One day after laying out a roadmap for gradually reviving economic activity, President Donald Trump on Friday urged his supporters to “LIBERATE” three states led by Democrat governors where stay-at-home restrictions are in effect against the coronavirus.
The president took to Twitter and appeared to encourage protesters with the kind of rhetoric some of his supporters have used to demand the lifting of the orders that have thrown millions of Americans out of work.
“LIBERATE MINNESOTA!” “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” “LIBERATE VIRGINIA,” Trump said in a tweetstorm in which also lashed out at New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to stop complaining about the federal response.
On Thursday, Trump laid out a three-step, weeks-long map for easing the restrictions in places where the virus is being brought under control, assuring the nation's governors: “You’re going to call your own shots."
But some governors around the country made it clear they are not ready to break out the roadmap, with some saying they badly need help from Washington in ramping up testing for the virus first.
Cuomo accused the federal government of “passing the buck without passing the bucks.”
“The federal government cannot wipe its hands of this and say, `Oh, the states are responsible for testing.' We cannot do it. We cannot do it without federal help," the governor said.
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