President Donald Trump had some strong words for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Thursday during an interview on FOX Business.
Trump spoke on Michiganders’ opinion of Whitmer and states being shut down in response to COVID-19.
“She [Whitmer] wants to be a dictator in Michigan, and they can’t stand her,” Trump said.
Trump’s statement comes after news of the domestic terrorist plot orchestrated by 14 men to kidnap the governor. The plan was foiled by federal agents on Oct. 8.
Critics have attributed the failed kidnapping to Trump’s disapproval of Whitmer. In April, Trump tweeted “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” after Whitmer issued a stay-at-home order requiring Michiganders to quarantine in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Michigan officials have confirmed over 141,000 cases of COVID-19, over 6,000 have resulted in deaths.
The president and governor have gone back-and-forth over the past few months attacking each other. In August, Michigan dropped out of the ranking in the top 15 states with high COVID-19 rates in astudy by Johns Hopkins University.
Whitmer has also made her opinion of Trump known.
The Michigan governor criticized Trump’s executive decisions and inability to express fault with the choices of some Americans.
“Our head of state has spent the past 7 months denying science, ignoring his own health experts, stoking distrust, fomenting anger and giving comfort to those who spread fear and hatred and division,” Whitmer said.
Following the failed kidnap attempt, Whitmer expressed the belief Americans should join together to tackle America’s darkest issues.
“This should be a moment for national unity where we all pull together as Americans to meet this challenge head-on,” she said.
Trump spoke ill of Whitmer’s choices as governor saying, “Governor Whitmer of Michigan has done a terrible job. She locked down her state for everyone, except her husband’s boating activities.” He later urged her to open schools and churches in Michigan, unaware that some institutions, religious and educational, have been open for weeks.