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

[0:02] Welcome back. Joining me now is the Democratic governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer. Governor [0:07] Whitmer, welcome back to Meet the Press. Good morning. Good morning. Thank you for being here. [0:13] Let's start with the state of play in Michigan. You backed Haley Stevens, of course, in the [0:18] Democratic primary. Looking at where things stand right now, what's your message to Democrats who [0:25] are still on the fence, who are not convinced that they're going to vote for Abdul El-Sayed? [0:30] Well, I think this is an important moment. We know that the cost of living, the brutal costs that [0:39] have been put onto the American people through tariffs and a war with Iran has made life so [0:45] much harder for Michiganders. And that's precisely why it's important that we support the Democratic [0:51] ticket. That's why I am out campaigning and will be through Election Day. But this is a moment where [0:56] we need leaders in Washington, D.C., who will hold the president and the White House accountable, [1:02] will fight to bring down tariffs and the chaos that has been created by this administration. [1:08] Let me ask you, because you saw my exchange with Congressman Mike Rogers, who's leaning into [1:15] what he has argued are these alleged associations with family members, with Abdul El-Sayed, [1:22] with the Muslim Brotherhood, which Abdul El-Sayed has denied. How do you think Abdul El-Sayed has [1:27] handled that? Has he answered for that firmly enough? [1:33] Well, I just say what we're seeing across the country is Republicans who are trying to change [1:38] the conversation. The last thing they want to talk about is how they make people's lives better [1:42] because they don't have a plan. They are so tied with the Trump administration, tariffs and war with [1:48] Iran. And so they're not talking about the things that really matter to voters. And having won Michigan [1:54] twice by large margins, I always was able to build a coalition with a variety of diverse groups of [2:01] voters. And that's always my advice to anyone running statewide Michigan. You've got to build bridges [2:07] with all of these communities. Everyone in Michigan matters. We've got to hear from them. [2:11] We've got to make sure that we're fighting for them. [2:13] I want to ask you about this Trump administration lawsuit around Alaska's Senate ballot. You've [2:19] already urged Michiganders to vote early to avoid potential what you have referred to as [2:24] shenanigans from the Trump administration. As governor, what do you think this late stage [2:29] lawsuit in Alaska could mean for Michigan? Well, I think it tells you that they're scared. They're [2:37] seeing that people are angry with an agenda that has made their lives more costly, not less, [2:43] which is what they were promised. And so they're going to pull out all the stops to try to undermine [2:48] our confidence in the election, to try to bring foolish lawsuits that are ridiculous. [2:54] States run elections. We run elections in Michigan and we abide by them, even if we don't like the [2:59] result, as was the case two years ago. I still made sure that that election got certified. And so that is [3:05] our job. Anyone who comes in to try to undermine that or intimidate people will be met with the full [3:13] force of Michigan law and law enforcement. [3:15] Let me ask you, because you obviously are about to round out your second term as governor. I know [3:24] you're working hard to try to get Jocelyn Benson elected, but I want to move to your relationship with [3:29] President Trump. In his first term, you were very critical of his response to the COVID pandemic. [3:36] You even said at one point he was inciting domestic terrorism after that plot to kidnap you. This term, [3:43] though, very different. You visited the Oval Office. You've thanked him in speeches. It's a very [3:48] different strategy than we've seen, for example, from a J.B. Pritzker or a Gavin Newsom. What changed, [3:54] Governor? Nothing changed, Kristen. The fact of the matter is, I took an oath to serve the [4:00] people of Michigan. When we weren't getting what we needed to keep people safe during COVID, [4:05] I took on the White House. And I will take them on if they try to undermine this election. We've [4:10] filed a lot of lawsuits despite the last 18 months where I've tried to build some bridges there. [4:15] My job is to show up for the people of Michigan. If that means I can get a fighter mission at [4:19] Selfridge Air National Guard Base, I'm going to show up. It means if I've got to take you on in court [4:24] because you're trying to undermine our election, I'm going to take you on. I don't go