Nobody expected to see this one.
Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is giving President Donald Trump credit for delivering a major victory for her state — and acknowledging that it was something she could not get completed during the Biden administration.
Whitmer made the surprising admission while speaking with California Gov. Gavin Newsom on his podcast, where the two Democrats discussed the political realities of working with Trump.
For Whitmer, the issue is especially important because Michigan voters returned to Trump’s column in the 2024 presidential election.
Despite years of political disagreements between Trump and Whitmer, the Democratic governor acknowledged that maintaining a working relationship with the president is part of her responsibility.
More importantly, she said that relationship has produced results.
“I’ve gotten some really good stuff done. Honestly,” Whitmer told Newsom.
She then pointed to one of the biggest examples: securing a new fighter jet mission for Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan.
Whitmer said she tried to accomplish the same goal while Joe Biden was president but could not get it finalized.
Under Trump, she did.
For Michigan, the development could have major consequences for military readiness, jobs, infrastructure and the long-term future of one of the state’s most important military installations.
Whitmer Credits Trump With Delivering for Michigan
Whitmer told Newsom that she had worked to secure a fighter mission for Selfridge during the Biden administration but was unable to get the project across the finish line.
After Trump returned to the White House, that changed.
The Democratic governor described securing the mission as a major victory for Michigan.
Her comments are particularly striking considering the contentious history between Whitmer and Trump.
The two have clashed repeatedly over the years, and Whitmer has become one of the Democratic Party’s most recognizable governors.
Yet on an issue directly affecting Michigan workers, military personnel and local communities, Whitmer was willing to acknowledge that the Trump administration delivered a result she had sought for years.
21 New F-15EX Fighter Jets Headed to Selfridge
The mission will bring 21 F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets to the 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
The advanced aircraft are scheduled to replace the base’s retiring A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter mission.
The change is about more than new airplanes.
Preparing Selfridge for the next generation of military aircraft requires construction, infrastructure improvements, specialized personnel and training — investments that can have an economic impact throughout the surrounding Michigan communities.
The 127th Wing has described the new fighter mission as ending years of uncertainty over what would happen after the retirement of its A-10 fleet.
Trump traveled to Selfridge in April 2025 to personally announce that the base would receive the F-15EX mission.
The president emphasized that Michigan would be receiving newly manufactured aircraft and praised the capabilities of the F-15EX Eagle II.
Trump said the new fighters would help ensure Selfridge remains an important part of North American air power for years to come.
Why Selfridge Matters to Michigan
The future of Selfridge Air National Guard Base has been a significant issue for Michigan officials from both parties.
Military installations generate economic activity far beyond their gates. They support military families, civilian employees, contractors, construction companies and local businesses.
A modern fighter mission can also help provide long-term stability for the installation at a time when America’s military is updating aging aircraft and infrastructure.
For Michigan, securing the F-15EX mission therefore represents both a national security investment and an economic opportunity.
That helps explain why Whitmer was willing to give Trump credit despite their considerable political differences.
White House Says Trump Is Rebuilding American Military Strength
The White House has portrayed the Selfridge decision as part of Trump’s broader effort to strengthen the U.S. military and restore American defense capabilities.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales contrasted Trump’s record with Biden’s, arguing that the current administration protected Selfridge’s future while improving military readiness.
The administration has also highlighted Trump’s political connection to Michigan.
Trump carried the battleground state in the 2024 presidential election, helping return him to the White House.
Michigan has long been important to Trump’s political and economic message because of its manufacturing base, union workforce and automobile industry.
The Selfridge announcement gives the administration another opportunity to argue that its agenda is producing tangible results in a state that could remain politically important for years.
Whitmer Explains Why She Works With Trump
Whitmer told Newsom that governing sometimes requires working with people who are not political allies.
For governors, that reality can be especially important.
Decisions made in Washington can affect federal infrastructure funding, military installations, manufacturing projects and thousands of jobs back home.
Whitmer’s approach suggests she is willing to put those practical considerations ahead of partisan disagreements when she believes Michigan stands to benefit.
That does not mean Whitmer has suddenly become a Trump supporter.
The Democratic governor continues to disagree with the president on numerous issues.
But her comments demonstrate that political rivals can sometimes find common ground when major state interests are at stake.
Remember Whitmer’s Awkward White House Moment?
The relationship between Whitmer and Trump attracted national attention in April 2025 after an unusual scene inside the Oval Office.
Whitmer was photographed holding a folder in front of her face as pictures were being taken during a White House visit.
The moment quickly went viral and sparked speculation about whether Whitmer was trying to avoid being photographed with Trump.
She later said the explanation was much simpler: she did not want her photograph taken at that particular moment.
Whitmer acknowledged afterward that hiding behind the folder probably was not her finest decision and made light of the embarrassing episode.
Trump took a considerably friendlier approach.
Despite their history of political battles, the president publicly described Whitmer as a “very good person.”
It was an unexpected compliment considering the years of criticism exchanged between the two.
Trump and Whitmer Still Clash Over the Economy
The temporary cooperation surrounding Selfridge has not erased the broader disagreements between the Trump administration and Michigan’s Democratic governor.
The White House has continued to challenge Whitmer over manufacturing and economic policy.
After a Michigan steel manufacturer announced plans to invest $43.4 million to expand its operations in the state, the administration argued that Trump’s economic policies were producing the kind of American manufacturing investment Democrats had promised for years.
White House spokesman Kush Desai specifically pointed to Trump’s use of tariffs and deregulation as part of the administration’s strategy for encouraging domestic investment.
That debate is likely to continue as both parties compete over who deserves credit for manufacturing growth and blue-collar jobs.
Those issues carry particular weight in Michigan, where automobiles, steel and advanced manufacturing remain central to the state’s economy.
Could Whitmer’s Trump Strategy Have 2028 Implications?
Whitmer has frequently been discussed as a possible future Democratic presidential contender, making her relationship with Trump even more politically interesting.
A Democratic governor considering her party’s future must balance opposition to a Republican president with the practical responsibility of delivering results for her state.
Whitmer’s willingness to work with Trump could potentially help her portray herself as a pragmatic Democrat capable of cooperating across party lines.
At the same time, giving Trump credit could create friction with Democratic voters who want their party’s leaders to take a more confrontational approach toward the president.
For Trump, the political benefit is straightforward.
When a prominent Democratic governor publicly acknowledges that his administration accomplished something the Biden administration did not, it strengthens his argument that his policies are producing results.
A Rare Moment of Bipartisan Credit
Washington politics has become increasingly partisan, making it unusual to hear prominent politicians publicly praise members of the opposing party.
That makes Whitmer’s admission noteworthy.
She wanted a new fighter mission at Selfridge. She tried to secure it during the Biden administration. According to Whitmer herself, she could not get it finished.
After Trump returned to office, the deal moved forward.
Now Selfridge is preparing for 21 F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets, giving the Michigan base a modern mission as its aging A-10 aircraft are retired.
For Michigan residents, the biggest question may not be which political party gets the credit.
The more important issue is what the new mission means for national defense, military personnel, Michigan jobs and the long-term future of Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
But politically, Whitmer’s comments are difficult to ignore.
One of the Democratic Party’s most prominent governors just acknowledged that working with Donald Trump helped her deliver a major win for Michigan — one she says she could not secure while Joe Biden was president.
