President Donald Trump announced a new series of fighter jets for Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan on Tuesday, giving credit in part to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Whitmer, who is viewed as a likely presidential contender in 2028, has come under scrutiny from Democrats in recent weeks for cultivating a closer working relationship with Trump.
She pitched Trump this month on securing a new fighter mission for the base, which is home to a soon-to-be-retired fleet of jets. But the meeting led to an awkward moment in the Oval Office, where Whitmer later stood as Trump signed an executive order targeting a critic and repeated his debunked claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
A New York Times photographer captured her at one point shielding her face with folders.
"That's the reason she came to see me, by the way — to save Selfridge," Trump said Tuesday at the base in Macomb County at an event Whitmer attended.
Trump, who is holding a rally Tuesday evening in nearby Warren, announced that a new fighter mission of about 20 F-15EX jets will replace the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft at the base. He praised a bipartisan lobbying effort that included Republicans such as Rep. John James, who represents the area in Congress and is running for governor next year. But he repeatedly singled out Whitmer and thanked her for bringing the issue to his attention.
He even brought Whitmer onstage at the end of his remarks, seemingly catching her off-guard.
"Well, I hadn’t planned to speak, but I’m — on behalf of all the military men and women who serve our country and serve so honorably, on behalf of the state of Michigan, I am really damn happy we’re here to celebrate this recapitalization at Selfridge. It’s crucial for the Michigan economy. It’s crucial for the men and women here for our homeland security and our future. So thank you. I am so, so grateful that this announcement was made today, and I appreciate all the work. Thank you," Whitmer said.
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In a statement shared by her office, Whitmer talked about the importance of the base.
“This is a huge, bipartisan win for Michigan, decades in the making, that will grow our economy and make our country safer,” she said in the statement. “I appreciate the President’s partnership on this new fighter mission that will protect jobs and show the world that Michigan is the best place to pioneer the next innovations in national defense.”
Trump's announcement was the second of the day geared toward Michigan, a major industrial state and Midwest battleground that he won by a slim margin last fall. Earlier Monday, the White House confirmed a tariff break for U.S. automakers, though the immediate impact on Detroit's Big 3 car manufacturers remains murky.
A fraught political dynamic hung over the day.
Whitmer — conscious of her national profile in a Democratic Party searching for new leadership and of the many Democrats who were angered by her unwitting cameo in a White House photo opportunity just weeks ago — sought to calibrate expectations around her appearance with Trump.
This time, her team moved to get ahead of any fallout, confirming early Tuesday that she would be with Trump at the air base — “to support her troops and the long-standing effort she has made to secure support for Selfridge,” a spokesperson said. The statement emphasized that she would not attend Trump’s rally nearby.
Whitmer also issued a series of social media posts meant to explain her scheduled meeting with Trump before it happened.
“I’ll work with anyone who’s serious about getting things done. But I’ll never compromise on what I believe,” she said on X. “In Michigan, we know how to get things done — and that means working together.”
She 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.”
Chris Meagher, a Democratic strategist and former Whitmer adviser, said Tuesday's announcement validates Whitmer's strategy for dealing with Trump.
"Gov. Whitmer has showed she’s not afraid to stand up to Donald Trump when he’s wrong for Michigan and work with him when it’s best for Michigan," Meagher said. "And she absolutely did what was best for the state of Michigan by working across the aisle on this deal. And she got the job done and deserves all the credit."
