Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was mocked after she was captured hiding her face behind a stack of binders to keep away from being seen standing within the Oval Workplace when President Donald Trump spoke to the press.
The 53-year-old Democrat was flanked by two White Home aides as she shielded her identification behind a set of blue folders she was holding earlier than her scheduled assembly with Trump on April 9, in response to a photograph taken by the New York Occasions.
Whitmer was in Washington DC to debate points together with tariffs and a current ice storm which Whitmer has since requested for a Presidential Emergency Declaration.
The Wolverine State chief’s crew claims Whitmer was shocked when she was introduced into the Oval Workplace in entrance of the cameras as Trump signed a number of government orders and proclamations.
Critics seen the viral photograph as Whitmer’s try to not be related to the 78-year-old commander in chief after she traveled to the White Home with a bipartisan delegation to deal with a number of points affecting her state.
“Gretchen Whitmer hiding behind her information within the White Home is among the funniest issues I’ve ever seen. That is what my 2-year-old does,” one X consumer commented.
“Whitmer masking her face is the proper metaphor for the Democratic Social gathering,” one other mentioned.
“President Trump broke Governor Whitmer,” learn a 3rd remark.
Others took a take a look at Whitmer’s previous actions on digital camera and questioned her motives whereas on the White Home.
“I need assistance understanding Democrat pondering. Gretchen Whitmer was embarrassed to be photographed standing within the Oval Workplace, however not embarrassed sufficient to do that,” one other individual added, referencing Whitmer’s weird marketing campaign video of her feeding Doritos to liberal podcast host Liz Plank.
On Wednesday, Whitmer stood close to the Resolute Desk alongside Michigan State Home Speaker Matt Corridor and several other of Trump’s cupboard secretaries.
In the course of the look, Trump ordered the Justice Division to launch investigations of “Nameless” writer Miles Taylor for leaking throughout his first time period and into former cybersecurity official Christopher Krebs for testifying to the legitimacy of the 2020 election.
Trump acknowledged Whitmer’s presence, praising her for “a wonderful job” in Michigan.
“We’re honored to have Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, nice state of Michigan, and he or she’s been, she’s actually performed a wonderful job, superb individual,” he mentioned.
She didn’t have any prior information of the signing ceremony, her workplace instructed CNN.
Not one of the orders signed by Trump have been backed by Whitmer, as her crew ensured her presence wasn’t an endorsement.
However supporters of the two-term governor nonetheless criticized her for being within the room.
“This doesn’t seem like the politics of resistance,” CNN host Audie Cornish mentioned.
“Only a f–king catastrophe,” one Democratic operative instructed NBC Information anonymously. “It feels prefer it removes among the momentum she had as a politically savvy swing-state Dem.”
Whitmer has reportedly modified her tone towards Trump throughout his second time period, having despatched a letter to the president the day after his inauguration.
She praised the newly sworn-in president and thanked him for mentioning the auto trade throughout his inaugural speech, in response to the New York Occasions.
She had additionally written her cellphone quantity down, telling Trump to name her if wanted.
