary on tariffs. They can be useful if targeted and implemented correctly

Trump has done of that. Last week, Nicolle Wallace discussed the idea that Trump is playing some kind of 11thy dimensional chess with her panel. Tim Miller said that no, Trump isn't playing some high level chess, that he hasn't changed. He's the same mecurial person he's always been, changes with the wind, clueless, lying and making things up out of thin air.

[returnee]

55. To suggest there is anything sensible. reasonable, or benign

about TSF’s policies is as insane as he is. Everything about TSF is wrong, period. Anything that suggests otherwise helps him.

[tanyev]

56. Just like his ideas to inject disinfectant and take ivermectin for Covid turned out to be jeenyus?

There is no possibility that Donald Trump implements a tariff system that generates revenue and protects our industries.

The ONLY thing Donald Trump implements are systems that benefit Donald Trump.

[Cirsium]

73. That's the problem

"Whitmer is ambitious and intelligent--and she just made the determination that he is going to succeed."

That is the problem in a nutshell.

[republianmushroom]

70. Trying to appease some of her voter.

[mac56]

4. Governor of Michigan

It's what I would expect.

[yorkster]

5. "As President Trump says...."

That's all I needed to see.
Nuh-uh.

[poli-junkie]

6. Looks like Whitmer is joining Newsom

for ‘28 contenders

[Rebl2]

14. Nope and nope

Don’t like either now

[Irish_Dem]

29. Acting like Nazi Trumpers is not a way to get my vote.

[cadoman]

41. if tariffs are a Nazi policy...

Then the Nazi World Order is already in place:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_tariff_rate

The closest you'd be able to find is Hong Kong or Singapore, but they still have duties.

[SunSeeker]

47. Bullshit. 10% across the board tariffs put us far outside the mainstream of 1-3% tariffs most countries impose.

These are not reciprocal tariffs. They are wildly disproportionate and are particularly inappropriate to level on our allies, who have trade agreements with us.

[Irish_Dem]

59. It's not about tariffs, it is about siding with Trump on any of his evil schemes.

[Cirsium]

7. No

"...the idea of re-establishing trust and the ability to work across party lines.."

No.

"...let’s usher in, as President Trump says, a 'Golden Age' of American manufacturing."

No.

"...here’s where President Trump and I do agree."

No.

"We’re never going to find common ground without talking to each other.”

No.

"...to find the common ground..."

No.

No. Never again.

[bdamomma]

18. I don't hear her saying

bring back the federal workers jobs or reinstating agencies that help Americans, or Hands Off on all topics that affect Americans??? What is this BS???

[Cirsium]

22. Disappointing

Since Trump won Michigan, our Dems have been busy triangulating.

[kacekwl]

27. Don't want a triangle

I want a lightning rod.

[wordstroken]

60. Exactly!!!

[regnaD kciN]

31. In other words Western Fetterman Syndrome...

[tonkatoy8888]

8. I thought she was more

attuned to the zeitgeist than that.

I can't see many Democrats embracing "bipartisanship" after the descent of the Republican party into MAGA craziness. And after experiencing 1+ terms of Trump. Bipartisanship died an ignominious death years ago.

I certainly don't have the stomach for Obama 2.0. I'm not excited about seeing Democrats reaching across the aisle only to pull back a bloody stump.

[2 Meow Momma]

9. Read the room, Governor! nt

[alarimer]

10. This is not a winning formula

Anyone with aspirations for higher offices needs to be bold. I for one am not in the mood for "reaching across the aisle" nonsense.

[cadoman]

42. well she pissed off 99% of DU

Newsom and Whitmer are not foolish, and reaching across the aisle is not nonsense--it's exactly what the public wants when a policy is popular.

Maybe instead of dismissing this Newsom and Whitmer as wackos (when just months ago they were top five contenders for the 2028 primary) and the reason they're shifting center so soon is they're recognizing that too many of TFG's policies are being blindly, reflexively opposed, and it's hurting us. We're not able to let it go when he does something popular because we're too dead set bent on opposing him.

Whitmer's team is looking at the 2028 primary landscape, and they know the questions might go something like this:

"You've been highly critical of the Trump tariffs, which have provided billions in revenue and coincide with a manufacturing resurgence in your state. Despite their apparent success, do you intend to eliminate those tariffs?"

"Many in your party are critical of President Trump's ban on transgender women in women's sports. Would you revert that policy if you were President?"

"Under President Trump, undocumented border crossings have plummeted. Do you plan to reverse those changes?"

AOC and maybe Warren or some others will give rousing YES responses to those questions, but are those the issues we really want to battle on? Do we win elections if we fight on those issues? Do we want to make opposing Trump the focus of our platform when he is unlikely to even be a 2028 candidate (barring some constitutional insanity)?

