President Donald Trump listens as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks to members of the Michigan National Guard at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Tuesday, in Harrison Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
During the event on Tuesday, Trump unveiled plans to swap out the retiring A-10 Warthog aircraft based out of Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan with 21 brand-new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets.
Trump shared the details during a speech to National Guard members at the Michigan base before an event commemorating his 100th day in office.
"So I want to thank Governor Gretchen Whitmer for bringing it also to our attention very strongly. And, you know, I'm not supposed to do that. She's a Democrat. They say, 'Don't do that. Don't have her here.' I said, 'No, she's going to be here,'" Trump said. "She's done a very good job, frankly. And she's she was very much involved with, with the Republicans. They worked together on saving it. And it was not easy. So I want to thank you very much, Gretchen. Good job."
DEM GOVERNORS REVOLT AGAINST TRUMP'S 'LIBERATION DAY' TARIFFS
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer waits with Michigan National Guard adjutant general Major Gen. Paul Rogers at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Tuesday, in Harrison Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The governor's trip to Washington brought her 2028 presidential ambitions into the national conversation as she struck a diplomatic tone with Trump. She carefully criticized Trump's tariffs while saying she understood the "motivation behind the tariffs" and even agreeing with Trump that we "need to make more stuff in America."
Whitmer's Oval Office moment marked her second meeting with Trump in less than a month, and Tuesday’s meeting now marks the third. As Trump signed executive orders from the Oval Office on April 9 and answered questions from the press, he said Whitmer had "done an excellent job" as governor and called her a "very good person," a break from his typical lines of attack on her character.
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When Trump signed the executive orders calling for the investigation of two first-term administration aides who were critical of his actions, Whitmer’s office said she was brought into the room "without any notice" and that her appearance was "not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made."
But Trump called the issues "bipartisan" and jokingly added, "We'll all stand there together and cut a ribbon. OK, Gretchen?"
Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy and Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/blue-state-governor-another-appearance-trump-before-100-day-speech-happy-here