Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is firing back at President Donald Trump’s threat to withhold state funding over mail-in ballot applications being sent out.
During an appearance on “CBS This Morning” on Thursday, Whitmer fired back at Trump’s Twitter threat deeming his rhetoric “unacceptable.”
“To have this kind of distraction is just ridiculous, to be honest,” Whitmer said on Thursday. “Threatening to take money away from a state that is hurting as bad as well are right now is just scary. And I think something that is unacceptable.”
The governor, who is not only facing a health crisis but also a natural disaster, hopes the president aims to focus on what is important for the American people, going forward.
“I’m hopeful that he comes away knowing that’s what’s most important,” she said, mentioning Trump’s exchange with Benson. “We’ve got to be focused on doing the right thing right now on behalf of the people.”
See Whitmer’s remarks below:
The president took to the social network with morning tweets targeting Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, as previously reported on IJR.
In a now-deleted tweet, Trump wrote, “Breaking: Michigan sends absentee ballots to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election. This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State. I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path!”
Benson tweeted back, clarifying applications were sent out — not ballots. After realizing his error, Trump deleted the tweet and fired back again.
He tweeted, “Michigan sends absentee ballot applications to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election. This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State. I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path!
Michigan sends absentee ballot applications to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election. This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State. I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2020
Benson also responded to that tweet correcting the president again. She tweeted, “Hi again. Still wrong. Every Michigan registered voter has a right to vote by mail.”
Hi again. Still wrong. Every Michigan registered voter has a right to vote by mail. I have the authority & responsibility to make sure that they know how to exercise this right – just like my GOP colleagues are doing in GA, IA, NE and WV. Also, again, my name is Jocelyn Benson. https://t.co/deZJwbMlT0
— Jocelyn Benson (@JocelynBenson) May 20, 2020
After the president’s tweets and Benson’s responses, reporters at the press briefing asked Whitmer about Trump’s remarks.
At the time, she described the president’s Twitter comments as “disheartening” considering the state is battling a “100-year event” with the coronavirus pandemic on top of a “500-year event” with the Midland, Michigan flood.
The governor also expressed the importance of staying focused on solving problems rather than politicizing matters.
“I’m hopeful that he comes away knowing that’s what’s most important,” she said. “We’ve got to be focused on doing the right thing right now on behalf of the people.”