WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday called for a number of states under extended lock-down to be “liberated” after telling governors on Thursday “you’re going to call your shots” over when to reopen.
In a series of Twitter missives, the president called for Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia to be “liberated,” and went so far as to claim that Virginia was “under siege.”
“LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!” Trump told his 77 million followers.
States hard-hit by the virus such as Michigan have been rocked by protests in recent days from angry Americans who claim extended shelter-in-place orders impinge on their constitutional rights.
The president’s tweets appear to be at odds with comments he made on a call to state leaders Thursday afternoon where he said they were in control over when to reopen their states.
While presenting new federal reopening guidelines to governors for the first time, Trump told state leaders “you’re gonna call your shots,” a source familiar with the call told The Post.
“You’re very capable people, I think in all cases very capable people, and you’re going to be calling your shots. We’ll be standing right alongside of you,” he said.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been hit with two federal lawsuits challenging her stay-home orders, which she has extended until the end of April, while several sheriffs have said they are opposed to the orders.
As of Thursday, Michigan had more than 28,000 coronavirus cases and its 1,921 death toll is the third-largest in the country after New York and New Jersey.
