President Donald Trump is receiving a fair amount of backlash for his latest comments from the media and other lawmakers. He can now add former Vice President Joe Biden to the list.
During a press conference, Trump claimed he has authority over states to decide when they can reopen their economies amid the growing spread of the coronavirus, as IJR previously reported.
“When somebody is the President of the United States, the authority is total. And that’s the way it’s gotta be. It’s total,” Trump said.
Biden pushed back on Trump’s claim.
“I am not running for office to be King of America. I respect the Constitution. I’ve read the Constitution,” Biden tweeted. “I’ve sworn an oath to it many times. I respect the great job so many of this country’s governors — Democratic and Republican — are doing under these horrific circumstances.”
Leadership is about never proclaiming power. It’s about collaboration, it’s about coming together in a crisis and finding common ground. It’s about results.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 14, 2020
That’s who I am and the role I aspire to fulfill in guiding this democratic nation to better times.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) also slammed Trump for his comments, as IJR previously reported.
Biden echoed Cuomo’s sentiment the United States does not have a king.
“We have a Constitution, we don’t have a king. We have an elected president,” Cuomo said.
Trump has received criticism from media figures including Fox News personality Judge Andrew Napolitano.
Napolitano mentioned the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution in refuting Trump’s claim.
“In areas of health, safety, and welfare, the 10th Amendment expressly reserves the power to regulate for those areas to the states,” Napolitano said.
Biden voiced his opinion on what leadership really means.
“Leadership is about never proclaiming power. It’s about collaboration, it’s about coming together in a crisis and finding common ground,” Biden tweeted. “It’s about results. That’s who I am and the role I aspire to fulfill in guiding this democratic nation to better times.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) dropped out of the presidential race leaving Biden with the most delegates and endorsements. Most recently, Biden received an endorsement from former President Barack Obama.