The White House approved Michigan’s request for an emergency declaration Saturday, after a week of contentious public feuding between President Donald Trump and the state's governor over measures to combat the coronavirus.

The squabble between Trump and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which has played out across Twitter, cable news and radio airwaves, has been one of several conflicts simmering between Trump and governors who have criticized the federal response to the pandemic — and then seen Trump return fire online or in his press briefings.


Governors across the country, including Whitmer, have repeatedly called on Trump to use the Defense Production Act to force private companies to manufacture life-saving medical supplies, including protective hospital masks and ventilators. Governors have also clashed with Trump about state-imposed lock-downs and travel bans.