President Donald Trump announced a series of new fighter jets on Tuesday as the Selfridge Air Command Countr Guard base in Michigan, thanks in part to Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Whitmer, who was seen as a possible presidential contender in 2028, has been under Democratic scrutiny in recent weeks for building a closer working relationship with Trump.
She marketed Trump earlier this month to secure the base’s new fighter mission, home to the soon-to-retire Jets fleet. But the meeting led to an embarrassing moment in the Oval Office, where Whitmer later signed an executive order against critics on Trump and repeated his debunking claims that he had stolen the 2020 election.
A New York Times photographer grabbed her at one point and covered her face with a folder.
"That's why she came to save Selfridge - to save Selfridge," Trump said at an event attended by Whitmer on Tuesday.
Trump will hold a rally in nearby Warren Tuesday night, announcing that about 20 new fighters of the F-15EX jets will replace the base’s A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. He praised bipartisan lobbying, which includes Republicans such as Rep. John James, who represents the Congressional area and will run for governor next year. But the president repeatedly picked Whitmer out and thanked her for attracting his attention.
"This is a huge, bipartisan victory for Michigan over decades that will make our economy grow and make our country safer," Whitmer said in a statement shared by her office. "I thank the President for his partnership on this new fighter mission that will protect work and show the world that Michigan is the best place to pioneer the next innovation in defense."
Trump's announcement was the second day against Michigan, a major industrial state and Midwest battlefield, which he won last fall. Earlier Monday, the White House confirmed tariff losses from U.S. automakers, although the direct impact on Detroit's three largest automakers remained blurry.
The political motivation of the day is full of troubles.
Whitmer - a Democrat who realizes her national popularity in a Democrat, is looking for new leadership, and many Democrats who were angry with her unwitting cameo in a White House photo opportunity a few weeks ago, trying to calibrate her expectations of appearing with Trump.
This time, her team took action to lead any consequences and confirmed that she will be with Trump at the air base - "supporting her troops and her long-term efforts to ensure Selfridge support," a spokesperson said. The statement stressed that she would not attend the Trump rally nearby.
Whitmer also posted a series of social media posts aimed at a scheduled meeting with Trump before it happened.
She posted on X "I'll work with anyone who does the job seriously. But I'll never compromise my beliefs. In Michigan, we know how to get things done - it means working together."
She added: "Both party system is not about sacrificing our values. It's about getting a foothold and finding a common stand to get the job done. It's about putting people first every time."
Chris Meagher, a democratic strategist and former Whitmer adviser, said Tuesday’s announcement confirmed the governor’s strategy to deal with Trump.
“Governor Whitmer showed that when he was wrong with Michigan, she wasn’t afraid that Donald Trump would stand up and work with him at the best time for Michigan,” Megger said. “And, she definitely did the best for Michigan by doing this deal in the aisle.