Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer unexpectedly found herself in the Oval Office as President Trump signed executive orders related to his 2020 election claims, challenging her attempts to focus on state needs. While seeking federal support for Michigan after an ice storm, her meeting turned into a politically charged event, reflecting the risk Democratic governors face in cultivating ties with a controversial president. Some governors have adopted a conciliatory approach to secure federal aid, while others, like JB Pritzker and Josh Shapiro, remain vocally antagonistic to Trump. This divide illustrates tensions within the Democratic Party regarding strategy and governance.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan stood disheartened in the Oval Office, wishing no one would capture her image.
She hadn’t anticipated being there, facing the cameras, as President Trump signed executive orders targeting those who refuted his claims about the 2020 election. Ms. Whitmer, a notable Democrat viewed as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, had visited the White House to discuss funding for an Air National Guard base close to Detroit and assistance for the thousands of Michiganders affected by a recent ice storm.
Unexpectedly, on Wednesday, Mr. Trump’s staff escorted her into the Oval Office, not for her planned private meeting with the president, but for a politically charged appearance in front of the press. She found herself an unwilling participant in his relentless reality show, with images of her circulating among Democratic strategists puzzled by her presence.
This episode stemmed from an unusual attempt at reconciliation between Ms. Whitmer and Mr. Trump, who had previously referred to her in 2020 as “that woman from Michigan” during a confrontation regarding his administration’s pandemic response.
The day after the inauguration, Ms. Whitmer wrote a handwritten letter — previously unreported — congratulating Mr. Trump, expressing her eagerness to collaborate, and commending his commitment to the auto industry in his initial address, according to a source who shared the letter’s details. In the letter, Ms. Whitmer provided her cellphone number and invited Mr. Trump to reach out if she could assist in any way.
This outreach proved beneficial for her, though it came with consequences.
Her tumultuous experience with Mr. Trump highlights the political perils that Democratic governors encounter as a few of them attempt to forge relationships with a president despised by their party, yet who possesses significant federal funding for states.
Governors like Ms. Whitmer, along with Gavin Newsom of California, Phil Murphy of New Jersey, and Kathy Hochul of New York, have engaged with the president in the Oval Office, taken his calls, and moderated their rhetoric towards him.
Many Democrats perceive Mr. Trump as a transactional leader prone to flattery while being acutely aware of his attempts to retaliate against liberal states and organizations. He has threatened to withhold billions from universities in states governed by Democrats and has jeopardized funding for local public education and health initiatives, leaving state officials looking for alternative funding or making cuts elsewhere.
However, Democratic governors must also consider their own political aspirations. Many view their state leaders as the best shot for reclaiming the White House in 2028, while the liberal base increasingly demands elected officials to robustly counter Mr. Trump’s actions.
That is why another faction of Democratic governors, led by JB Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Tim Walz of Minnesota, has adopted a more openly critical stance towards Mr. Trump. Their firmer approach may reflect their awareness of the upcoming 2026 re-election campaigns and their focus on the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.
“Democrats across the spectrum believe Trump behaves like an autocrat who poses a fundamental threat to democracy and our rights,” remarked Neera Tanden, head of the Center for American Progress, a leading liberal think tank. “They expect their leaders to confront his draconian measures instead of placating or negotiating, as doing so only empowers him and his bullying tactics.”
In a recent interview, Ms. Whitmer asserted that she feels no remorse.
“Public service requires prioritizing the needs of Michigan residents over personal interests,” she stated. “My mission was to secure assistance for those affected by the ice storm, to attract further investment at the Selfridge air base, to preserve the Great Lakes, and to advocate for the auto industry. That was my focus.”
She continued, “I will always advocate for the people of Michigan, which is likely why I won by a substantial margin.”
‘I Listen a Lot’ to Trump
Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. engaged with Republican governors quite differently, limiting discussions mainly to disaster relief.
In contrast, with Mr. Trump in the White House, Democratic governors have discovered more avenues for interaction.
Several, including Ms. Whitmer, Ms. Hochul, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Newsom, have held private meetings with Mr. Trump in the Oval Office; one of Ms. Hochul’s meetings extended for two hours.
