On Tuesday, President Donald Trump approved a new fighter jet mission for an Air National Guard post in Michigan, easing concerns that the base may close and giving Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a longstanding foe, a victory. They even gave one other a hug.
With establishing a new mission for Selfridge Air National Guard Base as a primary priority, Whitmer has loosened her posture toward Trump in an attempt to find common ground.
Given how unpopular the president is with Democrats and the animosity from the arduous campaign last year, their acceptance as the Republican president landed in Michigan was a noteworthy development.
When questioned about their embrace, Whitmer gave a different account of the interaction, saying, “I was the first one he greeted. We shook hands and he leaned in to tell me, you know, congratulations and that I was a big reason that we were making an announcement today. And I was grateful for that.”
At the air base, Selfridge has “stood as a crucial pillar of North American air defense” for decades, according to Trump.
“In recent years, many in Michigan have feared for the future of the base. They’ve been calling everybody, but the only one that mattered is Trump,” he stated. “Today I have come in person to lay to rest any doubt about Selfridge’s future.”
To help ensure Selfridge stays open, state authorities have been working for years to replace the base’s outdated fleet of A-10 aircraft, which are scheduled to be decommissioned. Trump announced on Tuesday that 21 F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets that were “fresh off the line” will replace the retiring A-10s.
As he landed in Michigan to celebrate his 100th day in office, Trump said the governor, who accompanied him on a brief motorcade ride to the base, had been “very effective” in promoting Selfridge. Notably, though, Whitmer did not mention Trump in her own spontaneous comments.
“I am really damn happy we’re here to celebrate this recapitalization at Selfridge,” she stated. “It’s crucial for the Michigan economy, it’s crucial for the men and women here, for our homeland security and our future. So thank you. I’m so, so grateful that this announcement was made today and I appreciate all the work.”
According to the office of Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich, the installation, which is 30 miles north of Detroit, supports roughly 5,000 military and civilian personnel and has an estimated economic effect of $850 million on the state.
Whitmer, who has called the station “a key defense hub and economic anchor,” has pushed several administrations, including former Democratic President Joe Biden’s and Trump’s during his first term, to secure a new role for the base. Selfridge lost a proposal for an F-35A Lightning combat jet, the Air Force reported in 2017.
For the announcement, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Selfridge independently of the president.
Regardless of the military ramifications, Whitmer won a victory thanks to Trump’s declaration, but it’s unclear what political cost she could have incurred to get it.
There have been many references to the governor as a possible presidential candidate. Whitmer has promised that she will look for areas of agreement with Trump as she seeks to increase her national image.
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However, other Democrats would prefer to see the party fight Trump and his team whenever possible because they believe that the president and his administration are so damaging.
Whitmer met with Trump in Washington earlier this month to talk about Selfridge and other Michigan-related concerns, including as the high tariffs Trump has placed on Canada and other trading partners.
According to the governor, she was abruptly escorted into the Oval Office, where she awkwardly stood while the Republican president signed executive orders and attacked his political rivals for a picture.
Whitmer was photographed holding up a folder during her presentation in an attempt to conceal her face from the cameras.
During Whitmer’s visit, Trump expressed his desire to maintain the base “open, strong, thriving.”
He carried out that Tuesday at a time when Michigan’s unemployment rate has increased for three months in a row, including a 1.3% increase in March that brought it to 5.5%, according to state data. That price is higher than the national average.
