In this season of giving thanks, there is one Democrat that the White House is particularly grateful for: Gretchen Whitmer.

President Donald Trump and the Michigan governor, an oft-talked about 2028 presidential candidate, have developed a surprisingly productive and affable relationship, according to two White House officials and a Whitmer political aide.

“Of the Democrats, she is the one who we have spent the most time with, who has reached out to us the most, who has wanted to work with us,” said one of White House official, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. “From the Democrats, she is definitely the one who’s most willing to get things done.”

Whitmer’s decision to work with the White House stands in stark contrast to potential 2028 rivals such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who have both repeatedly criticized the president as a tyrant and his administration as a threat to American democracy.

“As Governor Whitmer has said, she and the president disagree on ‘a lot’ of topics,” said a Whitmer political aide, granted anonymity to describe the relationship. “And she is not afraid to hold him accountable. But leadership means finding common ground where you can so you can get things done.”

The relationship offers the swing-state governor an opportunity to bring in crucial federal investments and avoid Trump’s ire. But her rapport with Trump comes at a cost. Fellow Democrats have criticized her for appearing too collaborative, and a working relationship with Trump could be a liability if she decides to seek higher office.

“As governor, you work with whoever’s in power to deliver for your state,” John McCarthy, a Democratic strategist, told POLITICO. “But since 2024, Democratic voters have been clear, and they want leaders who don’t just manage around Trump, but define a bold, post-Trump future — and draw a sharp contrast. Anyone hoping to lead the Democratic Party should keep that front of mind.”

Whitmer has sought to walk the line, insisting that she disagrees with Trump’s policies and rhetoric in public while taking a softer tone in private. She has visited the White House three times this year, more than any other Democratic governor. During one visit, she hid her face behind some blue folders, hoping not to be seen. The subsequent New York Times photo went viral, underscoring the tightrope she is walking.

Publicly, she said she hid because she was not happy to be there. Privately, she signed a copy of the newspaper bearing the photo the next time she visited, and joked about the affair, according to the two White House officials. The autographed gift has not been previously reported.

The chumminess is a dramatic shift for Trump who dismissed Whitmer in 2020 as “that woman from Michigan” after she criticized his administration’s pandemic response.

Whitmer’s aide noted that shortly after that viral photo, polling showed Whitmer had a 63 percent job approval rating, her highest ever. And several Michigan Democrats have praised her bipartisan spirit

While the photo drove the news cycle, Whitmer during that meeting pitched the White House on securing a new fighter mission for the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which was in danger of closing. A few weeks later, Trump announced a new series of fighter jets for the base, which is a huge economic driver in Macomb County.

The area also happens to be one of the most politically significant in the country. Trump carried Macomb County by nearly 14 points in 2024. Whitmer won it by 3.5 points in 2018 and 5 points in 2022.

But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Whitmer in August pleaded for additional disaster aid to help struggling utilities recover from an ice storm and warned Trump Michigan residents would face rate hikes of at least $4,500 per household” if it was withheld.

The request was denied and residents in northern, rural Michigan are likely to bear the costs.

Whitmer has also has pushed back on Trump policies when she felt they harmed Michigan. During her August meeting at the White House, she criticized cuts to Medicaid in Trump’s signature tax legislation and the president’s tariffs, noting 9.2 percent of Michigan’s economy is tied to the auto industry, according to her political aide.

But what she hasn’t done – at least not yet – is go after Trump, personally. And that’s a decision the White House officials notice and appreciate.

”She’s never really said anything negative, like directly at the boss,” said the White House official.