President Trump slams Gov. Whitmer as he weighs disaster request for Michigan

Mar. 27--President Donald Trump attacked Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on the Sean Hannity Show on Fox News Thursday, saying he is weighing a disaster declaration for Michigan, but "it's not been pleasant" dealing with Whitmer.

"We've had a big problem with the young, a woman governor from -- you know who I'm talking about -- from Michigan," Trump told Hannity. "We can't --we don't like to see the complaints."

Trump said "most governors have been fantastic." But he criticized Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and, in Whitmer's case, "she's not stepping up," he said. "I don't know if she knows what's going on, but all she does is sit there and blame the federal government. She doesn't get it done and we send her a lot," Trump said.

"Now she wants a declaration of emergency and, uh, you know, we'll have to make a decision on that."

Whitmer, a Democrat, on Thursday asked for a federal disaster declaration through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help the state fight the coronavirus pandemic. About seven states have already received such a designation.

Whitmer has been repeatedly critical of the federal government, saying there has been a lack of planning and a slow response to the pandemic and no national strategy, leaving states to largely fend for themselves and compete against one another to obtain needed test kits, ventilators, masks, gowns, thermometers and other items.

She took a swipe back at Trump on Twitter, soon after the interview with Hannity aired.

Trump, a Republican, had not used Whitmer's name as he criticized her, instead referencing her as a young "woman governor."

Whitmer began her reply tweet by saying: "Hi, my name is Gretchen Whitmer, and that governor is me."

She added: "I've asked repeatedly and respectfully for help. We need it. No more political attacks, just PPEs (personal protection equipment), ventilators, N95 masks, test kits. You said you stand with Michigan -- prove it."

Michigan's request for a disaster declaration came one day after the Free Press revealed that Michigan had not yet made a request to FEMA, at a time when several other states had already had their requests granted.

Whitmer said Friday on WDET that Trump's comment are puzzling to her.

"I think I made an observation about the lack of preparedness on the front end when we knew that COVID-19 was coming to the United States, and I think I must have struck a nerve and that's incredibly unfortunate because we have to stay focused on the here and now," she said. "We're really struggling to get the kind of assistance that we need."

She again mentioned competition for personal protection equipment that she was trying to get shipped to Michigan.

"We've gotten some of these contracts (for PPE), but just last night, I was informed by the team that some of these contracts are being canceled because the goods are been redirected to the federal government," she said. "It's one thing to tell us we have to find things elsewhere, it's a whole other to get in the way of our ability to do that."

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter.

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