Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, Michigan after President Donald Trump announced a new F-15 squadron would be based there. April 29, 2025 | CSPAN Screenshot

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer continues to have President Donald Trump’s ear and met with him in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to discuss the impact in Michigan of tariffs and cuts to Medicaid in the latest federal budget.

Whitmer’s team told Michigan Advance that the governor presented Trump with information about Medicaid and tariffs, but also jobs and opportunities burgeoning in Genesee County. One of the key talking points was a request for a longer transition period for some of the major cuts to Medicaid.

The governor also met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles while at the White House.

“I’ve always said that I’ll work with anyone to get things done for Michigan. That’s why I’ve continued to go to Washington, D.C. to make sure that Michiganders are front and center when critical decisions are being made,” Whitmer said in a statement. “This year alone, we’ve secured major, bipartisan wins including a new fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County, funding to protect our Great Lakes from invasive carp, and federal disaster support for communities in Northern Michigan impacted by historic ice storms.”

On Medicaid and the cuts detailed in the president’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Whitmer asked Trump for a larger buffer for the changes to take effect, noting that millions of Michiganders – including seniors, people with disabilities, new moms and rural constituents – would likely experience disruptions. The request was aimed at lessening those disruptions.

Whitmer told Trump that Michigan was also seeking flexibility and clarity after recent changes to the Insurance Provider Assessment, a health care related tax with both a fixed and variable rate structure on non-Medicaid health insurers, prepaid inpatient health plans and Medicaid managed care services.

Two changes were sought from Trump. First, Whitmer asked Trump for a three-year period allowing Michigan to bring in stakeholders to develop a new, federally compliant structure that maintains Medicaid stability. Second, Whitmer asked the president for deeper collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to build a framework ensuring provider assessments meet the current policy.

Whitmer told Trump that the assessment generates substantial revenue for Medicaid and has a total statewide impact of around $2.7 billion, and Medicaid represents one-third of the state’s budget.

Giving Michigan flexibility would help more than 2.6 million residents, Whitmer said.

On tariffs, Whitmer shared with Trump the negative impact they are starting to have and will have in the future.

With Michigan’s economy tied to the auto industry, tariffs have a disproportionate impact on that sector, a note she relayed to Trump, who bragged about how much he loved the American and Michigan auto industry relentlessly on the 2016, 2020 and 2024 campaign trails. Whitmer extolled to Trump that 9.2% of the state’s gross domestic product came from auto manufacturing.

Trump’s signature USMCA trade deal pumped investment into Michigan, with $23.2 billion from automakers and $14.7 billion from auto suppliers.

Advanced manufacturing in Genesee County was also an item of discussion, with Whitmer encouraging Trump to work with her and other Michigan officials to grow that site for American jobs. Whitmer called the site a nation-leading asset ready for a bigger, better deal – which is how she posed it to Trump.

Whitmer said that Michigan is ready to work with locals, Republicans, Democrats and the private sector to get it done and make generational investments in Flint.

“We should do everything in our power to lower costs and grow more good-paying jobs in Michigan,” Whitmer said. “I appreciate the president’s time and attention to the matters we discussed.”

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