Whitmer says she'll look to find 'common ground' with Trump
LANSING (FOX 2) - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has had serious disagreements with Donald Trump in the past, but now she's looking to forge a better working relationship with the president-elect.
As the COVID pandemic engulfed michigan and the nation Whitmer and then-President Trump had a huge and very public disagreement over how to handle the crisis.
The political feud has simmered there ever since - that is, until right now.
During a year-end WKAR Public Television exchange at the executive residence, the governor was asked if she was reaching out to Trump to patch up their differences.
"That is how I feel," Whitmer said. "I took an oath of office to the people of Michigan."
As the president-elect prepares to move back into The White House, the governor revealed for the first time that she has used back channels to send this peace offering message to him.
At first, Whitmer did not confirm this.
Whitmer: "If I told you about it, would it still be a back channel signal Tim?"
Skubick: "Well I guess that is a yes to my question."
While other Democratic governors such as California's Gavin Newsom and Illinois' J.B. Pritzker have formed an association to battle the new president.
Whitmer says she's not part of Democrat governor resistance group against Trump
Democrat governors have refused to endorse the use of their state police to deport migrants. When the governor was asked that, Whitmer never answered the question.
The Michigan governor refused to join the group, due to another mission.
"My job is to work with him and I am going to do everything I can, to find common ground," Whitmer said. "I understand there will be areas when we won't be able to find common ground, but I'm hopeful that there are many where we can."
And even though she paused for a moment, when told by Skubick this back channel news would be reported - she confirmed it was spot on.
"Yes," Whitmer said, nodding her head.
Skubick: "I appreciate that governor. You hesitated, how come?"
"I was thinking whether to say maybe or yes, but I said yes," Whitmer said.
The question is what does Mr. Trump do.
