Whitmer ditches Dem playbook on Trump's tariffs amid 2028 speculation

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

89% : As Trump signed executive orders and answered questions from the press in the Oval Office, he said Whitmer had "done an excellent job" as governor and called her a "very good person," a break from his typical lines of attack on her character.
58% : " CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Just a month ago, Trump and Whitmer sparred after the Michigan governor warned her constituents during her 2025 State of the State address that Trump's tariffs could put Michigan's auto industry in peril.
38% : "She has to have an open dialogue with the president, but at the same time, if she's going to win the Democratic presidential nomination or have a chance to win it, she is going to have to be very critical of Trump.
37% : AFTER SLAMMING HER LAST YEAR: 'VERY GOOD PERSON' "In this political environment, there's no room for nuanced discussion about Donald Trump among Democratic primary voters," Bannon said.
33% : Whitmer seemed to embrace the bipartisan strategy this week by carefully criticizing Trump's tariffs while also acknowledging an understanding the president's "motivation behind the tariffs" and even agreeing with Trump that we "need to make more stuff in America.
29% : As Donald Trump and Republicans in D.C. continue to sow economic chaos and raise prices, it's more important than ever that we continue to elect Democratic governors who know how to get things done on the biggest issues impacting families every day," DGA communication director Sam Newton told Fox News Digital.
15% : But he said Whitmer, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, getting too close to Trump could jeopardize her status as a "first-tier presidential candidate," alongside governors Josh Shapiro, Andy Beshear and Newsom.
14% : Brad Bannon, a Democratic strategist and the president of Bannon Communications Research, told Fox News Digital dialogue with Trump is critical to Whitmer delivering for Michigan, particularly through the uncertainty of Trump's tariff deals.
8% : " GRETCHEN WHITMER ANGERS DEMOCRATS, SUFFERS 'HUGE EMBARRASSMENT' WITH TRUMP MEETING AT WHITE HOUSE Later that day, Whitmer had her second meeting with Trump in a month.

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