Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer sought to distance herself from some of the stringent COVID-19 pandemic restrictions implemented in her state, attributing the measures to the limited and sometimes inaccurate information available at the time.
Appearing on the “Financial Audit” podcast with host Caleb Hammer on Monday, Governor Whitmer addressed the frustration many Michiganders felt over the state’s tight restrictions, which were among the strictest in the nation during the height of the pandemic.
Host Caleb Hammer, who is from Michigan, raised a specific grievance about returning home for Christmas and being required to eat “in inside pods outside” during the winter. “Like, we had to eat outside, but we were in inside pods outside,” Hammer said. “At home, in Michigan, in the winter, we’re all inside, breathing on each other.”
Hammer pressed the Governor, asking, “But if I was allowed to be inside outside, why couldn’t I just be inside inside?”
Governor Whitmer responded that her administration was attempting to mitigate risk based on the available data. “Because you were inside outside with just your small group of people,” she replied, despite Hammer noting the presence of wait staff.
Ultimately, the Governor framed the administration’s actions as a good-faith effort under challenging circumstances. “Listen, Caleb, none of us wants to go back and relive that,” Whitmer said. “We were doing the best we could with very little — or very bad — information.”
While Hammer accepted the Governor’s explanation, he reiterated his annoyance with the restriction.
Governor Whitmer’s handling of the pandemic, and several subsequent actions, drew significant backlash throughout 2020 and 2021.
- Dining Violation: In May 2021, Whitmer faced criticism and issued an apology after being caught violating her own restrictions by dining maskless indoors with a large group at a restaurant in East Lansing, exceeding the six-person table limit in place at the time. The administration rescinded that specific rule the following day.
- Business Closures: Numerous Michigan restaurants and businesses were forced to close due to the restrictions, leading to widespread economic concern.
- Travel and “Non-Essential” Items: Other contentious restrictions included a 2020 order preventing Michiganders from traveling “between two residences,” an order deeming home-improvement and gardening items like fruit and vegetable seeds as “non-essential,” and controversy over her husband reportedly seeking special treatment for a boat launch.
- Inauguration and Florida Trip: The Governor also traveled to Florida in March 2020, shortly before appearing on national television to urge others to avoid spring break travel there. She also attended former President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021, a trip that critics argued contradicted her own guidance on travel and large gatherings.
The Governor’s recent comments on the podcast mark a candid reflection on the unprecedented period and the difficulty of decision-making with evolving public health information.
READ: Trump Admin Considers Covert Deployment Of US Troops, CIA To Target Drug Cartels In Mexico
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
