Hold onto your hats, folks—Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer just dropped a bombshell by revealing President Trump personally assured her he’d drop any notion of pardoning the men convicted of plotting to kidnap her in 2020, only to publicly toy with the idea days ago.
Just The News reported that Whitmer spoke out after Trump mused about pardoning the nine men convicted in a chilling 2020 plot to abduct her, despite her earlier private conversation with him opposing such a move, and she’s now gearing up to confront the White House again on this unsettling issue.
Let’s rewind to 2020, when a shocking plot to kidnap Whitmer came to light, involving 14 men charged with conspiracy and related crimes.
Of those, five were cleared by state and federal courts, but nine were convicted, including alleged ringleaders Adam Fox and Barry Croft, Jr. It’s a stark reminder that actions, even planned ones, carry serious weight.
Fast forward to Wednesday, when President Trump publicly floated the idea of pardoning these convicted plotters, saying, “I will look at it.”
Well, that’s one way to reignite a firestorm—dangling mercy for men tied to a violent scheme against a sitting governor. It’s hard to see this as anything but a poke at the seriousness of political violence.
Trump didn’t stop there, adding, “It looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job.” Now, questioning the justice system is fair game, but suggesting a pass for a plot this dangerous feels like a step too far for many who value law and order over political stunts.
Trump also noted, “A lot of people think they got railroaded.” Fine, let’s debate fairness in trials, but shouldn’t the conversation start with condemning violence against elected officials rather than flirting with leniency?
Whitmer fired back during a Michigan Public Radio interview released on Thursday, making it clear she’s not on board with any pardon talk. She recalled a conversation with Trump about a month ago, where she firmly opposed any clemency for the convicted men.
In that chat, Whitmer said Trump responded with, “Okay, I’ll drop it.” Yet, here we are, with public musings that contradict that assurance—talk about a head-scratcher for anyone trying to follow the logic.
Whitmer didn’t mince words, stating, “Anything short of condemning political violence does a disservice to everyone.” She’s hitting the nail on the head—failing to unequivocally denounce such acts opens a dangerous door, especially in today’s heated political climate.
Adding to her point, Whitmer highlighted her quick response to a shooting incident targeting Trump on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania.
She noted, “I was one of the first officeholders on either side of the aisle to condemn it.” That’s a bipartisan stand worth respecting, even if one disagrees with her policies.
She went on to say, “Anything short of condemnation creates a dangerous space” for public officials. It’s a sobering thought—when leaders waffle on violence, it risks normalizing threats against those who serve, regardless of party lines.
Whitmer isn’t letting this slide quietly, either, promising to reach out to Trump over the weekend to restate her opposition. She emphasized, “I’m going to make my thoughts on this known to the White House again.” Good for her—clarity matters when the stakes are this high.
Whitmer’s concern about political violence isn’t just posturing—it’s a real issue that transcends party divides. Even if Trump’s comments were meant to question judicial fairness, they risk undermining the gravity of what these nine men were convicted of plotting. Turns out, words from a president carry consequences, too.