Why not fight over territory where we are stronger like Medicare for All or Education for All or a higher minimum wage?

[SunSeeker]

48. No DUer said Whitmer and Newsom were "wackos," they just disagree with their strategy.

Tariffs are NOT a popular policy. 72% of Americans think tariffs will hurt our economy in the short term. 53% think tariffs will hurt our economy in the long term. https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3922

This question is based on a lie: "You've been highly critical of the Trump tariffs, which have provided billions in revenue and coincide with a manufacturing resurgence in your state. Despite their apparent success, do you intend to eliminate those tariffs?"

How is hitting working people with the largest tax increase in US history a laudatory "provision of revenue"? Are you fucking kidding me with your euphamisms?

These tariffs will NOT result in a "resurgence of manufacturing" in Michigan or anywhere else, according to trade experts:
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-tariffs-entice-companies-expand-us-manufacturing-economic/story?id=120635951
Please read that ABC News article and tell me why you think it is wrong.

[alarimer]

54. It's milquetoast bullshit

It also assumes the GOP want to act in good faith on anything. We need to stop treating them like they are reasonable and willing to compromise. Funny how THEY never talk about "reaching across the aisle". It is always Democrats who have to give way.

[Cirsium]

64. Exactly

Run scared from the Republicans. We can't oppose Trump because that might cost us electoral wins?

Disgusting. And people here are seeing that as a virtue? At this late juncture?

[cadoman]

79. is opposing Trump 100% of the time the right thing to do, 100% of the time?

What weaknesses do we create for our party when we commit to 100% opposition, vs. analyzing actions on a case-by-case basis?

Whitmer and Newsom have decided to be selective. AOC and others are sticking with 100%. We'll see how it pans out for each cadre.

[Cirsium]

80. Of course

Is opposing Trump 100% of the time the right thing to do, 100% of the time? Are you kidding? Of course it is.

"What weaknesses do we create for our party when we commit to 100% opposition..."

None

Analyzing actions on a case-by-case basis? With Trump? Again, are you kidding?

Whitmer and Newsom have decided to be selective. AOC and others are sticking with 100%.

False equivalency. Kissing up to Trump is not a strategy, except maybe to advance their careers, it is a surrender.

What weaknesses do we create for our party when we commit to 100% opposition, vs. analyzing actions on a case-by-case basis?

We'll see how it pans out for each cadre.

I don't know what to do with that phrase, other than to express my complete disgust. "See how it pans out?" smh

[Bengus81]

11. Kissing Trumps ASS and agenda. See ya later Whitmer

First Newsom,now her.........

[Paladin]

12. Uh-uh. Nope. No way. Not a chance.

This sort of wimpy-assed behavior by Democrats helped put trump back in the White House. If we support Gov. Whitmer's behavior, we deserve what we get.

[wolfie001]

13. She and AOC need a sit-down pow wow in a room with no one else present

Wake her the hell up!

Also: Her local republican "friends" wanted to kidnap her

[Bengus81]

15. Translation: Come on now Democrats,let Trump do what he wants. Can't we all

just get along? Maybe sing some songs around the campfire.

Uhhh,FUCK NO Whitmer.......

[bdamomma]

19. HELL NO

and no can do.

[kacekwl]

30. Maybe we should

move more toward the center. Umm no.

[BeyondGeography]

16. Peddling bipartisanship while people are being abused by ICE, screwed by DOGE and conned by Trump

a President who wakes up every day wondering who he can hurt and in which order.

Brilliant.

[bdamomma]

20. Exactly

nt

[Hekate]

21. Somehow I could tell w/o even reading the comments that this incredibly gutsy & skilled woman...

…was going to be tossed into the dumpster along with Gavin Newsom. And now I’ve read them, and

It’s gonna be a helluva campaign season, folks, considering how many brilliant but imperfect politicians there are. I’m stocking up on popcorn.

[AZProgressive]

23. I actually don't think Whitmer's comments were that bad

However Newsom threw marginalized people under the bus to try to appeal to the right. Especially after watching John Oliver's main topic on trans athletes I'm more convinced than ever that the right is motivated by hate & emotion rather than facts. There is a nuanced conversation to be had but it isn't like how the right portrays things.

Gavin Newsom is also governor of a safe blue state so he doesn't need to run to the right to win and if he is running for President you run to the right after the primary not before which was the mistake Tulsi Gabbard made when she ran for President.

[Hekate]

24. California is blue on the coast (except Orange County, which is red) . The vast interior of CA is red.

We are very much split — the two men we have sent to be POTUS were Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

Both Newsom and Whitmer are state governors, and their skillset is good.

