Trump 'disagrees strongly' with Georgia governor's plan to reopen some businesses | Fox News
In a head-turning moment at Wednesday's coronavirus briefing, President Trump told reporters that he "disagrees strongly" with Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's plan to reopen some businesses in his state, including gyms, barbershops and nail salons, on Friday.
The president reiterated that his administration has established benchmarks that states should clear before they begin the reopening process. The rules recommend 14 days of declining new infections, as well as 14 days of decling covid-like syndromic cases and influenza-like illnesses, before moving to the reopening phase Kemp has called for.
"I told the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, that I disagree strongly with his decision to open certain facilities which are in violation of the Phase I guidelines for the incredible people of Georgia," Trump said.
"At the same time, he must do what he thinks is right," Trump continued. "But I disagree with him on what he's doing."
Gov. Brian Kemp defends decision to re-open Georgia, insists he's taking a measured approach
Businesses will have to follow strict guidelines, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp tells Martha MacCallum on 'The Story.'
Later at the briefing, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). said he would "advise" Kemp not to "leapfrog" the White House's guidelines.
"I would advise him not to just turn the switch on and go," Fauci said. "Because there is a danger of a rebound."
Also on Friday, elective medical procedures are slated to be allowed in Georgia. Limited in-restaurant dining will resume Monday. All businesses will be expected to comply with some new restrictions on social distancing.
The president went on to state that Kemp's move wasn't "totally egregious," and implied that he would take action if any governor took a clearly unreasonable step.
After Trump's remarks, Kemp showed no sign of backing down, writing on Twitter that he was "confident that business owners who decide to reopen will adhere to Minimum Basic Operations, which prioritize the health and well-being of employees and customers."
Kemp's supporters note that Sweden, which has not enacted any draconian lockdowns, hasn't experienced an overwhelming pandemic. And, a USC study has tentatively found that the coronavirus may be far less deadly than previously believed.
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President Trump says he disagrees with Gov. Kemp's decision to re-open Georgia businesses
President Trump leads daily briefing of the White House coronavirus task
In a head-turning moment at Wednesday's coronavirus briefing, President Trump told reporters that he "disagrees strongly" with Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's plan to reopen some businesses in his state, including gyms, barbershops and nail salons, on Friday.
The president reiterated that his administration has established benchmarks that states should clear before they begin the reopening process. The rules recommend 14 days of declining new infections, as well as 14 days of decling covid-like syndromic cases and influenza-like illnesses, before moving to the reopening phase Kemp has called for.
"I told the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, that I disagree strongly with his decision to open certain facilities which are in violation of the Phase I guidelines for the incredible people of Georgia," Trump said.
"At the same time, he must do what he thinks is right," Trump continued. "But I disagree with him on what he's doing."
Businesses will have to follow strict guidelines, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp tells Martha MacCallum on 'The Story.'
Later at the briefing, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). said he would "advise" Kemp not to "leapfrog" the White House's guidelines.
"I would advise him not to just turn the switch on and go," Fauci said. "Because there is a danger of a rebound."
Also on Friday, elective medical procedures are slated to be allowed in Georgia. Limited in-restaurant dining will resume Monday. All businesses will be expected to comply with some new restrictions on social distancing.
The president went on to state that Kemp's move wasn't "totally egregious," and implied that he would take action if any governor took a clearly unreasonable step.
After Trump's remarks, Kemp showed no sign of backing down, writing on Twitter that he was "confident that business owners who decide to reopen will adhere to Minimum Basic Operations, which prioritize the health and well-being of employees and customers."
Kemp's supporters note that Sweden, which has not enacted any draconian lockdowns, hasn't experienced an overwhelming pandemic. And, a USC study has tentatively found that the coronavirus may be far less deadly than previously believed.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp listens to a speaker during a tour of a massive temporary hospital at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Atlanta. Kemp took part in a tour of the 200-bed facility, constructed quickly in the lower levels of the Georgia World Congress Center which normally plays host to large conventions and sporting events. (AP Photo/Ron Harris, Pool)
On Tuesday, Kemp defended his timeline in an interview with Fox News.
"We are taking a measured step," Kemp told "The Story" Tuesday. "I would urge people to really look at the guidance that we are going to be putting out the rest of the week."
"There are a lot of people that are hurting really bad right now on the financial end of things — our hard-working Georgians. And we're trying to do all we can to allow them to start moving back into the work force in a limited and safe way," Kemp added.
