Whitmer's big gamble for 2028: Working with Trump

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is taking a gamble that other potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders are not: that party voters might reward her — or at least not punish her — for working with President Trump.Why it matters: Whitmer's approach is a sharp break from other prominent Democrats such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who are defining themselves as anti-Trump warriors.State of play: Whitmer has visited the White House three times this year — most recently this month, when she met with Trump to discuss tariffs, Medicaid funding and northern Michigan's recovery efforts from a spring ice storm.During previous Oval Office meetings, they discussed stationing a fleet of new fighter aircrafts at Selfridge Air National Guard Base and a $1 billion federal project aimed at protecting the Great Lakes from damaging invasive carp, sources tell Axios.Trump has told reporters that Whitmer is a "very good person" who was doing an "excellent job" when she came to the White House in early April.When Trump visited Michigan later that month, he called the governor onstage. "I'm not supposed to do that. She's a Democrat. They say, 'Don't do that. Don't have her here.' I said, 'No, she's going to be here.' She's done a very good job," Trump said.The intrigue: Trump shows an affinity for those who are cordial with him, regardless of their party affiliation.He's said privately that Whitmer is one of the national Democrats who most impresses him.Senior White House advisers also have been complimentary of Whitmer, saying she's been particularly collaborative on the Great Lakes project.Trump, by contrast, frequently blasts Newsom, whom he derides as "Newscum," and Pritzker, whom he calls "probably the worst" governor in the country.It wasn't always so warm between Trump and Whitmer.Trump referred to her as "half-Whitmer" during his first term, and said she was "dishonest."In 2020, Whitmer accused Trump of being "complicit" in a foiled plot by a militia group to kidnap her because he had refused to denounce far-right hate groups.More recently she has tossed some criticism Trump's way on his "big beautiful" tax and spending bill and his tariffs plan. Whitmer called the former a "big betrayal bill," and said the tariffs were "dangerous."The big picture: If Whitmer runs in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, it would test whether Democratic voters want party figures to oppose Trump at every turn — or show some willingness to work with him on issues on which they agree.Whitmer's team argues that voters are eager for collaboration, and points to polling indicating that 54% of Democrats in Michigan approve of her approach toward Trump."The things she is working with the administration on are good for the state. She is about getting sh*t done. That is her ideology. And she is succeeding in that," said Democratic pollster John Anzalone, a Whitmer adviser. Some Republicans think Whitmer is being savvy. "She's taking a gamble, but it's a gamble that's more likely to be successful than the agenda that animates the Democratic Party currently," said Jason Roe, a Michigan-based GOP strategist.Reality check: Democratic primaries are heavily influenced — at least initially — by activists in the party's liberal base, who passionately oppose Trump.Whitmer has gotten pushback from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who after a Whitmer-Trump meeting posted on X: "Appeasement is not workable strategy with a fascist."Whitmer is sensitive to the criticism. She tried to hide her face behind a folder when a photographer spotted her in the Oval Office in April — an image that went viral. Trump later said privately he thought Whitmer had made a mistake by trying to shield herself.She has not been afraid to criticize Trump -- including on Trump's "big, beautiful bill," which Whitmer has labeled the "big betrayal bill," and on tariffs, which she has called "dangerous."But Whitmer — whose swing state Trump won in 2016 and 2024 — has long had friendly relationships with Republicans.Whitmer's father, Richard Whitmer, headed Michigan's commerce department under Republican Gov. William Milliken.During the 2018 governor's race, she drew endorsements from several prominent Michigan Republicans.She has close working relationships with several GOP legislators, including state House Speaker Matt Hall.What they're saying: "I've always said that I'll work with anyone to get things done for Michigan," Whitmer said in a statement to Axios. "That's why I've continued to go to Washington, D.C., to make sure that Michiganders are front and center when critical decisions are being made."A White House spokesperson declined to comment.

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