I’ve got to tell you though, this country has viciously rejected two incredibly qualified women in the last decade, in favor of an orange rapist and felon. It wasn’t “baggage” that finished off Hillary, and it wasn’t racism that killed off Kamala’s candidacy (Obama is much darker) it was misogyny.

As a Dem I will vote for any Dem. As much as it disgusts me to say so as a woman, I will suck it up and say that given the evil misogyny of this country — I will counsel that we give up on women as candidates for POTUS for the foreseeable future. I would much rather Dems won the election than once again make a futile point.

[Polybius]

38. And you may have sent Arnold to the WH too

Had he been born here and didn't have that affair.

[Hekate]

43. Affairs aren't all that much for Republicans. Not being native-born is still an obstacle, though...

Funny thing about Ahnold. I hated him for a long time for helping overthrow my validly elected Dem governor.

Then came trump’s first term, and Ahnold, born and raised in postwar Austria, made a couple of YouTube videos about fascism and what the aftermath looks like and feels like. He was addressing the younger generation of men in this country — in fact, anyone who would listen, but especially them. It was very moving.

I ended up having a lot of respect for Schwarzenegger.

Nixon and Reagan, though — never.

[choie]

35. We sure have a hell of a lot of "imperfect" politicians..

n/t

[Hekate]

44. It's sad for some that only human beings are available at any given time

[betsuni]

53. Myth of the Righteous Morally Pure Authentic Savior up on a pedestal. It's POLITICS. Politicians are human.

This is so annoying.

[choie]

62. Agreed the world would be better off

Run by cats and dogs!

[SunSeeker]

49. I admire Newsom and Whitmer, but her appearance today with Trump was a huge mistake.

Trump totally set her up. He used her as a "bipartisanship" prop, having her stand there behind him while he signed his fascist Executive Orders against Krebs and Taylor ordering his FBI to investigate them as "traitors" for speaking the truth. I'm sure she didn’t expect that. But it was a major blow-it to trust Trump. He is pure fucking evil.

More here about why what she did was a disaster for her:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/disaster-gretchen-whitmers-talk-tariffs-meeting-trump-anger-fellow-dem-rcna200530

And for what? These tariffs won't help Michigan at all, as any rational economist could tell her: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-tariffs-entice-companies-expand-us-manufacturing-economic/story?id=120635951

I didn't mind when Newsom debated Bannon on his podcast. But what Whitmer did today was a mistake.

[The Grand Illuminist]

25. Peace don't win wars.

nt

[kacekwl]

26. And may I ask

who exactly is going to work with you in a bipartisan way ? Name one. Other than naming a post office and I doubt you could find one for that either.

[Leghorn21]

28. Looks like Big Gretch wants us all screwing the little screws

W E I R D AF

I'm done

[Irish_Dem]

32. Maybe she has the same malady Fetterman has.

[Deminpenn]

52. Having read the excerpt, it was a run-of-the-mill speech for ordinary times

But we're not in ordinary times. She's not wrong that Americans want their elected officials to work together to solve problems, but she's not recognizing the reality that today, there are no Rs to work with. Not all Rs are Trump cultists, but they are all being controlled by Trump and the cultists. They aren't going to be "bipartisan" any more than David Koresh was going to work with the FBI/ATF.

Don't forget when Biden came into office, he actually kept some of the tariffs Trump imposed in his first term.

[SKKY]

57. She's the Governor of a deep purple state...

...who clearly has higher political aspirations. She's doing what she has to do by showing she's not afraid of going to battle with the other side on their terms.

[Lokee11]

58. FDT!

The answer is and always will be Fuck Donald Trump!


What time is it?
- Fuck Donald Trump!

Is it going to rain today?
- Fuck Donald Trump!

Would you like any cream or sugar?
- Fuck Donald Trump!

Paper or plastic?
- Fuck Donald Trump!

What is your response to the idiotic implementation of Tariffs by the Orange clown?
- Fuck Donald Trump!


DO NOT BUDGE ONE FUCKING INCH ON A DAM THING WITH THIS SORRY EXCUSE FOR A LIVING FUCKING ORGANISM, ORANGE PIECE OF SHIT - ASSHOLE!

✊FDT!

[Hotler]

61. There is no common ground between democracy and fascism, it's either one or the other.

Choose your side wisely Gretchen.

[Rebl2]

63. She can

forget about running for president

[jalan48]

71. I never had Big Gretch as an ass kisser. Disappointing.

[LudwigPastorius]

72. If only the Social Democrats had 'reached across the aisle' to the National Socialists in pre-war Germany...

Maybe they wouldn't have been imprisoned and killed by them.

[Skittles]

74. YOU DO NOT COMPROMISE WITH NAZIS

WTF

[Old Testament Libera]

75. Gov Widmer should ask should ask Trump about his stock market manipulation

and the insider trading of all his friends and family

[Polybius]

78. Video: