A Michigan governor was conspicuously trying to avoid attention while visiting the White House.
Gretchen Whitmer, considered a potential Democratic candidate for the 2028 presidential race, was seen trying to shield her face while in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump addressed the media.
The 53-year-old governor was photographed obscuring her face with a stack of blue binders, positioned between two White House aides.
Her effort to distance herself from the President came after she visited the White House with a bipartisan group to discuss Michigan’s defense, tariffs, and an ice storm on Wednesday.
The incident drew significant criticism, with political commentator Keith Olbermann tweeting: “It’s rare when you get a shot of the EXACT moment a politician’s career ends, but there you go.”
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith remarked: “Listen, she’s the governor of Michigan. She has no choice but to do that. Anybody that thinks otherwise is just being foolish and immature and childish.”
On ABC News, Smith further commented: “The fact is, she’s the governor of a state in the United States of America. You need to do business with the federal government.
“He’s the president of the United States. You don’t get to circumvent him.”
According to the New York Times, Whitmer appeared ‘glum’ during the press conference while Trump signed additional executive orders.
Conversely, some praised Whitmer’s actions, suggesting she was unexpectedly put in that position and performed a ‘brilliant protest’.
On Reddit, a user commented: “Russian-style propaganda to sneak photos. Excellent in her for not falling into their trap!”
Another added: “When she saw cameras, she should have turned back. Ambushed.”
“She was invited for a private discussion about her state, which is currently reeling from the tariff rollercoaster,” another user noted. “Instead, Trump turned it into this, in an effort to undermine her impact and support.”
“Big congratulations and applause to her,” a fourth person said. “At the end of the day, she did what we all would’ve done.”
In a statement to CNN, Whitmer’s spokesperson mentioned she was ‘surprised’ by the media event.
“The governor was surprised that she was brought into the Oval Office during President Trump’s press conference without any notice of the subject matter,” the spokesperson stated. “Her presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event.”
Whitmer later explained at a college event why she concealed her face, saying: “It was not where I wanted to be or planned to be or would have liked to have been.
“I disagree with a lot of stuff that was said and the actions that were taken. But I stayed in the room because I needed to make the case for Michigan, and that’s my job.”
Her attempts to hide during the conference followed after the president praised the Michigan governor.
“We’re honored to have Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, great state of Michigan,” Trump stated. “And she’s been, she’s really done an excellent job, very good person.”
This was a notable change from his comments about her five years ago during the pandemic when he expressed having a ‘big problem’ with her.
“[A]ll she does is sit there and blame the federal government,” Trump said at the time.