Gov. Gretchen Whitmer explicitly refused to use the word “genocide” to describe the Gaza war and the huge death toll of Palestinian civilians as Israel tries to eliminate Hamas on a Sunday morning news show. .
The Democratic governor appeared on NBC's “Meet the Press” to talk about the battleground state of Michigan and presidential politics. Whitmer is a prominent supporter of President Joe Biden's re-election bid.
Questions turned to the war between Israel and Hamas and its impact on Michigan's large Middle Eastern community. Whitmer was asked by host Kristen Welker whether Biden's support for Israel would put him at risk in Michigan.
Whitmer said there are many people on all sides who have close ties and strong feelings about the conflict.
Whitmer refused to use the word “genocide” to describe the siege of Gaza.
“I am not going to address these terms when I know that many of them are being used to inflame and divide us,” she said. “I will continue to focus on doing my job, being productive, and hope that peace will come soon.”
Israel claims it is acting in self-defense following an October attack on Israel by Hamas. The Gaza Health Ministry said that tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed by Israeli forces in the war.
Michigan has the largest Arab American and Muslim American population in the United States.
“I'm monitoring this situation closely and doing everything I can to support all of these communities here in Michigan,” Whitmer said.
Whitmer also said that “abortion is on the ballot in all 50 states.” The abortion debate will be a key issue this year as the courts and Republican-led Congress move to restrict reproductive rights.
Whitmer says protecting reproductive rights is what motivates voters.
“Because this is about who we are as a society and how we can ensure that Americans can do what they need to do to protect their health, grow their families, and make their own decisions. Because they know that this is a fundamental problem.'' The people's lives are at stake, and politicians should completely step back. ”
Michigan voters overwhelmingly adopted a reproductive rights amendment two years ago. The Michigan Democratic Party won a decisive victory in the election, giving the state government control for the first time in nearly 40 years.
Whitmer said former President Donald Trump's Supreme Court picks were the ones who overturned Roe v. Wade, and that voters did not agree with Trump's previous statement that abortion should be illegal nationwide. He said he would remember. President Trump recently said it should be up to each state to decide.
