Gretchen Whitmer defended Trump after Pennsylvania shooting but he’s now considering pardoning her would-be kidnappers
The Michigan governor who publicly defended Donald Trump after his assassination attempt is now facing a shocking betrayal from the very man she supported.
What Trump is considering doing next has left Whitmer “very disappointed” and questioning everything.
A History of Political Violence
Back in 2020, a group of men hatched a terrifying plot that would shake Michigan to its core.
Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., along with over a dozen other conspirators, planned to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer from her home.
The scheme wasn’t just talk – these men conducted surveillance, gathered weapons, and made detailed plans to carry out their attack.
Federal courts didn’t take this lightly. Fox and Croft Jr. received lengthy prison sentences for their roles in the conspiracy.
At the time, tensions were running high across the country, and Whitmer pointed fingers at Trump’s rhetoric as contributing to the extremist climate.
When Whitmer Stood By Trump
Fast forward to July 2024, and everything changed in an instant.
When shots rang out at Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Whitmer didn’t hesitate to do what she believed was right.
“When the president was shot at in Pennsylvania, I was one of the first people on either side of the aisle to condemn it,” Whitmer recalled.
Her response was immediate and unequivocal – political violence has no place in America, regardless of who the target is.
This wasn’t just empty political speak. Whitmer genuinely believed in taking the high road, even when it came to someone she’d previously criticized.
An Unlikely Working Relationship
What happened next surprised many political observers.
Whitmer began meeting with Trump at the White House, not once, but multiple times throughout 2025.
These weren’t just photo ops. The Democratic governor was actively working with the Republican president to bring resources to Michigan.
In April, Trump even visited Michigan to announce new fighter jets for Selfridge Air National Guard Base, crediting Whitmer for her role in securing the deal.
He brought her on stage at a rally in Warren, Michigan – a moment that raised eyebrows across party lines.
The Uncomfortable Moments
Not every interaction was smooth sailing.
During one Oval Office visit, Whitmer found herself in an awkward position when Trump began signing executive orders targeting his political opponents.
A viral photo captured her holding a binder over her face during the signing – a moment that spoke volumes about her discomfort.
Her office later clarified that her presence wasn’t an endorsement of Trump’s actions that day.
The Betrayal Revealed
Then came the moment that changed everything.
During an Oval Office event on Wednesday, Trump dropped a bombshell that left Whitmer reeling.
When asked about the men who plotted to kidnap her, Trump said he would “take a look at” pardoning them.
His reasoning? He watched the trial and thought it “looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job.”
This wasn’t just any casual consideration – Trump was seriously contemplating freeing the very men who had planned to terrorize and potentially harm the governor who had defended him.
“I’m very disappointed that they are even considering it, frankly,” Whitmer told NBC affiliate WOOD on Thursday.
The governor who had stood up for Trump when he needed it most now found herself pleading with his administration not to release her would-be kidnappers.
She’s promised to make her thoughts known to the White House, hoping they’ll reconsider this devastating decision that threatens to undo all the bipartisan progress they’d made together.