Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pushes for compromise with Trump, whines red states ‘want to steal’ auto industry

Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pushed for a reset with President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday as she warned of growing competition from Republican-led rivals threatening to “steal” her state’s bedrock auto industry.

Whitmer, tipped by many observers as a potential front-runner for the Democratic nomination in 2028, sounded a bipartisan note as she implored her “fellow Democrats” and Republican “friends” to “find common ground” in remarks at the Detroit Auto Show.

“In the Whitmer house, compromise was a good thing,” the 53-year-old said. “I just want to get things done. Things that make a real difference in Michiganders’ lives.”

“Michiganders elected both me and Donald Trump twice, just two years apart,” she added. “The people expect us to find common ground, especially when it comes to lowering costs, creating good-paying manufacturing jobs, boosting research and innovation and cutting red tape.”

Whitmer won re-election by double-digits in 2022 and enjoyed a Democratic trifecta in Lansing. However, she could only watch Nov. 5 as Trump won the Wolverine State for the second time in three consecutive White House bids, while Republicans squeaked out a majority in the state House of Representatives.

On Wednesday, Whitmer said she needed Republican help in a “serious moment.”

“Right now, the future of the entire auto industry is at stake. The very core of Michigan’s economy is on the line,” she claimed.

“Michigan is still the number one auto state, but others have gained grounds, especially in the South. They want to steal this vital industry away from us,” she charged. “These other states are using every tool at their disposal. Some of them are just writing blank checks to companies. That’s bad policy.”

For years, Republican governors have been aggressively courting heavy industry from the Rust Belt, pitching a low-tax, business-friendly environment to encourage companies to set up shop.

Tesla boss Elon Musk has moved some of the electric car giant’s business endeavors to red states like Texas.

Additionally, international competition has been ratcheting up. Chinese firms like BYD have been cranking out cheap electric vehicles globally at a furious clip, prompting the Biden administration to quadruple tariffs to 100% last year.

“Make no mistake, other states and nations like China are gunning for Michigan auto jobs,” Whitmer said. “For America to win, we must all recognize that all of us are on the same team. Both our state and national economy depend on our ability to work together.”

Trump has expressed a strong desire to protect domestic industry from foreign competition, including in China, with tariffs as his top weapon.

Whitmer, who campaigned aggressively for Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, walked a fine line on tariffs, which she noted could have repercussions for the auto industry.

“I’m not opposed to tariffs outright. We cannot treat them like a one-size-fits-all solution, and we certainly shouldn’t use them to punish our closest trading partners. Doing so hurts all of us, damaging supply chains, slowing production loads and cutting jobs on both sides,” she said.

The Wolverine State governor previously told the Associated Press that she hasn’t yet spoken with Trump but intends to do so over the coming weeks.

She outlined five ideas to boost the auto sector, including a payroll tax cut, more investments in housing as well as development, and infrastructure improvements.

“I don’t want to pretend we’re always going to agree, but I will always seek collaboration first. I won’t go looking for fights. I won’t back down from them either. So I’m not here to play games,” she said.

During the 2024 cycle, Whitmer actively shot down rumors that she was in the running to be Harris’ running and had warned against a second Trump administration.

Whitmer is term-limited and cannot seek another four years as governor in 2026, leaving her future uncertain.