This past weekend at USC, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books hosted Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a guest all the way from my home, the Great Lakes State of Michigan.

It’s a chaotic moment in United States politics all across the country, and Michigan, my water-winter wonderland, seems to be stepping into the national spotlight. 

Whitmer, or as many know her, “Big Gretch,” has been governor since 2019, leading Michigan through a turbulent period, featuring a pandemic, armed protesters and a kidnapping scheme. All of this has made the Democratic governor a notable figure in U.S. politics and put her on the shortlist of Democratic leaders who may run for the 2028 Presidential election.

She also made headlines recently with an ill-fated visit to the White House. Expecting a one-on-one meeting with President Donald Trump, the governor was surprised by a press conference, where the president signed multiple executive orders. 

The images from this occasion were unflattering, featuring her shying away from cameras and hiding behind her folders. Yet these pictures, and the event that they came from, can help us understand what is happening in the Democratic Party right now.

The Democratic Party has felt fractured since Trump took office. So much of what Trump has done has seemed destructive to the foundations of our government, as well as unconstitutional. Consequently, the idea of working with Trump seems like giving up to many Democrats. So, the question has become whether government officials in the Democratic Party should work with the President.

In going to the White House, Whitmer exposed the divisions within the Democratic Party about this conundrum. Many Democratic leaders have spoken out strongly against Trump and have worked in many ways to oppose Trump’s plans directly. However, given Whitmer’s prominence in the Democratic Party, her visit to the White House is telling. 

What Whitmer did in the White House stands as an embarrassment to her party and her state, but I believe it is worth exploring further, as it gives us a glimpse into the minds of our Democratic leaders. 

Michigan is uniquely affected by Trump’s policies right now. As the center of the U.S. auto industry, Michigan has been especially impacted by Trump’s chaotic and incoherent tariff policies. Initially, a plan to implement a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico created chaos in Detroit, where an automobile can cross the U.S.-Canada border up to eight times during manufacturing. 

When these tariffs were canceled, they were quickly replaced by worldwide tariffs, which have also been delayed for at least 90 days. One of Trump’s stated purposes for these tariffs is to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. However, experts believe that the uncertainty of the tariffs may instead make manufacturers more hesitant to establish firm plans regarding their future.

When Whitmer visited the White House, she was seeking aid for an ice storm that had hit northern Michigan, funding for a Selfridge Air Base and help fighting against an invasive species of carp. But it is not hard to believe that Whitmer is also working to improve her relationship with the current president in order to spare the residents of her state from experiencing the brunt of Trump’s tariffs. 

In working with the president, Whitmer is going against much of her party, even within her own state. From her behavior in the White House, it seems like this is something that she is ashamed of doing. 

Still, while part of this meeting took place behind folders, it seems to have paid off. On April 29, Trump visited Michigan, addressing all of Whitmer’s concerns, as well as walking back tariffs implemented on automakers. With Whitmer’s successes in working with the Trump Administration, her humiliated acceptance of collaborating with the president is something that could become more common as other states begin to feel the effects of Trump’s policies.

While many Democrats stand firm in their commitment to fight against President Trump’s administration, Whitmer’s White House visit reminds us what happens when our leaders feel the heat of a faltering economy. As strongly opposed to Trump as our Democratic leaders are now, a poor economy may change their tune. When other Democratic states begin to experience the effects of Trump’s economy, our Democratic leaders might also start meeting with Trump, hiding behind their own folders. 

As we continue under this administration, we as citizens must decide what is right. Do we accept the compromises of our leaders in working with Trump? Or do we resist? Michigan has been struggling economically primarily because of Trump’s policies. 

To protect our states, we must make it clear to our leaders that quiet submission is not what we want.