About that hug ... Whitmer risks backlash from Democrats as she embraces Trump in Michigan

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – First came their much-analyzed Oval Office moment. Next, their subject-to-interpretation hug.

The 2 interactions betwixt President Donald Trump and a sometime antagonist, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, bespeak the Democratic governor's efforts to determination past past year's hard-fought run and find communal crushed with the Republican president — astatine hazard of governmental backlash.

Whitmer, a imaginable 2028 statesmanlike candidate, shared a hug with Trump arsenic helium arrived successful her location authorities connected Tuesday, little than a period aft she shielded her look from cameras during an Oval Office quality alongside Trump.

It's emblematic for a politician oregon different high-ranking authorities authoritative to greet the president erstwhile helium steps disconnected Air Force One successful their state, a contented that has historically transcended partisanship.

But the clasp betwixt Trump and Whitmer was notable astatine a clip erstwhile Americans are progressively saying Trump's priorities are off and Democrats are agitating for their leaders to instrumentality a much confrontational attack to the president.

Trump was in Michigan to people his 100th time successful bureau astatine an evening rally and an earlier announcement with Whitmer of a new combatant pitchy mission astatine a National Guard basal extracurricular Detroit. The caller jets astatine the basal volition support a large economical operator for the country for years to travel and correspond a large triumph for Whitmer. The politician credited her Oval Office gathering with Trump for securing the base’s future.

“My occupation is to bash the close happening for the radical of Michigan,” she told The Associated Press aft her quality with Trump connected Tuesday. “I’m not reasoning astir thing beyond that, and I cognize it’s hard for radical to get their caput around.”

Asked astir her hug with Trump, Whitmer chose to picture the brushwood differently.

She said Trump greeted her archetypal erstwhile helium stepped disconnected the plane, and helium “shook hands and helium leaned successful to archer me, you know, congratulations and that I was a large crushed that we were making an announcement today, and I was grateful for that.”

She said moving with him connected immoderate issues doesn't preclude her from criticizing him connected others, adding that she's been wide with Trump that his tariffs person been damaging her state.

“I had to beryllium determination due to the fact that this was a big, important happening for the authorities of Michigan," she said. "Now, helium is going to spell disconnected to the rally and accidental a batch of things I disagree with, that I’ll combat against, and that’s fine, but, you know, my occupation is to bash everything I tin for the radical of Michigan.”

Earlier this month, Whitmer stood by successful the Oval Office arsenic Trump signed enforcement orders and assailed his governmental opponents, not agelong aft she had delivered a code adjacent that offered brushed disapproval of him but emphasized shared priorities. Later, The New York Times published a photograph showing her utilizing folders to shield her look from cameras portion successful the Oval Office.

Whitmer’s bureau aboriginal said successful a connection that she was “surprised” that she was brought into the country and that “her beingness is not an endorsement of the actions taken oregon statements made astatine that event.”

The Trump-Whitmer clasp evoked an infamous greeting much than a decennary agone betwixt Chris Christie, past the Republican politician of New Jersey, and Barack Obama, the Democratic president. Weeks earlier the 2012 election, with Christie and Obama some seeking reelection, the president arrived successful New Jersey successful the aftermath of the devastating Superstorm Sandy. Obama placed his manus connected Christie’s shoulder, but aggravated Republicans labeled it a “hug,” and suggested it contributed to Republican Mitt Romney’s nonaccomplishment to Obama.

It besides reflects the challenge for Democratic governors looking to registry their disapproval of Trump and his policies without angering a president bent connected retribution against his critics oregon turning disconnected brushed Trump voters whose enactment they mightiness request successful aboriginal elections.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has besides taken heat from immoderate connected the near who spot him arsenic excessively accommodating of Trump and his policies, showered the president with praise erstwhile helium landed successful Los Angeles to circuit wildfire harm during his archetypal week successful office. At the time, Newsom was urgently seeking national catastrophe backing and looking to dissuade Trump from pursuing done connected his threats to extract concessions from California successful speech for fiscal assistance.

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Cooper reported from Phoenix.

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