Gretchen Whitmer Comments On Awkward Oval Office Encounter | EUROtoday

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) addressed the viral picture of her overlaying her face whereas on the White House final week, saying that she was in Washington, D.C., to assist her state’s residents get their electrical energy again.

After delivering a speech Monday on the Detroit Economic Club, James Jacob, the CEO of Ajax, sat down with Whitmer for a Q&A and instantly requested her about her time in nation’s capital. She jokingly held a folder in entrance of her face, recreating the now-viral picture of her doing the identical within the Oval Office.

“Someone asked me what was going through your mind in that moment and it was, ‘I don’t want my picture taken,’” Whitmer stated. “That’s all it was. God, I wish I hadn’t put my folder up in front of my face, but whatever.”

She added, “We all have our moments,” earlier than turning critical, telling Jacob that 5,500 Michigan residents are on Day 15 with out energy after an ice storm hit northern Michigan the weekend of March 28.

Whitmer stated she was in D.C. to make sure Michigan can get a federal declaration of emergency and get assist.

“I’m just there to fight for the people of Michigan and I’m never going to miss an opportunity to show up and do what needs to be done and I think that’s what public service is supposed to be about,” Whitmer stated on the Detroit Economic Club.

Whitmer was invited to the Oval Office whereas Trump signed a number of govt orders in entrance of press, together with one directing federal businesses to analyze authorities officers who questioned his false declare that the 2020 election was stolen. Trump praised Whitmer to the press, telling them she’s a “very good person” and has “really done an excellent job.” A spokesperson for Whitmer instructed NBC News she was “surprised” she was invited to the chief order signings.

“Her presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event,” a spokesperson stated.

Still the go to attracted critics, in keeping with NBC News. On prime of that, after Whitmer’s “Build, America, Build” tackle Wednesday in D.C., through which she stated she agreed with Trump’s “motivation behind the tariffs,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) referred to as her out for it.

“The ‘tariff hammer’ winds up hitting your own hand rather than the nail,” Polis posted Wednesday on X. “Tariffs are bad outright because they lead to higher prices and destroy American manufacturing. Trade is inherently good because both parties emerge better off from a consensual transaction. While sanctions (Russia, Iran) can have a geopolitical national security role, it should always be considered eyes wide open that sanctions harm both ourself and others.”