Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said that former President Donald Trump was instrumental in securing a fighter jet mission for Selfridge Air National National Guard Base in her state, a project she was unable to finalize during the Biden administration.
Whitmer made the remarks on California Governor Gavin Newsom's podcast, "This is Gavin Newsom," on Thursday. She explained that she needed to navigate her relationship with Trump following the 2024 presidential election, as Michigan had voted for him.
"I've gotten some really good stuff done. Honestly," Whitmer told Newsom. "I got a fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, and I tried to get that done under the Biden administration, couldn't get over the finish line, but I got it done with him. So, that's a huge deal to Michigan."
The mission, referred to as "Mission Next," will replace the A-10 Warthog aircraft with 21 new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets at the base. This initiative is part of a larger modernization plan for the National Guard Base, which includes infrastructure upgrades intended to create jobs and enhance training opportunities, according to the National Guard's website.
Trump himself announced details of the new fighter jet mission in April 2025 during a speech at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, commemorating his 100th day in office. "Fresh off the line. That means they are brand new," Trump stated at the time. "This is where they're going to be for a long time. And I saw one of them, flew over my head, and I said, ‘What the hell is that?’ That plane has serious power. So, this is the best there is anywhere in the world, the F-15EX Eagle II. This will keep Selfridge at the cutting edge of Northern American air power."
A spokesperson for the White House stated that "While Joe Biden’s weak policies neglected our military, President Trump saved Selfridge Air National Guard Base, a crucial pillar of North American air defense; rebuilt our military; and restored readiness and lethality to our U.S. Armed Forces." The spokesperson added, "With President Trump as Commander in Chief, the United States Military will continue to lead the world in power, prestige, and might. President Trump proudly won the state of Michigan in 2024, and will continue to deliver on his promises for all Michiganders."
Whitmer also commented on her working relationship with political figures who are not aligned with her, noting that she knew how to collaborate even when it was not ideal. Earlier in 2025, Whitmer drew attention for covering her face during a photo opportunity in the Oval Office with Trump. She later explained that she simply did not wish for her picture to be taken, describing the moment as one of her "moments."
At the time of that Oval Office meeting, Trump had praised Whitmer, calling her a "very good person," despite past political exchanges between them.
In a separate statement regarding a Michigan-based steel manufacturing company's expansion, a White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital earlier in the year that "President Trump is actually delivering — and he’s delivering with the same agenda of tariffs, deregulation." This was in contrast to Democrats, who the spokesperson suggested had "spent decades talking about fixing broken trade deals and creating manufacturing jobs here in America for American workers."