Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she censors her criticisms of President Donald Trump to ensure that Michigan continues to receive aid from the federal government.
Asked in an Axios interview if she censors her comments about POTUS “for the sake of continuing to receive federal assistance,” Whitmer said, “Yes.”
Whitmer also said she has worried about criticism from Trump over Twitter.
“The worst night sleep that I’ve gotten in the last 10 weeks is when he has attacked me on Twitter,” Whitmer told Axios.
The Michigan governor has sparked protests in her state over strict stay-at-home orders prohibiting Michigan residents from visiting their family and friends, holding public and private gatherings of any kind, and restricting which businesses may operate.
I love Michigan, one of the reasons we are doing such a GREAT job for them during this horrible Pandemic. Yet your Governor, Gretchen “Half” Whitmer is way in over her head, she doesn’t have a clue. Likes blaming everyone for her own ineptitude! #MAGA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2020
“The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire. These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal,” Trump tweeted May 1.
The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire. These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 1, 2020
The full Axios interview with Whitmer will air Monday on HBO.
Despite protests against her strict lockdowns, the Whitmer has not backed down.
Whitmer has said that her executive orders are “not optional” during a press conference. “I expect people to follow the law. These executive orders are not a suggestion. They’re not optional. They’re not helpful hints,” Whitmer said May 11.
She also blamed politics for the pushback and protests against her orders.
“There is a lot of politics at play here, unfortunately,” Whitmer told Fox News in May. “The protests are very political in nature instead of being focused on the stay-at-home order.” (RELATED: A Million Michigan Residents Stopped Staying Home After Whitmer Extended Lockdown, Data Show)
“But I’ve been focused on doing my job, and I’m going to keep doing that and I’m not going to apologize about that,” Whitmer said, before adding, “I’m not changing the way I run this state because of some protests.”
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