Gov Whitmer says America ‘ready’ for woman president, countering Michelle Obama

Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she believes America is ready for a female president, pushing back on recent comments from former First Lady Michelle Obama who said U.S. voters are not ready to elect a woman to the White House.

In an interview with NPR aired Tuesday, Whitmer said she has “love” for the former first lady and that “the last thing I want to do is disagree with her,” but that she has a different perspective.

“I think America is ready for a female president,” Whitmer said. “It comes down to a choice between two people, and while Kamala Harris failed to beat President Trump in this last election, we saw women getting elected across the country.”

“We’ve seen women win up and down the ballot in hard-to-win, key states, so I think there’s an appetite,” she added. “For whatever reason, we haven’t had a female president yet. I think we will in the near future.”

MICHELLE OBAMA SAID AMERICA IS ‘NOT READY’ FOR A FEMALE PRESIDENT: ‘WE HAVE SEEN IT IN THE PAST ELECTIONS’

The Governor touched upon the election victories won by Democratic Governments last year. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Mikie Sherill of New Jersey, as well as Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., in 2024.

In November, Obama said Americans were “not ready” to elect a woman to the White House, noting that former Vice President Kamala Harris lost to President Donald Trump in the last presidential election.

“As we see this last electionUnfortunately, we are not ready,” the former First Lady said while promoting her book “The Look” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

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Former First Lady Michelle Obama says Americans are “not ready” to elect a woman to the White House. (Washington Post via Melina Mara/Getty Images)

“So don’t even look at me about running, because you’re all lying. You’re not ready for a woman. You’re not… We have a lot of growing to do, and unfortunately there are still a lot of men who don’t think they can be led by a woman, and that’s what we’ve seen,” he added.

Asked whether Harris lost to Trump in the presidential election because she is a woman, Whitmer replied: “I don’t think it’s just gender, no.”

Whitmer, who is term-limited and cannot run for a third term as governor, said she has no plans to run for another office at this time.

He has been floated as a potential presidential candidate in 2028, but the governor said his focus remains on serving Michigan and helping his party’s candidates win the upcoming midterm elections.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she doesn’t think former Vice President Kamala Harris lost to President Donald Trump just because she’s a woman. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

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Asked how Democrats can win in this year’s midterm elections, Whitmer noted the gubernatorial campaign’s decision to “focus on the fundamentals.”

“I don’t think Michigan is unique in this regard,” Whitmer said. “I think everyone in this country wants and expects the government to make their lives better, so that’s been our formula in Michigan, and I think it can be replicated successfully everywhere.”