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 id behind a set of blue folders she was holding earlier than her scheduled assembly with Trump on April 9, in line with a photograph taken by the New York Instances.
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 workforce claims Whitmer was stunned when she was introduced into the Oval Workplace in entrance of the cameras as Trump signed a number of govt orders and proclamations.
Critics seen the viral picture 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 handle a number of points affecting her state.
“Gretchen Whitmer hiding behind her files in the White House is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. This is what my 2-year-old does,” one X person commented.
“Whitmer covering her face is the perfect metaphor for the Democratic Party,” one other stated.
“President Trump broke Governor Whitmer,” learn a 3rd remark.
Others took a take a look at Whitmer’s previous actions on digicam and questioned her motives whereas on the White Home.
“I need help understanding Democrat thinking. Gretchen Whitmer was embarrassed to be photographed standing in the Oval Office, but not embarrassed enough to do this,” 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 a number of other of Trump’s cupboard secretaries.
Throughout the look, Trump ordered the Justice Division to launch investigations of “Anonymous” 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 “an excellent job” in Michigan.
“We’re honored to have Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, great state of Michigan, and she’s been, she’s really done an excellent job, very good person,” he stated.
She didn’t have any prior information of the signing ceremony, her workplace advised CNN.
Not one of the orders signed by Trump had been backed by Whitmer, as her workforce ensured her presence wasn’t an endorsement.
However supporters of the two-term governor nonetheless criticized her for being within the room.
“This does not look like the politics of resistance,” CNN host Audie Cornish stated.
“Just a f–king disaster,” one Democratic operative advised NBC Information anonymously. “It feels like it removes some of 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 business throughout his inaugural speech, in line with the New York Instances.
She had additionally written her cellphone quantity down, telling Trump to name her if wanted.
