President Donald Trump is not pleased with Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home restrictions amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The president took to Twitter on Monday with a post directly targeting Pennsylvania, where he insisted residents want their “freedom.” Trump, who has mainly targeted Democratic-run states, is also pressuring Pennsylvania to move quickly with its reopening plan.
“The great people of Pennsylvania want their freedom now, and they are fully aware of what that entails. The Democrats are moving slowly, all over the USA, for political purposes. They would wait until November 3rd if it were up to them. Don’t play politics. Be safe, move quickly!”
The great people of Pennsylvania want their freedom now, and they are fully aware of what that entails. The Democrats are moving slowly, all over the USA, for political purposes. They would wait until November 3rd if it were up to them. Don’t play politics. Be safe, move quickly!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2020
Trump’s remarks come as the White House faces its own bout with the coronavirus. Multiple White House staffers, secret service agents have tested positive for the coronavirus.
In the wake of the positive test results, some Coronavirus Task Force members have opted to self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution.
In response to push from some Republican leaders, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolfe (D) hit back, tweeting, “I won’t sit back and watch residents who live in counties under Stay at Home orders get sick because local leaders cannot see the risks of [coronavirus] and push to reopen prematurely. Today I am announcing consequences for counties that do not abide by the law to remain closed.”
Non-compliant counties won't be eligible for federal stimulus discretionary funds.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) May 11, 2020
Instead, those funds will be allocated to counties working to stop the spread of #COVID19.
Dine-in restaurants that open in counties that have not been authorized to reopen will risk receiving a citation.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) May 11, 2020
These citations can ultimately lead to the loss of a restaurant’s liquor license.
The dangers associated with #COVID19 may not be readily visible to all, but they are present.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) May 11, 2020
We are fighting a war that has taken the lives of too many people. And we’re winning.
The politicians who are encouraging us to quit the fight are acting in a most cowardly way.
I intend to keep fighting.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) May 11, 2020
And, I believe that the overwhelming majority of my fellow Pennsylvanians intend to keep fighting it too.
And with that unity, I know we can win.
The president’s tweets about Pennsylvania also come days ahead of his upcoming trip to the battleground state. With more than 60,500 positive coronavirus cases and 3,800 deaths statewide, Wolfe has taken careful strides with his approach to reopening the heavily impacted state.
Wolfe, who introduced a color-coded reopening system last week, indicated that only 13 counties would be allowed to reopen on May 15 based on the scientific data the state had accumulated.
The governor also adamantly insists counties still categorized as red could not reopen until they meet specific qualifications and thresholds. Currently, 30 of Pennsylvania’s counties are categorized as red.
“I cannot allow residents in a red county to get sick because their local officials can’t see the invisible risk of the virus in their community,” Wolf previously said. “So, I must, and I will impose consequences if a county locally lifts restrictions when it has not yet been given the go-ahead by the state.”
Wolf has also promised there will be consequences for business owners and establishments that reopen early.
Despite Trump pressing states to reopen and his previous claim that his “authority is total,” he recently switched gears and insisted that the decisions should be left up to the states.