looking for [4:28] fights, but I don't back down from them either. Let's talk about the Democratic Party, past and [4:34] future. Democrats obviously lost the state of Michigan in 2024, lost the presidency. Why do you [4:43] think that is, Governor? I think people really believe that a second Trump administration was [4:51] going to make their lives easier. And now they've found out that they've been betrayed. And I think [4:56] that's why you see Jocelyn Benson running such a strong campaign here in Michigan. [5:01] Kristen, this will be for a little context. This will be the first time in my lifetime [5:06] we will have a Democrat to Democratic administration hand off in the governor's office. That tells you [5:13] that what we have done here in Michigan has largely been seen by Michigan voters and the Michigan public [5:19] to help them on the ground. The pain that we're all experiencing, whether it is six grand in tariff [5:26] costs or it is an Iran war that is jacking up our gas prices to some of the highest in the nation, [5:33] that is all choices that have been made by the Trump White House. And so it's very clear who's [5:38] fighting to help you get ahead and keep more money in your pocket. It's been what we've done at the state [5:43] level, despite the pain that has come out of Washington, D.C. And I think that's why you see [5:48] Jocelyn Benson running such a strong campaign here. And frankly, Democratic governors across the country [5:53] and our candidates as well. Let me ask you, because you told me on this program in August of 2024, [5:58] quote, I think President Biden is going to go down as one of the greatest presidents we've had [6:04] in a long time in this country. Do you still feel that way, Governor? [6:09] I think it's too early to know what ultimately his reputation and feeling is going to be. There [6:16] were some really historic wins that happened, but certainly it set us up for a Trump 2.0, [6:23] and I think that's been incredibly devastating. So the history books will tell us in many years from [6:29] now. But what I can tell you is having traveled across the country from Ohio to Arizona to Pennsylvania, [6:37] Wisconsin, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico. And that's just in the last couple of weeks. [6:43] I can tell you that across this country, Americans are hurting. And if you ask yourself, [6:47] are you better off than you were two years ago? For most Americans, the answer is no. [6:52] Let's look ahead to the next election cycle. We have seen you on the campaign trail in New Mexico [6:58] and Nevada, some of the key presidential states. Of course, the last thing I heard you say about a [7:03] potential presidential run was, quote, never say never. Right now, are you ruling out a bid for [7:10] 2028, Governor? Right now, I am trying to make sure that we have that Democratic to Democratic [7:18] handoff come January 1 when I exit office. And then I'm going to take a little time off and figure [7:23] out what I want to do next. So I've got nothing new to share with you, unfortunately, Kristen. [7:28] But so you're considering it, it sounds like. You know what? I'm going to stay focused on [7:34] getting people like Amy Acton over the finish line. What's happened to her in Ohio is absolutely [7:40] abhorrent. And any survivor knows there's always a backlash. But this is what makes it harder for [7:45] women to seek help after they've been sexually assaulted in this country. It is unreal what's going [7:51] on. And that's why we've got to we've got to win races like this and elect good people who are going to [7:56] keep the people at the heart of their work like Dr. Amy Acton. Well, let me ask it this way. And [8:03] you kind of take me to this question based on how you answered that. Former First Lady Michelle Obama [8:09] said she doesn't think America is ready for a woman president. Do you think America is ready to elect [8:15] a woman president? Listen, I have got a lot of colleagues who I think are probably interested in [8:23] running for president. And I've heard everyone say you can't have this person or that person. [8:28] I would put my money on any Democratic governor in the country against J.D. Vance or Marco [8:34] Rubio in 2028. So time will tell who the slate of candidates are. But I do think that when Democrats [8:42] stay focused on delivering for people and making their lives easier and helping to keep more money [8:47] in your pocket, I think that's going to be a compelling message for whomever the candidate is. [8:51] And do you think it could be a woman? [8:52] I do. [8:56] All right. Governor Gretchen Whitmer, thank you very much for joining us in this [9:00] Nine Days Until Election Day. Appreciate it. [9:02] Thank you. [9:04] Thank you.