Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer talks foiled kidnapping, execution plot: 'We have to call out domestic terrorism'

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined “The View” on Tuesday and discussed the chilling allegations of a plot by an antigovernment group to kidnap her. “It’s very clear from the affidavits that it wasn’t simply to kidnap, it was to put me on a trial of some sort and then possibly execute me,” Whitmer told the show’s co-hosts. “That’s the kind of thing you’d expect to hear from a group like ISIS.” At least two o the men involved, William and Michael Null, previously participated in armed lockdown protests at the Michigan state Capitol in April. “And that’s why when people refer to these groups casually as militias, we have to call it for what it is, and we have to call out domestic terrorism,” Whitmer said.

Video Transcript

GRETCHEN WHITMER: But it's very clear from the affidavits that it wasn't simply to kidnap, it was to put me on a trial of some sort, and then possibly execute me. That's the kind of thing that you would expect to hear from a group like ISIS.

- On Tuesday on "The View," Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer detailed the chilling plot by an anti-government group to allegedly kidnap her and start a Civil War, but the FBI and state authorities foiled the alleged attempt. They arrested 13 men and charged them with a variety of crimes, including conspiring to commit kidnapping and providing material support to terrorist activities. A few of the men, William and Michael Knoll, previously participated in armed lockdown protests at the Michigan State Capital. Governor Whitmer, a Democrat, made it clear that this was a terrorist plot and not the actions of a disgruntled militia group.

GRETCHEN WHITMER: I mean, that's why when people refer to these groups casually as militias, we have to call it for what it is, and we have to call out domestic terrorism. And in my comments shortly after the plot was revealed, I quoted Ronald Reagan, because I know that there are Republicans of goodwill who will stand with me.

- Critics of President Trump believe he's stoked the rhetoric that led to the alleged kidnapping plot, particularly when he tweeted out "Liberate Michigan," thereby lending his support to the lockdown protests. After the alleged plot to overthrow Whitmer was revealed, Trump criticized her for not thanking law enforcement even though she did so explicitly. On "The View," Whitmer reacted to Trump's petty comment.

GRETCHEN WHITMER: It was an opportunity to say, how are you doing? How is your family? We care about you. We might not agree, but we care about you. That would be a deeply decent thing to do, but that's not what happened in this administration.