NBC’s Seth Meyers gushed over Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday’s installment of Late Night when he recalled how she has managed to clear the lowest of bars by claiming she will not automatically refuse all cooperation with the Trump Administration. According to Meyers, this showed “how much you care” about the people of Michigan.
Meyers declared to Whitmer that Democrats in Congress have a different role, “I feel like there's two different roles for the Democratic Party right now. I think, you know, it is incumbent upon Democratic members of the Senate and the House to get in the way of, you know, his agenda.”
If a Republican said that, Meyers would label them as blind partisans who want to see the country fail, but nevertheless, he rolled on, “But I do feel like as a Democratic governor—you have even said you're not looking to pick fights with him. You do want to work together with this administration, and I feel like that speaks to how much you care about the people in your state.”
Quite proud of herself, Whitmer replied, “Well, I got a job to do and, you know, when I took my oath of office, just like my colleagues, it was to serve our people. And, you know, as capable as I am to throw a counterpunch, I don't. Because my oath is to the people of Michigan and that means working with whomever is in the White House. It also means living my values. And I don't look for a fight, but I don't back down from one either. I'm going to fight for the people of Michigan and the people of this country.”
Elsewhere in the interview, the duo made some discussion about tariffs, trade, and electric vehicles, but it was mostly a softball book tour with discussion ranging from the Detroit Lions to the time she knocked her teeth out at church camp. Whitmer's young adult version of her memoir can be seen as the opening of the 2028 election, but even a new election follows old patterns, such as Democratic politicians finding comfy interviews on the late night comedy shows.
Here is a transcript for the January 29-taped show:
NBC Late Night with Seth Meyers
1/30/2025
1:01 AM ET
SETH MEYERS: I feel like there's two different roles for the Democratic Party right now. I think, you know, it is incumbent upon Democratic members of the Senate and the House to get in the way of, you know, his agenda, but I do feel like as a Democratic governor — you have even said you're not looking to pick fights with him. You do want to work together with this administration, and I feel like that speaks to how much you care about the people in your state.
GRETCHEN WHITMER: Well, I got a job to do and, you know, when I took my oath of office, just like my colleagues, it was to serve our people. And, you know, as capable as I am to throw a counterpunch, I don't. Because my oath is to the people of Michigan and that means working with whomever is in the White House. It also means living my values. And I don't look for a fight, but I don't back down from one either. I'm going to fight for the people of Michigan and the people of this country.
