Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer met privately with President Trump to argue his tariffs were hurting the auto industry he aimed to protect.
Bringing a slide deck to make her case, Whitmer—seen as a 2028 Democratic contender—showed her approach to balancing opposition to Trump’s agenda with protecting her state’s interests, a strategy unlike many other Democratic governors.
Michigan State University professor Matt Grossman said Whitmer’s private “opening to make direct appeals” to Trump was rare. It was her third White House meeting with him, but unlike April’s impromptu news conference that left her covering her face in embarrassment, this one was far more discreet.
On Tuesday, Whitmer warned Trump that his tariffs could severely harm Michigan’s economy, raised the need for federal aid after an ice storm, and sought to delay Medicaid changes. Trump made no commitments, according to sources.
She joins others cautioning that the tariffs could cause job losses, lower profits, and higher prices, despite Trump’s claims they will save U.S. manufacturing. However, White House spokesman Kush Desai said no president has done more than Trump to restore U.S. auto industry dominance, with new trade deals opening Japanese, Korean, and European markets to Michigan-made vehicles.
Trump’s executive orders and trade deals impose 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum, 30% on Chinese auto parts, and up to 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico outside the 2020 trade pact, leaving U.S. automakers at a disadvantage to German, Japanese, and South Korean vehicles, which face only a 15% tariff. Last week, he also threatened a 100% tariff on computer chips, exempting domestic producers.
Whitmer’s previous meetings with Trump brought wins for Michigan, but her latest push against tariffs was a bigger challenge to a president doubling down despite criticism. Her presentation, obtained by the AP, highlighted that trade with Canada and Mexico has driven $23.2 billion in investment since 2020, with GM, Ford, and Stellantis running 50 factories and over 4,000 suppliers supporting nearly 600,000 manufacturing jobs—the backbone of Michigan’s economy.
