Gretchen Whitmer

Well, I'll just start with this. Selfridge is a really important linchpin in Michigan's bases. We've got four. Selfridge is the place where we have our fighter mission. The A-10s have been scheduled to be retired. And so I have spent every year since I've been governor trying to get recapitalized a fighter mission.

Well, I'll just start with this. Selfridge is a really important linchpin in Michigan's bases. We've got four. Selfridge is the place where we have our fighter mission. The A-10s have been scheduled to be retired. And so I have spent every year since I've been governor trying to get recapitalized a fighter mission.

Through the four years, to be candid, under the Biden administration, I was trying to get this done. We did get tankers, which is great, but it's not a fighter mission. So As soon as I had the opportunity for the first conversation at the National Governors Association dinner, I took the chance to say this is important.

Through the four years, to be candid, under the Biden administration, I was trying to get this done. We did get tankers, which is great, but it's not a fighter mission. So As soon as I had the opportunity for the first conversation at the National Governors Association dinner, I took the chance to say this is important.

And ever since then, I've had a number of meetings and phone calls just to try to get this over the finish line. And I'm grateful that they were interested. I know they care about Michigan. I think defense is a place where they see a need. And It took a lot of work to get there, but it's the right thing for Michigan.

And ever since then, I've had a number of meetings and phone calls just to try to get this over the finish line. And I'm grateful that they were interested. I know they care about Michigan. I think defense is a place where they see a need. And It took a lot of work to get there, but it's the right thing for Michigan.

There's no question that recapitalizing this, it's got $850 million impact on the state of Michigan. 30,000 jobs are connected to Selfridge. And so this is a BFD. And I'm glad that we got over the finish line. It doesn't mean I've abandoned any of my values. It doesn't mean that I'm not going to stand my ground and fight where we have to. But this is one of those moments where as a public servant,

There's no question that recapitalizing this, it's got $850 million impact on the state of Michigan. 30,000 jobs are connected to Selfridge. And so this is a BFD. And I'm glad that we got over the finish line. It doesn't mean I've abandoned any of my values. It doesn't mean that I'm not going to stand my ground and fight where we have to. But this is one of those moments where as a public servant,

You're reminded your job is to put service above self. And that's what it was all about.

You're reminded your job is to put service above self. And that's what it was all about.

Yeah, I mean, it's unconscionable. So many of the actions that they've taken in 100 days, the amount of damage that has been done. You know, I continue to stay grounded in talking to Michiganders, and I can tell you that the tariffs are taking a toll. Job losses, concerns about, you know, being able to afford an F-150.

Yeah, I mean, it's unconscionable. So many of the actions that they've taken in 100 days, the amount of damage that has been done. You know, I continue to stay grounded in talking to Michiganders, and I can tell you that the tariffs are taking a toll. Job losses, concerns about, you know, being able to afford an F-150.

You know, when I was at the White House in that folder in that infamous picture, you Inside that were real stories from Michiganders about how hard the tariffs have already been on their families, on their businesses, small businesses alike. And that's who I'm fighting for.

You know, when I was at the White House in that folder in that infamous picture, you Inside that were real stories from Michiganders about how hard the tariffs have already been on their families, on their businesses, small businesses alike. And that's who I'm fighting for.

And so to see that, to hear that, you could see why, you know, there's no way on earth I was doing anything beyond that press conference yesterday. because I think so much of what they're doing is damaging not just here and now, but they're going to have long-term consequences in this country.

And so to see that, to hear that, you could see why, you know, there's no way on earth I was doing anything beyond that press conference yesterday. because I think so much of what they're doing is damaging not just here and now, but they're going to have long-term consequences in this country.

And that's precisely why I think it's important that we are showing up, we are locking arms, and we are the party that is fighting for the average hard-working person in this country.

And that's precisely why I think it's important that we are showing up, we are locking arms, and we are the party that is fighting for the average hard-working person in this country.

We are and I think that no one is above the law. The thought that we've got an administration that is just blatantly violating court orders should, I think, scare everybody. This is a very serious moment. You know, at the end of the day, I hope that we finally see some backbone out of some of the Republicans in Congress, you know, to stand up to the courts to enforce their orders.

We are and I think that no one is above the law. The thought that we've got an administration that is just blatantly violating court orders should, I think, scare everybody. This is a very serious moment. You know, at the end of the day, I hope that we finally see some backbone out of some of the Republicans in Congress, you know, to stand up to the courts to enforce their orders.