Gretchen Whitmer says Republicans ‘don’t have a plan’ to lower costs: Full interview

Welcome back. Joining me now is the Democratic governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer. Governor Whitmer, welcome back to Meet the Press. Good morning. Good morning. Thank you for being here. Let's start with the state of play in Michigan. You backed Haley Stevens, of course, in the Democratic primary. Looking at where things stand right now, what's your message to Democrats who are still on the fence, who are not convinced that they're going to vote for Abdul El-Sayed? Well, I think this is an important moment. We know that the cost of living, the brutal costs that have been put onto the American people through tariffs and a war with Iran. has made life so much harder for Michiganders and that's precisely why it's important that we support the Democratic ticket. That's why I am out campaigning and will be through Election Day. But this is a moment where we need leaders in Washington, D.C. who will hold the President and the White House accountable, will fight to bring down tariffs and the chaos that has been created by this administration. Let me ask you, because you saw my exchange with Congressman Mike Rogers, who's leaning into what he has argued are these alleged associations with family members, with Abdul El-Sayed, with the Muslim Brotherhood, which Abdul El-Sayed has denied. How do you think Abdul El-Sayed has handled that? Has he answered for that firmly enough? I want to say what we're seeing across the country is Republicans who are trying to change the conversation. The last thing they want to talk about is how they make people's lives better because they don't have a plan. They are so tied with the Trump administration, tariffs and war with Iran. And so they're not talking about the things that really matter to voters. And I having won Michigan twice by large margins, I always was able to build a coalition with a variety of diverse groups of voters. And that's always my advice, too. I want to ask you about this Trump administration lawsuit around Alaska's Senate ballot. You've already urged Michiganders to vote early to avoid potential what you have referred to as shenanigans from the Trump administration. As governor, what do you think this late-stage lawsuit in Alaska could mean for Michigan? Well, I think it tells you that they're scared. They're seeing that people are angry with an agenda that has made their lives more costly, not less, which is what they were promised. And so they're going to pull out all the stops to try to undermine our confidence in the election, to try to bring, you know, Foolish lawsuits that are ridiculous. States run elections. We run elections in Michigan and we abide by them. Even if we don't like the result, as was the case two years ago, I still made sure that that election got certified. And so that is our job. Anyone who comes in to try to undermine that or intimidate people will be met with the full force of Michigan law and law enforcement. Let me ask you, because you obviously are about to round out your second term as governor. I know you're working hard to try to get Jocelyn Benson elected, but I want to move to your relationship with President Trump. In his first speech, First term, you were very critical of his response to the COVID pandemic. You even said at one point he was inciting domestic terrorism after that plot to kidnap you. This term, though, very different. You visited the Oval Office. You thanked him in speeches. It's a very different strategy than we've seen, for example, from a J.B. Pritzker or a Gavin Newsom. What changed, Governor? Nothing changed, Kristen. The fact of the matter is I took an oath to serve the people of Michigan. When we weren't getting what we needed to keep people safe during COVID, I took on the White House and I will take them on if they try to undermine this election. We filed a lot of lawsuits despite the last 18 months where I've tried to build some bridges there. My job is to show up for the people of Michigan. If that means I can get a fighter mission at Selfridge Air Air National Guard Base. I'm going to show up. It means if I've got to take you on in court because you're trying to undermine our election, I'm going to take you on. I don't go looking for fights, but I don't back down from them either. Let's talk about the Democratic Party, past and future. Democrats obviously lost the state of Michigan in 2024, lost the presidency. Why do you think that is, Governor? I think people really believed that a second Trump administration was going to make their lives easier. And now they've found out that they've been betrayed. And I think that's why you see Jocelyn Benson running such a strong campaign here in Michigan. Kristen, this will be, for a little context, this will be the first time in my lifetime we will have a Democrat-to-Democratic administration handoff in the governor's office. Tells you that what we have done here in Michigan has largely been seen by Michigan voters and the Michigan public to help them on the ground. The pain that we're all experiencing, whether it is six grand in tariff costs, or it is an Iran, War that is jacking up our gas prices to some of the highest in the nation. That is all choices that have been made by the Trump White House. And so it's very clear who's fighting to help you get ahead and keep more money in your pocket. It's been what we've done at the state level, despite the pain that has come out of Washington, D.C. And I think that's why you see. Jocelyn Benson running such a strong campaign here and frankly, Democratic governors across the country and our candidates as well. Let me ask you, because you told me on this program in August of 2024, quote, I think President Biden is going to go down as one of the greatest presidents we've had in a long time in this country. Do you still feel that way, Governor? I think it's too early to know what ultimately his reputation and feeling is going to be. There were some really historic wins that happened, but certainly, you know, it set us up for a Trump 2.0, and I think that's been incredibly devastating. So the history books will tell us in many years from now, but what I can tell you is Having traveled across the country from Ohio to Arizona to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, and that's just in the last couple of weeks, I can tell you that across this country, Americans are hurting. And if you ask yourself, are you better off than you were two years ago, for most Americans, the answer is no. Let's look ahead to the next election cycle. We have seen you on the campaign trail in New Mexico and Nevada, some of the key presidential candidates. States, of course, the last thing I heard you say about a potential presidential run was, quote, never say never. Right now, are you ruling out a bid for 2028, Governor? Right now, I am trying to make sure that we have that Democratic to Democratic handoff come January 1 when I exit office. And then I'm going to take a little time off and figure out what I want to do next. So I've got nothing new to share with you, unfortunately, Kristen. But so you're considering it, it sounds like. You know what? I'm going to stay focused on getting people like Amy Acton over the finish line. What's happened to her in Ohio is absolutely abhorrent, and any survivor knows there's always a backlash, but this is what makes it harder for women to seek help after they've been sexually assaulted in this country. It is unreal what's going on, and that's why we've got to win races like this and elect good people who are going to keep the people at the heart of their work, like Dr. Amy Acton. Well, let me ask it this way, and you kind of take me to this question based on how you answered that. Former First Lady Michelle Obama said she doesn't think America is ready for a woman president. Do you think America is ready to elect a woman president? Listen, I have got a lot of colleagues who I think are probably interested in running for president. And I've heard everyone say, you can't have this person or that person. I would put my money on any Democratic governor in the country against J.D. Vance or Marco Rubio in 2028. So time will tell who the slate of candidates are. But I do think that when Democrats stay focused on delivering for people and making their lives easier and helping you keep more money in your pocket, I think that's going to be a compelling message for whomever the candidate is. And do you think it could be a woman? I do. All right. Governor Gretchen Whitmer, thank you very much for joining us on this nine days until Election Day. Appreciate it. Thank you.