LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appears to be “reading the room” after losing Michigan’s 15 electoral votes to President-elect Donald Trump and seeing the state House flip Republican last month.

The co-chair of Vice President Kamala Harris’ failed bid for the White House changed her tune on Trump this week after years of degrading him in public. Whitmer met with other Democratic governors in Los Angeles recently, and Fox News reported what she’s now saying about Trump.

MORE NEWS: University of Michigan Will Be in Court to Protect Campus Airspace from Drones

“People in Michigan, like a majority of Americans, voted for Donald Trump, and my oath is to Michigan,” Whitmer said. “Obviously, I’ve got experience in this type of environment that will help inform how I continue to fight for Michigan. But I know Donald Trump cares about Michigan. And I’m hoping that because of that, we’ll be able to find some common ground in some important ways.”

Playing politics.

These comments are an about-face from the Whitmer that Michiganders know. She appeared on “Meet the Press” in 2020 with an “8645” sign in the background. At the time, Whitmer blew off people who accused her of advocating for Trump’s death. “86” is slang for “kill” or “nix,” and 45 references Trump’s first term in office.

In September, Whitmer called Trump “deranged” on CNN when she referenced his stance on abortion. Whitmer, and her “fight like hell” push for unfettered access to abortions, marked a main focus of her gubernatorial tenure during the last two years.

Before the Democratic party ignored the will of primary voters and ousted President Joe Biden from his bid for a second term in the summer, Whitmer ran his reelection campaign. After Biden’s disastrous debate against Trump in June and murmurings of a Biden replacement emerged, a former Whitmer staffer told The Telegraph he viewed Whitmer as a viable candidate to take on Trump.

“I think she has always looked at her ascension over time in politics as an inherent comparison against the other candidate,” former aide Mark Burton said at the time.

Whitmer’s clamoring for the national spotlight.

Whitmer spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August, further testing her appeal on a national level. During her speech, she tried to paint Trump as an out-of-touch politician.

MORE NEWS: Governor Pete Buttigieg? Michigan’s Potholes Aren’t the Only Thing He’s Dodging

“You think he understands that when your car breaks down you can’t get to work? No. His first word was probably ‘chauffer,'” Whitmer said. “You think he’s ever had to take items out of the cart before checking out? Hell, you think he’s ever been to a grocery store? That’s what the chauffeur is for,” Whitmer said.

In June, Whitmer released her autobiography titled “True Gretch: What I’ve Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything In Between.” Many speculated that the writing of the book signaled her intentions to enter national politics, but Whitmer has been coy when asked the question specifically.

In addition, Whitmer tried her hand at internet fame and viral videos which received mixed reviews. Her “Governor Barbie” campaign tried to capitalize on the popularity of the Barbie movie. Whitmer jumped on the TikTok bandwagon of “very cutesy very demure” when recording videos in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention.

In October, a viral video of Whitmer feeding an internet writer a Dorito drew the ire of the Michigan Catholic community. They said it mocked the eucharist while others recoiled at its not-so-subtle sexuality. Whitmer apologized for how people reacted to the video, not for her actions.

What’s next for Whitmer and the Democrats?

Michigan’s term-limited governor faces an uphill battle starting Jan. 1. That’s when Michigan loses its Democratic majority in the state legislature. Democrats have held a two-year stronghold on both chambers. Voters flipped the House last month. Whitmer cannot run for governor again in 2026 due to term limits.

Meanwhile, the national Democratic party appears to be wandering aimlessly as they try to look for a viable 2028 presidential candidate. Whitmer is one of the names being floated around, but she’s polling extremely low. Other names include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.