To the Journal editor:

Just in case you missed this, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has lately been pressuring the White House to send needed medical supplies to Michigan to help fight the COVID-19 epidemic.

We are one of the hardest hit states by the epidemic. Rather than expressing support and compassion concerning the horrible increase in cases and deaths in Michigan, President Trump, tweeted on Thursday that he had a “big problem” with the “young governor” in Michigan, complaining that “all she does is sit there and blame the federal government.” Then the next day he told Vice President Mike Pence “don’t call the woman in Michigan.”

The president later referred to Gov. Whitmer as “Gretchen ‘Half’ Whitmer” in a tweet and said she “doesn’t have a clue.” The President’s use of the term “Half Whitmer” escaped me at first until I remembered how he insulted by mimicking a handicapped news reporter during the 2016 campaign.

Gov. Whitmer’s response was measured but firm. She tweeted, “Hi, my name is Gretchen Whitmer, and that Governor is me.”

“I’ve asked repeatedly and respectfully for help. We need it. No more political attacks. N95 masks, test kits. You said you stand with Michigan — prove it,” she tweeted.

Whether you support Gov. Whitmer or not, I hope you agree that the president’s insults to our governor do nothing to help fight the COVID-19 epidemic and show disrespect to the people of Michigan.

These kinds of immature and disrespectful insults are not the way other respected presidents like Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and George W. Bush led the nation in times of crisis.