Georgia has ranked in the bottom 10 per capita in testing. After expanding capacity, the number of tests administered in Georgia had plateaued between 3,500 to 4,000 a day. However, on Wednesday, the state reported almost 6,000 tests over 24 hours, with Kemp saying on a conference call that Georgia was "really ramping up" its capacity.
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Those tests Wednesday show Georgia with nearly 21,000 infections and 836 deaths, according to the state Department of Public Health.
Separately at Wednesday's briefing, Trump brought Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield to the podium to clarify a statement he made saying that a second wave of the coronavirus this winter could actually be worse than the one.
Redfield, who made his original comment to the Washington Post, said that while he was not misquoted by the newspaper, he did feel the need to clarify his comment.
"I didn't say it was going to be worse, I said it would be more difficult," Redfield said. "The issue I was talking about was that it will be more difficult in that we will have two viruses circulating at one time."
Fox News' Yael Halon and Andrew O'Reilly, as well as The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Gregg Re is a lawyer and editor based in Los Angeles. Follow him on Twitter @gregg_re or email him at gregory.re@foxnews.com.
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Oh my I'm sure the TDS sufferers are having a hard time with this...
Probably not nearly as hard a time as Kemp is. Trump lured him out on a limb, then sawed it off behind him.
Lured him out?
Hilarious!
OTAY if you say so.
Goddamn Trump. I knew someone would figure out a way to blame President Trump.
TDS is real.
It is real indeed. Trump has been balanced through this whole thing. He is critical of the extremes as he sees it. We went after Kemp for trying to do too much too fast and governors like that woman from Michigan with the god complex and overbearing stay st home rules.
Somebody has to be first....... let's watch the data for hospitalizations and deaths from the virus and see where it goes. Let's also make sure we can trust the data.....
You trust the data now even after they admitted to fluffing the numbers....Hillaryious.
But seriously glad you are all on board with state rights to operate without government interference.
The governors have the responsibility to their citizens in all respects. The federal government has the right to step in if need be for the betterment of the country. Think back to school integration in the 1960s.
The data of hospitalizations and deaths is the data. If it is being fluffed one way or another, then those doing so are not doing their citizens justice.
There surely is a stunning amount of cognitive dissonance on display by the gop nowadays...
There surely is a stunning amount of cognitive dissonance on display by the democrat party nowadays...
This is one time I agree with trmp
Scary isn't it. Makes one feel conflicted and dirty.
I need a shower. With bleach
Lets all just watch to see what happens. The rest of the country can use it as a positive or negative learning experience depending on what happens.
Left-right..... just calm down and try to learn.
Exactly.
Lol ..... Georgia is doing the old "watch this shit" maneuver and hopefully it's a fantastic success.
That said hopefully they do it wisely. Suppose to hear on this plan today from our Governor in Meeeechigan
Our Governor talks at 3:00 this afternoon. He is expected to completely shut the schools for the rest of the school year and extend our stay home for two additional weeks. It was April 30 now will be May..............
I hope so too!
We all do......
Good luck to the people of Michigan against their governor.
Colorado with a democrat governor is opening up at about the same pace as the Gov. of Georgia is. I wish them both well for the benefit of all of us.
No offense Trout, but your agreement with Turnip--err I mean Trump is based on what? Or in which millisecond was it ensconced in?
She agrees that Georgia is not ready to reopen.
None taken, bbl-1. I don't think Georgia should move so quickly to re-open. For one thing I highly doubt they have met the guidelines for Phase I of trmp's plan
This is not confusing behavior at all for this president. He wants the economy open so that his re-election chances are greater, but he doesn't want to be blamed if opening businesses too soon results in catastrophe. So, he says it's a bad idea to open businesses while tweeting "LIBERATE MICHIGAN", "LIBERATE VIRGINIA", "LIBERATE MINNESOTA", ... He uses his brainless minions to put pressure on governors while hiding behind disingenuous concern.
Michigan and Virginia have overbearing dictatorial stay at home orders. Minnesota loosened theirs as a result of these kind of protests.
We are the republic of Whitmeristan here in Michigan.
Free vodka, kayaks and 2nd home inspections for everyone. But only if the home inspector is from out of state.
Oorah!
When the Trump uses the word, "Strongly," the deciphering of the actual intent or meaning is subject to an interpretation which is difficult or impossible to define.
One day Trump is encouraging the protesters who want to open states back up. The next day he is against opening too soon.
No. Trump wants to open up. Just not too much too soon. Seems reasonable enough to me.