The president frequently communicates with Democratic governors and responds promptly to their calls, having shared his cellphone number with several.
Mr. Murphy has established a long-standing rapport with Mr. Trump during the pandemic, enhanced by the president’s regular visits to his golf club in New Jersey. After the president was shot at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., in July, Mr. Murphy and his wife, Tammy, went to visit him in Bedminster, N.J.
With Mr. Trump rejuvenated in office, Mr. Murphy has aimed to identify common ground with him on issues like opposing congestion pricing in New York City and addressing sinkholes on Interstate 80 in New Jersey.
During a National Governors Association dinner at the White House in February, Mr. Murphy invited Mr. Trump to an upcoming ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River. Ms. Murphy also extended an invitation for Mr. Trump to attend an Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Newark in June.
Mr. Trump expressed interest; however, the governor’s efforts have not shielded him from backlash from the Trump administration. The leading federal prosecutor in New Jersey, an ally of Trump, announced plans to investigate Mr. Murphy regarding immigration policy.
In December, ahead of Mr. Trump’s inauguration, Mr. Newsom positioned himself as a key figure in the Democratic resistance against Mr. Trump. However, his stance softened following the devastating fires in greater Los Angeles in January, necessitating nearly $40 billion in federal relief.
When Mr. Trump and his wife, Melania, arrived to survey the fire damage, Mr. Newsom greeted them at the airport and kissed Mrs. Trump on the cheek. Shortly after, he traveled to Washington for a 90-minute meeting in the Oval Office. Additionally, Mr. Newsom has welcomed Trump allies like Charlie Kirk and Stephen K. Bannon on his new podcast.
Ms. Hochul has conducted two meetings with Mr. Trump in the Oval Office and maintains regular communication with him. In an interview, she shared that he has occasionally called her to inquire about New York projects of interest to him. Just last week, on the same day he announced extensive tariffs, she recalled, Mr. Trump called her for updates on Penn Station and Amtrak.
When asked to characterize their in-depth conversations, Ms. Hochul responded, “I listen a lot.”
She elaborated, “I’m always open to engaging in dialogue and listening to discern how I can fulfill my primary responsibility, which is to safeguard New York State. When our values or policies are challenged, that’s when we might have a conflict. But I can be confrontational without being hostile and strive towards collaborative solutions.”
Steven Cheung, the communications director for the White House, affirmed in a statement: “It’s hardly surprising that every elected official in America — regardless of party — seeks a constructive relationship with President Trump. President Trump represents all Americans and continues to collaborate with anyone willing to help advance initiatives beneficial to the nation.”
Tensions and an ‘Emergency Cocktail Hour’
Numerous other Democratic governors have distanced themselves from Mr. Trump.
Aides to Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Mr. Pritzker, Mr. Shapiro, and Mr. Walz, among others, confirmed that none of these politicians have engaged in one-on-one meetings or phone calls with Mr. Trump since his return to power.
Mr. Shapiro, Mr. Pritzker, and Mr. Walz, recognized as among the most ambitious leaders in the party, have been some of the fiercest critics of Mr. Trump.
Despite Mr. Trump’s conciliatory gestures towards certain Democratic governors, he has not hesitated to lash out at others, particularly to advance his political interests.
In February, he hosted a bipartisan assembly of governors at the White House as part of a weekend organized by the National Governors Association. During this gathering, Mr. Trump criticized Governor Janet Mills of Maine, a Democrat, regarding her state’s regulations on transgender athletes in sports.
Following this incident, Ms. Healey called for what three attendees referred to as “an emergency cocktail hour” to strategize a response. Ms. Healey encouraged fellow governors to boycott a White House dinner that evening in protest.
“It was shocking and outrageous what transpired with Governor Mills and how she was treated during that meeting,” stated Ms. Healey in an interview. “Many of us felt that something was fundamentally wrong, and we needed to come together to process that experience.”
Nevertheless, many Democrats attended the dinner, and after it concluded, Mr. Trump took a bipartisan group of governors and their spouses on an impromptu tour of the White House lasting nearly an hour. The president showcased the residence, explaining the Lincoln Bedroom and the Yellow Oval Room, while sharing historical anecdotes, ultimately concluding the tour in the Oval Office.