After an unpleasant photo, Whitmer persuades a victory for Michigan from Trump

Governor Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan relies that the photo was worth it.

When she went to the White House this month to meet her unfortunate meeting with President Trump-Dem, in which she hid her face in front of a New York Times photographer, she had tried to secure the financing for an extension of the Selfridge Air National Guard Base near Detroit.

When Mr. Trump traveled to Michigan on Tuesday to announce on his 100th day of office that he did exactly what Ms. Whitmer asked, she had the reason for a round of victory – despite the possible costs for her political prospects. She greeted him on arrival and created another photo of them and then stood next to him to thank him for expanding the base.

“The fact that we did it – all the grief is worth it,” said Ms. Whitmer in an interview after the event on Tuesday. “The people in Michigan chose me twice because they know whether it is threats or experts who mocked me when I went to the White House. I will always stand up for the people of Michigan.”

In Michigan, Ms. Whitmer and her allies consider the expansion to Selfridge as a big victory in order to be worth the personal humiliation that she had. From 2028, the Ministry of Defense will station around 20 F-15EX fighter aircraft at the base. This emerges from a document that has spread to Michigan's senators.

The new group of Jets is a small part of the approximately 450 fighter planes in the Air National Guard, but many of these aircraft are old models. The F-15ex is the latest version of one of the most versatile fighters in the US military. And even 20 jets can have a great economic impact on local communities, since they can not only bring in pilots, but also numerous security, maintenance and logistics jobs. Studies published by the military find that the Air National Guard bases and Selfridge can do more than 100 million US dollars to the economy of a state.

“This is a huge, cross -party victory for Michigan, decades in the creation that will expand our economy and make our country safer,” said Ms. Whitmer. “I appreciate the president's partnership for this new combat aircraft mission that protects jobs and shows the world that Michigan is the best place for pioneer of the next innovations in national defense.”