The governor’s decision drew a backlash from critics who pointed to indicators that the state’s number of new cases was still on an upward trajectory.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he’d informed Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia that he “strongly” disagreed with the governor’s decision to begin reopening parts of the state as soon as Friday, a high-profile break from a Republican ally.
“I told the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, that I disagree strongly with his decision to open certain facilities,” Trump said at a White House coronavirus task force press briefing, doling out praise for “strong, resolute” Georgia residents.
Kemp announced earlier this week that he would allow certain types of businesses — including hair and nail salons, barbershops, gyms, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys — to reopen beginning Friday, as long as businesses practiced certain mitigation efforts to a surge in coronavirus infections in the state.
…….
Trump on Wednesday asserted that Kemp’s rolled-back restrictions were “in violation” of the first step of his administration’s phased plan to return to normal and revive the economic standstill.
At the same time, Trump indicated he was not so opposed to Kemp’s decision that he would ask the federal government to step in.
“He must do what he thinks is right. I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I disagree with him on what he is doing,” the president said. He argued that he felt Kemp had moved “just too soon,” and seemed not to rule out federal intervention “if I see something totally egregious, totally out of line.”
“I think it’s too soon, and I love the people,” Trump said. “I love those people that use all of those things, the spas, the beauty parlors, the barbershops, tattoo parlors, I love them. But they can wait a little bit longer, just a little bit — not much — because safety has to predominate.”
………
- Discussion
-
President Trump today said he informed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp that he “strongly” disagreed with his decision to begin reopening parts of the state as soon as Friday.
"But at the same time, he must do what he thinks is right" Trump added https://t.co/JqPaavlfhR pic.twitter.com/tz9WilCdti
— POLITICO (@politico) April 22, 2020
"LIBERATE VIRGINIA!" But "disagree strongly" with Georgia. It's not clear what Trump actually wants to see happen. https://t.co/kVBlhGi38m
— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) April 22, 2020
He decided to "open up" in part because of Trump-applied pressure to "liberate" states.
And now he's thrown under the bus by the president.
Rinse and repeat. https://t.co/673oa2VB56
— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) April 22, 2020
I understand why Kemp and his supporters are pissed. But here’s the thing: If you let Trump influence your decision at all about opening up your economy you deserve to see the underside of the bus he threw you under.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) April 23, 2020
It must be amazing to live in the moment like this. Trump has been talking about “liberating” states for a while. If you don’t think Kemp was taking cues from Trump and his pr machine, have a private conversation with any GOP politician or consultant in Georgia. https://t.co/i1ZM19AB2O
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) April 23, 2020
He is reading the text about how he disagrees with the governor of Georgia, and he genuinely looked surprised to be reading those words.
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) April 22, 2020
Next, we will hear Trump never heard of Kemp, never met him and never said he disagreed with the reopening of Georgia. Fake news, ya know.
Philip Klein says “It’s not clear what Trump actually wants to see happen.” That’s one of the many problems I have with this president. Who knows what he’s saying or what he means? Much of the time his unrehearsed remarks and his tweets are unintelligible. This is a man who was supposedly well educated, who is allegedly a graduate of the prestigious Wharton School, but his communication skills are atrocious. No one really knows what he is saying, what he means or what he wants.
This is before the briefing:
President Donald Trump called Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp last night and expressed support and praise for his move to reopen businesses starting Friday. pic.twitter.com/LjbVvkEfYH
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) April 22, 2020
So what is the truth? Is Donnie happy about the Georgia reopening or not?
Guess we will never know for sure.
He’s not. Seems he was told to say what he said by his task force and Dr. Birx.
Real leadership.
God help us.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.