Last week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s deputy expressed disapproval over his boss becoming cordial with President Trump during a recent public engagement.
At a campaign event on May 3 in Grand Rapids, a political science student from Michigan State University posed a question to Gilchrist, who responded, “I think it’s terrible.” If elected governor in 2026, he plans to “face” the Trump administration by advocating for a federal inquiry into state universities.
Whitmer, who is term-limited, met Trump prior to this event at an Air Force National Guard base near Detroit.
In an awkward moment, Whitmer started, “Well, I wasn’t going to talk about it.” But she went on to express her appreciation, saying, “On behalf of all the military men and women who serve our country, I am truly happy to be here to celebrate this recapitalization.”
Trump also thanked the governor in his remarks, noting, “You know, I’m not supposed to. She’s a Democrat. I said, ‘No, she’ll be here… she did a really good job.’
Earlier in April, during a visit to the White House, there was a moment when Whitmer hid behind a stack of blue binders while waiting to talk with Trump about the future of the Selfridge Air Guard base. Whitmer’s office later claimed she was unexpectedly directed to the Oval Office to witness the president signing executive orders.
These incidents illustrate the challenging position some Democratic leaders find themselves in: aiming to represent their constituents while not alienating voters who want a more aggressive stance against the Republican president.
Trump praised Whitmer at an event on April 29, stating, “For decades, they’ve been trying to save the facility.”
Currently, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is leading early polls in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, with Gilchrist trailing by a notable margin.
When an MSU student asked if he would do anything differently than Whitmer, Gilchrist emphasized the need to fully advocate for Michiganians. He cited the administration’s scrutiny of Grand Valley State University regarding civil rights investigations stemming from its racial preference practices in academic opportunities.
Gilchrist noted, “As governor, Trump is still president in 2027, so that’s how I oppose this administration.”
In an April appearance on “Pod Save America,” Whitmer shared that she had not discussed Trump’s anti-DEI and immigration policies affecting the university. “I haven’t had that direct conversation about this subject yet,” she admitted, but added, “I’m not afraid to do that.”
