{"id":2423503,"date":"2025-04-14T18:55:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T22:55:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whitmer-regrets-viral-oval-office-photo-wishes-she-hadnt-hidden-behind-folder-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-04-14T18:55:37","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T22:55:37","slug":"whitmer-regrets-viral-oval-office-photo-wishes-she-hadnt-hidden-behind-folder-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whitmer-regrets-viral-oval-office-photo-wishes-she-hadnt-hidden-behind-folder-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Whitmer regrets viral Oval Office photo, wishes she hadn\u2019t hidden behind folder &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhitmer-regrets-viral-oval-office-photo-wishes-she-hadnt-hidden-behind-folder-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2423503&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan expressed regret regarding a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ark-man-confesses-to-breaching-capitol\/\" title=\"Ark. man confesses to breaching Capitol\">viral photo<\/a> taken during her visit to the Oval office, where she was seen concealing her face behind two blue folders as photographers entered the room. At a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-gaetz-highlights-possibility-antifa-infiltrated-trump-march\/\" title=\"Rep. Gaetz highlights possibility Antifa infiltrated Trump march\">recent event<\/a> with the Detroit Economic Club,she reflected on the awkward incident,describing it as a moment of poor judgment fueled by her desire to avoid being photographed.Although she acknowledged her wish to have acted differently,she shrugged off the incident,emphasizing that it was merely a fleeting thought to avoid the camera. The image, published by the New York Times and widely circulated on social media, prompted mockery and speculation about her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-bother-mike-pence-hints-at-2024-run-after-betraying-president-trump-his-voters-and-america\/\" title=\"Why Bother? Mike Pence Hints at 2024 Run After Betraying President Trump, His Voters and America\">political future<\/a>, particularly as she is considered a potential contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. Former President Trump praised her during the meeting, but the moment quickly became overshadowed by the viral nature of the photo.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Whitmer regrets viral Oval Office photo, wishes she hadn&rsquo;t hidden behind folder<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2075149\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gretchen-whitmer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Gretchen Whitmer\">Gretchen Whitmer<\/a> (D-MI) says she regrets trying to hide from photographers during a visit to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/oval-office\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Oval Office\">Oval Office<\/a> last week, calling the awkward moment a lapse in judgment.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking Monday at the Detroit Economic Club, the Democratic governor addressed the viral photo that showed her holding up two blue folders in front of her face as photographers entered the room on April 9, where she was waiting to meet with President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3379291\/el-salvador-nayib-bukele-role-maga-darling-deportation-partnership\/\">El Salvador&#8217;s Bukele cements role as MAGA darling with deportation partnership<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3379987\/white-house-rescissions-package-cuts-1-billion-from-pbs-8-billion-from-usaid\/\">White House rescissions package cuts $1.1 billion from PBS, $8.3 billion from USAID<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3380115\/jd-vance-trophy-white-house-event-ohio-state\/\">JD Vance drops trophy at White House event honoring Ohio State<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;What was going through your mind at that moment?&rdquo; the Detroit Economic Club moderator asked Whitmer.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share.php?id=2890966&amp;userid=11311&amp;loginid=10455&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=5b019a16064eb4024a67d4bd6d8e4a16\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;You asked me what was going on in my mind at that moment,&rdquo; Whitmer said when asked about the incident. &ldquo;It was, &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t want my picture taken&rsquo; &mdash; that&rsquo;s all it was.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I kinda wish I hadn&rsquo;t put my folder up in front of my face,&rdquo; she admitted, adding with a shrug, &ldquo;but whatever.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Whitmer, 53, has been rumored as a possible contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination but was roundly mocked over the awkward moment.<\/p>\n<p>Though originally scheduled for a private meeting with Trump, Whitmer ended up among a group in the Oval Office as the former <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">president signed executive orders<\/a>, including one authorizing the Justice Department to investigate two of his first-term critics.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s really done an excellent job,&rdquo; Trump said praising her. &ldquo;Very good person.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>However, the encounter was quickly overshadowed by the now-viral image of Whitmer shielding her face &mdash; a photo published by the <em>New York Times<\/em> on Saturday and widely mocked on social media.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3378946\/white-house-renews-promise-to-defend-christianity-in-us-during-holy-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>WHITE HOUSE RENEWS PROMISE TO DEFEND CHRISTIANITY IN U.S. DURING HOLY WEEK<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One user dubbed her blue folders the &ldquo;folders of invisibility,&rdquo; while political commentator Keith Olbermann quipped on X that the photo could represent the end of Whitmer&rsquo;s career.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s rare when you get a shot of the EXACT moment a politician&rsquo;s career ends, but there you go.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2075149\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2075149\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whitmer regrets hiding behind a folder in viral Oval Office photo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2678,"featured_media":2423504,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Gretchen-Whitmer.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[35056,10269,34980,32076,12025],"class_list":["post-2423503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-oval-office","tag-regrets","tag-viral-photo","tag-washington-examiner","tag-whitmer"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Gretchen-Whitmer.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2423503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2678"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2423503"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2423503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2423507,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2423503\/revisions\/2423507"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2423504"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2423503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2423503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2423503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}