SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 15 (Our Michigan Times) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says President Donald Trump helped move forward a fighter-jet mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base after she was unable to complete the effort during the Biden administration.
The planned mission would replace retiring A-10 aircraft with F-15EX Eagle II jets. Whitmer told California Gov. Gavin Newsom that the project was “a huge deal to Michigan.”
The announcement has become an example of bipartisan cooperation between Whitmer, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican. It also has political significance because Whitmer has been mentioned as a possible future national candidate, while Trump and Newsom are frequent political opponents.
What is planned at Selfridge?
Selfridge, a Michigan Air National Guard base in Macomb County, is expected to receive a new fighter mission beginning in 2028. A Defense Department document shared with Michigan’s senators called for approximately 20 F-15EX jets to be stationed there. Other accounts of the announcement described the fleet as 21 aircraft.
The F-15EX is a newer version of the F-15 fighter aircraft. The jets are intended to take the place of A-10s that are being retired at the base.
The supplied records do not establish the precise budget, legal or administrative steps that authorized the mission. They also do not explain why the effort stalled during the Biden administration or identify a specific vote or federal authorization behind the final decision.
What did Trump and Whitmer say?
Trump announced the new mission during an April 29, 2025, event at Selfridge attended by Whitmer. He said Whitmer had advocated for preserving the base and praised her effectiveness.
“She came to meet with me specifically to advocate for the preservation of Selfridge,” Trump said. “She was quite effective.”
Whitmer’s office called the announcement a bipartisan win for Michigan and said it would support the state’s economy, jobs and national security. Her office also projected approximately $850 million in economic benefits for Michigan.
Whitmer later described the project in remarks to Newsom. “I got a fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, and I tried to get that done under the Biden administration, couldn’t get over the finish line, but I got it done with him,” she said, referring to Trump.
Why does the mission matter to Michigan?
The aircraft assignment would preserve a major military role for Selfridge and bring new aircraft, training and related activity to the base. Whitmer’s office has linked the mission to jobs and broader economic gains, while also describing it as an investment in national security.
The projected $850 million figure comes from Whitmer’s office. The available material does not provide a detailed breakdown of that estimate or specify how much of the economic impact would come from construction, payroll, suppliers or other activity.
For Whitmer, the announcement also demonstrates the value of working directly with an administration from another party. For Trump, the event offered a chance to highlight a military investment and publicly credit a Democratic governor.
The reported discussion between Whitmer and Newsom was published as taking place on Aug. 14, 2026. The available material does not identify the podcast’s name, provide a transcript or establish where the conversation was recorded. Newsom’s role in the account is as the California governor who spoke with Whitmer; the fighter-jet project itself is located in Michigan.
