Pritzker says Trump suggested nets to stop Asian carp invasion of Great Lakes

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Thursday that former President Donald Trump suggested using nets to stop Asian carp from getting into the Great Lakes.

Pritzker told the Michigan Democratic Party delegation to the Democratic National Convention on Thursday that Trump made the suggestion during a meeting at the White House with governors shortly after becoming president.

Trump had asked the governors to go around the room and list their most important issues, Pritzker said, to which Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer answered: Asian carp.

“Donald Trump looked at her and said, ‘What’s that?’ After she explained what it is, he said, ‘Well, why don’t we just put a bunch of nets up? That seems like that would keep the fish out,’” Pritzker said.

Pritzker touted a $1.1 billion compact between Illinois and Michigan to build a barrier meant to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.

Pritzker said that he debated attending the meeting with Trump, but decided that he had to as he represents Illinois residents.

Pritzker was one of several high-profile speakers who visited the Michigan delegation during their daily breakfasts at the Hilton Chicago. Previous guests also included U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said that it is important for leaders to stay focused on fundamental issues in order to win the election.

“While we think about this election, while we think about the polls, most people wake up thinking about their job, whether they make enough to support their family,” Beshear said. “They think about their next doctor’s appointment for themselves, their kids and their parents. They think about the school they’re going to drop their kids off at.”

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a Michigan resident and former mayor of South Bend, Ind., said that focusing on policies is also good strategy because Democrats’ agenda is more popular.

“Especially for those of us who live in more conservative or rural or swing areas, sometimes we Democrats fool ourselves into thinking that we don’t have the most popular positions,” Buttigieg said. “The reverse is true. Most Americans already agree with us that it is the wealthy who are not paying their fair share and the middle class who needs a break, not the other way around.”

Buttigieg criticized Trump’s speech in Howell earlier in the week.

“I saw Donald Trump go to Michigan, of all places, and give a speech about crime, as if we’re going to forget the fact that he’s a convicted criminal running against a prosecutor,” Buttigieg said.

He was asked during a later appearance at the CNN-Politico Grill whether he would consider a run for Michigan governor in 2026, when Whitmer will be term limited out. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson have already expressed interest. Other potential candidates could include Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist former U.S. Senate candidate Hill Harper.

Buttigieg gave no indication that a gubernatorial campaign is on his radar, but stopped short of ruling it out.

“I’m not just trying to be coy for political reasons,” Buttigieg said. “Every great opportunity I’ve had, and everything I’ve done in politics that mattered, probably would have been a big surprise to me just a year or two before it was happening. That’s taught me to be very humble about thinking I have the path figured out in terms of what’s ahead, and I sincerely don’t know what I’ll be doing whenever I’m not doing what I’m doing right now.”