D-Mich. Governor Gretchen Whitmer greeted President Donald Trump on a tarmac in Michigan, speaking at the event without hiding his face before speaking to members of the National Guard on Tuesday.
“Well, I wasn't going to talk about it, but we're really happy to be here for all the military and women who serve our country and serve with such honor on behalf of Michigan,” Whitmer said.
Fox News co-host judge Jeanine Pirro said on Tuesday “The Five” that Whitmer has the opportunity to set the Democratic tone.
“Of course, I think she's there for the military, but there are Democrats who aren't in the same room as Donald Trump,” Piro said. “I think she did the right thing and I think it's a wise move to work with the president and bring manufacturing back to Michigan.”
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President Donald Trump will speak with Michigan State Guard members on Tuesday in Harrison Township, Michigan. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
During the event Tuesday, Trump announced plans to trade the retired A-10 Waltug aircraft based at Selfridges Air National Guard base in Michigan for 21 brand new F-15Ex Eagle II Fighter Jets.
Trump shared details during his speech with members of the National Guard at a Michigan base, and shared an event to mark his 100th day of inauguration.
“So I want to thank Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for bringing our attention so strong, and I should do that. She's a Democrat. They said, 'Don't do that. Don't do that. Don't let her go here.' I said, 'No, she'll be here,' Trump said. “She did a very good job, frankly, and she had so many connections with Republicans. They helped out to save it, and it wasn't easy.
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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer aims to see President Donald Trump sign an executive order on April 9 at the White House's Oval Office in Washington, DC (Anna Money Maker/Getty Images)
Whitmer's presence on Tuesday came weeks after it appeared to be hiding his face during a meeting with Trump in his oval office.
Whitmer was criticized for protecting her face with a folder, as it turned into a photo from the moment it became a social media meme.
She was now enjoying the virus moment by holding the folder in front of her face again when asked about her trip to Washington, D.C. during an event at the Detroit Economic Club after a meeting with the president.
“…I don't want to take a photo of myself. That's it. I was hoping that the folder wasn't in front of my face, but whatever.
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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer waits with Michigan State Guard Advisor Major General Paul Rogers at Selfridge Air National Guard Base on Tuesday in Harrison Township, Michigan. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The governor's trip to Washington brought the president's ambitions of 2028 to a national conversation when he hit a diplomatic tone with Trump. She carefully criticized Trump's tariffs, understood the “motivation behind the tariffs” and even agreed with Trump that “we need to make more things in America.”
Whitmer's oval office moment marked his second meeting with Trump less than a month later, with Tuesday's meeting marking his third. When Trump signed an executive order from the oval office on April 9 and answered questions from the press, he said Whitmer “did you do a great job” as governor and called her “a very good person.”
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When Trump signed an executive order calling for an investigation into two first-term administrative aides who were critical of his actions, the Whitmers office said she was brought into the room “without notice” and that her appearance was “not an endorsement of actions or statements made.”
But Trump called the issue “bipartisan,” and jokingly said, “We all stood together and cut the ribbon. Okay, Gretchen?”
Diana Stancy and Deirdre Heavey of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
