Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a new interview that the United States is now experiencing what she describes as a constitutional crisis, pointing to President Donald Trump’s growing disregard for the authority of the judiciary and federal law.
Speaking on an upcoming episode of the podcast “Pod Save America,” a popular progressive political show, Whitmer was asked directly whether she believes the country is in the middle of a constitutional crisis. She responded without hesitation.
“We are,” Whitmer said. “The thought that we’ve got an administration that is just blatantly violating court orders should, I think, scare everybody.”
She went on to say, “This is a very serious moment.”
The comments come as Trump reaches the 100-day mark of his second term, a stretch that has been marked by an aggressive expansion of executive power. Over the past three months, Trump has taken actions that critics argue overstep the limits of the presidency.
These include implementing a sweeping federal government overhaul without congressional approval, introducing new tariffs on foreign imports, choosing not to enforce a recently passed law banning TikTok, and pushing back on immigration-related court orders. Trump also publicly called for the impeachment of a federal judge who issued a ruling slowing down his latest deportation initiative.
Democrats have been increasingly vocal in labeling these moves as evidence of a deepening constitutional breakdown. Whitmer, who has often clashed with Trump, added her voice to that chorus, urging not just Democrats, but Republicans and Trump allies to recognize the gravity of the situation.
“There are a lot of people that aren’t doing their jobs to protect the foundations of this country,” she said. “Many of us are fighting the fights that we can, but ultimately the courts have got to be able to have the last word. This undermines the foundations of our country on every level when this happens.”
An excerpt from the interview was released Thursday ahead of the full episode’s scheduled release. In it, Whitmer expressed frustration over what she views as a lack of accountability and growing complacency among institutions that should serve as a check on executive power.
Whitmer has been mentioned frequently in national conversations as a potential Democratic presidential candidate for the 2028 cycle. Her profile rose significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she has since remained a vocal national figure within her party.
In the lead-up to the 2024 election, she referred to Trump as “deranged,” criticizing his rhetoric and policy decisions.
Despite that, Whitmer appeared alongside Trump earlier this week at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan, where the president announced a new fighter jet initiative.
During the event, Trump unexpectedly called Whitmer to the podium, where he praised her for her work in advocating for the military installation. The moment, captured on video and widely circulated, led to some backlash from members of her own party.
In her podcast interview, Whitmer addressed the controversy directly. She said that while she opposes Trump politically, her responsibility as governor is to advocate for the people of Michigan, even if that means working alongside political opponents.
“One of the things that I’ve learned is, I’ve got to put the people in Michigan first over my self-interests — over maybe what people assume are going to be my political interests,” she said.
Whitmer was also seen at the White House earlier in April, where she visited to continue lobbying for the Selfridge project. A viral photo from that visit showed her shielding her face with a blue folder as reporters entered the Oval Office for an unrelated event. Her office later clarified that her presence at the White House was strictly tied to her advocacy for Michigan and did not imply any political support for the president.
In the podcast episode, Whitmer elaborated on that moment. She said she had not expected reporters to be present and was immediately concerned about the optics.
“No one reported that I left the room to go talk to my staff person,” she said. “I said, ‘We got to get word out because the stuff that’s going on in there, I cannot be associated with that.’”
Her remarks during the podcast reflect a growing anxiety within the Democratic Party about the direction of the federal government. Many Democrats have described the president’s behavior as increasingly authoritarian, citing his willingness to ignore legal limits and retaliate against judges and officials who challenge him.
Trump’s immigration policy has been one of the most contentious aspects of his second term. In defiance of a recent Supreme Court order that temporarily blocked a controversial deportation initiative, Trump vowed to continue the policy, arguing that national security takes precedence over judicial rulings.
He later attacked the justice who authored the decision, and his allies have circulated proposals to curtail the court’s influence.
These developments have added fuel to claims that the administration is eroding the nation’s constitutional framework. Legal scholars and civil liberties groups have warned that failure to enforce court orders threatens the separation of powers and weakens the judiciary’s ability to serve as a check on the executive branch.
Whitmer, during the interview, said the stakes are too high for silence or inaction.
“We are at a moment where we all have to decide what kind of country we’re going to be,” she said. “That includes people in the Republican Party. It includes people in leadership who have remained quiet even as the guardrails are being pulled off. It’s not about partisanship anymore — it’s about protecting the Constitution.”
In recent weeks, Whitmer has attempted to walk a careful line between being a fierce critic of Trump’s national policies and a pragmatic leader focused on local issues in Michigan. Her continued presence at bipartisan events, despite the potential political risk, is part of her broader strategy to show voters that she prioritizes the needs of her state.
Still, she made it clear that this approach does not mean tolerating what she sees as unlawful conduct or abandoning her principles.
“There’s a difference between working with someone because you have to and endorsing what they do,” she said. “And I’ve never endorsed this president’s conduct, nor will I.”
As the political climate continues to heat up, Whitmer’s comments are likely to add to the growing scrutiny surrounding the administration’s direction. While many Republicans have defended Trump’s actions as bold leadership in the face of gridlock, critics say that description masks a deeper disregard for democratic norms.
For now, Whitmer says she’ll continue to focus on her duties as governor — but she’s also warning that if Trump’s behavior goes unchallenged, the damage could outlast his presidency.
“We have to stay focused, stay vocal, and stay clear-eyed,” she said. “The Constitution doesn’t protect itself. That’s our job.”
