Trump praises Whitmer, vows to ramp up Asian Carp fight to 'save Lake Michigan'

• Gov. Gretchen Whitmer criticizes Trump’s tariff policy, but agrees with his overall goal of boosting manufacturing capacity
• Whitmer reiterates call for Trump’s ‘Golden Age’ of American manufacturing, is set to meet with the president Wednesday
• Appearance in Washington comes as tariffs rock US economy, pose uncertainty for Michigan automakers and other key industries

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earned high praise from President Donald Trump on Wednesday as her one-time critic expressed a willingness to advance several bipartisan priorities for Michigan. 

Whitmer and House Speaker Matt Hall, a Richland Township Republican, joined the president at an Oval Office event hours after the Democratic governor struck a bipartisan tone in a Washington speech. 

Trump responded in kind, calling Whitmer “a very good person” who has “really done an excellent job,” while vowing to work with her on fighting Asian Carp in the Great Lakes and expanding operations at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County. 

Related:

• Trump pauses ‘reciprocal’ tariffs. What it means for Michigan
• Tariff timeline: Trump’s trade actions and how they impact Michigan
• Trump announces sweeping new tariffs: What they mean for Michigan

The comments marked a sharp departure for Trump, who last year called Whitmer a “terrible governor” and in 2020 derided her as “that woman from Michigan” during an argument over the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic during his first term. 

Whitmer and Hall — with whom the governor said she agreed with on issues “70% of the time” — used their time with Trump to advocate for a new mission at Selfridge and a solution to stop the spread of invasive Asian Carp. 

On both issues, Trump said he was interested, telling the pair during an open-press event that, “I think we’ll come home with a winner for Michigan.” 

“We have to save Lake Michigan, because these fish, they eat everything in the way, including the other fish,” Trump said of Asian Carp, noting Whitmer had raised the issue with him and he had already spoken to the US Army Corps of Engineers about it. 

On Selfridge, Trump said “we’re going to get it done, and we’re going to…all stand there together and cut a ribbon.” He also suggested Michigan would benefit from the administration’s efforts to spend money on shipbuilding.

A spokesperson for Whitmer said the governor and president also discussed the recent ice storm in northern Michigan, tariffs and "bringing back critical supply chains" to the US, among other things. 

Divergence on tariffs, agreement on fair trade

Earlier in the day, Whitmer delivered an address near the White House in Washington, criticizing the administration’s tariff policies but noting the president has a point when it comes to supporting domestic manufacturing. 

Whitmer called the Trump administration’s tariff policy a “triple whammy” of higher costs, fewer jobs and more uncertainty, arguing that “it could not come at a worse time.” 

The impacts in Michigan are especially acute, she said, because of the state’s auto industry, which relies on a steady flow of international trade. 

“While I share the president’s goal of bringing good paying, middle-class manufacturing jobs back, it’s got to be done right,” Whitmer said. “I’m not against tariffs outright, but they are a blunt tool. You can’t just bust out the tariff hammer to swing at every problem without a clearly defined end goal.” 

Her speech came hours before Trump reversed course and issued a 90-day pause on most reciprocal tariffs, a move that sent slumping stock markets soaring. 

The 25% tariffs on finished vehicles and key parts, existing arrangements between Canada and Mexico and a 10% universal tariff on nearly all foreign imports remain in place. 

The stakes in Michigan

Whitmer's national speech and meeting with the president came at a critical moment for Michigan, which even before most of Trump's tariffs had posted the second highest unemployment rate in the country for February, at 5.4%.

While Michigan has gained nearly 7,000 manufacturing jobs so far this year, it is still down about 27,600 since Whitmer took office in January of 2019, according to federal data.

That decline began much earlier. Since 1994, when the North American Free Trade Agreement took effect, Michigan has lost more than 222,000 manufacturing jobs, falling 823,500 jobs to about 601,300.

Trump’s sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs on imports from China, Japan, the European Union and other nations had taken effect Wednesday, plus near-universal 10% taxes on goods from other countries that began Saturday. 

Trump has argued international trade policies have disadvantaged US workers for decades. The president says the tariffs will boost the nation’s manufacturing base while raising revenues for lower taxes and a smaller national deficit. 

Whitmer said she understands Trump’s motivation, noting that “no state has lived through the consequences of offshoring and outsourcing more than Michigan.” 

She called for a more deliberate, strategic reindustrialization approach focused on ramping up domestic production of autos, semiconductor chips, ships and planes, echoing Trump’s goal of a “Golden Age” of American manufacturing.

“We also cannot underestimate or underappreciate the time and capital it will take to actually bring jobs and supply chains back home,” Whitmer said. “There’s no shortcut here. Strategic reindustrialization must be a bipartisan project that spans multiple presidential administrations.” 

Mixed reactions

Whitmer's speech drew mixed reviews, with Trump critic and conservative commentator Bill Kristol calling it "nuts" that she echoed Trump's call for a "Golden Age" of American manufacturing.

"Democrats really, really have to learn, as Robert Frost put it, to take their own side in a fight," Kristol wrote on social media.

Following the address, Whitmer told former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson that she understands the concern about seeking bipartisanship in the Trump era, acknowledging that she is “anxious and angry” about many of the administration’s policies. 

Whitmer — who has taken a notably more cooperative approach to Trump’s second term than some of her Democratic colleagues —  said her goal is to hold the administration accountable when necessary for Michigan residents while retaining a seat at the negotiating table. 

“I don’t know that I'll make any ground, but I’m not going to cede the opportunity,” Whitmer said. “I’m going to continue to show up, even when it means I’m going to get my lunch handed to me.” 

John Walsh, president and CEO of the Michigan Manufacturers Association, said in a statement that Whitmer’s advocacy was appreciated, noting Michigan “is well positioned to benefit from reshoring of manufacturing companies.” 

“Michigan is a manufacturing state and with the right state and federal policies, Michigan can be well positioned to grow jobs through new manufacturing investments,” he continued. 

Whitmer’s name has frequently been floated as a possible Democratic presidential candidate as her national profile has grown. 

Asked by Carlson whether her presence in Washington signified interest in higher office, Whitmer demurred, saying only that she wants to showcase Michigan’s “blueprint of success” on manufacturing.