About That Hug ... Whitmer Risks Backlash From Democrats As She Embraces Trump In Michigan

First came their much-analyzed Oval Office moment. Next, their subject-to-interpretation hug.

The two interactions between President Donald Trump and a sometime antagonist, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer , reflect the Democratic governor's efforts to move past last year's hard-fought campaign and find common ground with the Republican president - at risk of political backlash.

Whitmer, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, shared a hug with Trump as he arrived in her home state on Tuesday, less than a month after she shielded her face from cameras during an Oval Office appearance alongside Trump.

It's typical for a governor or another high-ranking state official to greet the president when he steps off Air Force One in their state, a tradition that has historically transcended partisanship.

But the embrace between Trump and Whitmer was notable at a time when Americans are increasingly saying Trump's priorities are off and Democrats are agitating for their leaders to take a more confrontational approach to the president.