Oracle CEO claims viral Whitmer video 'manipulated.' Videographer denies it

[demmiblue]

Lansing — The CEO of an international tech company contends a viral clip of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer "appears" to have been manipulated, but the person who recorded the video at the groundbreaking for a data center says that's not the case.

The dispute dates back to the June 1 celebration of plans for a 1.65 million-square-foot data center development in Saline Township. The project involves tech giants Oracle and OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT.

After the event, a video began circulating online showing Whitmer, a Democrat, talking with Clay Magouyrk, the CEO of Oracle. People who spread the footage said it featured Whitmer stating, "We’re used to people saying f*** no and doing it anyway."

Hundreds of thousands of people had viewed the clip on the platform X as of Monday. Some individuals suggested the alleged remark was a sign of the state government's disregard for public opposition to data centers.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/15/gretchen-whitmer-oracle-viral-video/90561236007/