Gov. Gretchen Whitmer promises to “attract new economic opportunities to our state” during her taxpayer-funded trip to Spain this week, igniting rage from her constituents online.

“This investment mission to Spain is an opportunity to expand Michigan’s global footprint and attract new economic opportunities to our state,” Whitmer said in a statement on Monday. “Engaging directly with international business and policy leaders allows us to showcase Michigan’s strengths and competitive advantages, helping to foster new investments that create good-paying jobs for Michiganders. Building these connections with the global business community is essential to sustaining growth and ensuring economic prosperity for all.”

Whitmer is bringing Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Quentin Messer, Jr. and an undisclosed number of Team Michigan members along for the three-day “investment mission,” which will feature a stop in Madrid, where the crew will be joined by the Jesus Fernandez, the Trade Commissioner of Spain in Chicago.

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“Michigan and Spain have deep and mutually beneficial economic ties, with Michigan as Spain’s fifth-largest trading partner of U.S. states. Spain is also Michigan’s 11^th-largest export market, and in 2023, Michigan exported more than $77 million worth of goods to the country,” Whitmer posted to X.

Today, I’m kicking off a three-day investment mission in Spain to showcase why Michigan is the best place to invest, innovate, and grow.

This mission is an exciting opportunity to expand Michigan’s global footprint and attract new economic opportunities to our state 🌎

— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) November 25, 2024

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The post, and others in the thread, enraged many folks online, many of whom questioned the governor’s priorities at a time when thousands of Michiganders are being laid off, roads continue to crumble, and the cost of basics like electricity and health care are rapidly on the rise. The state’s unemployment rate has risen in each of the past seven months.

“No one else in the US wants to do business with you?” one X user posted.

“You’re taking a vacation under the guise of bringing new business,” another wrote. “Why didn’t you just invite them here to SEE economic opportunities themselves?”

“How much did this cost the taxpayers?” a third posted.

“What a waste of money,” another wrote. “How about you support the small businesses in the state?”

“Try staying in Michigan and saving all the auto workers jobs that are going away,” yet another post read, “you have no clue!”

The trip to Spain is at least the fifth international trip Whitmer has taken since she assumed office five years ago.  This spring, the governor trekked to South Korea and Taiwan, where she opened a state office. In 2023, it was Norway and Switzerland, followed by Paris and Germany.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II also flew to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands earlier this year as part of the administration’s efforts to court international investment.

Those investments, however, come at a cost to taxpayers.

Last year, Whitmer touted a $63 million investment from Japanese auto parts manufacturer Denso to retool existing production lines at its Battle Creek facility for electric vehicles. While the deal did not create any new jobs, it cost taxpayers $1.4 million in subsidies, Bridge Michigan reports.

The company is one of 83 that Whitmer pledged a total of $335 million to last year to create 11,408 jobs, translating to roughly $29,000 per job. Bridge found the median pay for those promised jobs was $50,689, or about $24 per hour, though half promised wages below that figure and 40% will pay less than the state’s median annual base wage of $45,510.

“There has been way too much focus on the number of jobs … and not enough on wages,” state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, told the news site.

“Gov. Whitmer prefers to trumpet announcements of subsidized jobs that end up paying below-median wages,” said Rep. Andrew Beeler, R-Port Huron. “We should be … cultivating a healthy, growing economy for everyone, not hunting for the next big prize that’s too good to be true.”

Others have pointed to pressing needs in Michigan that have been largely ignored by the Whitmer administration, including a massive $3.9 billion annual road funding shortfall, 41% of Michiganders living paycheck to paycheck, a looming energy crisis brought on by Whitmer’s climate goals, and “panic” and widespread layoffs in the auto industry amid the government forced transition to EVs.

Of course, the Whitmer administration has invested billions in taxpayer money to fund that transition with a promise to create 12,000 jobs. An analysis over the summer found that with $1 billion already spent, only 200 of those jobs have materialized.