New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) is warning Americans of the danger of reopening the nation at the rate President Donald Trump wants it to.
De Blasio considers Trump’s call on citizens to liberate states “troubling.”
He explained he understands Americans want to get back to normal and get back to their jobs. He does not understand reopening the country at the expense of Americans’ lives.
“What does liberate mean? Liberate means being free,” de Blasio said, adding, “Being free from danger. Having the security of knowing you can live your life. Well, you know what, if we don’t protect peoples’ health, we’re not going to be liberated.”
Check out his comments below:
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio criticizes Pres. Trump's "liberate" tweets, warning "if we don't protect peoples' health, we're not going to be liberated…if there's some effort to 'liberate' that forgets about people…it will set us back by months and months." https://t.co/S1PCJv94T2 pic.twitter.com/QBNFwcAUCX
— ABC News (@ABC) April 23, 2020
Trump issued a series of tweets calling on citizens to “liberate” states with Democrat governors, as IJR previously reported.
He received backlash for his orders from lawmakers.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) weighed in on the matter, as IJR previously reported.
She urged Americans not to “take the bait” and claimed it was another way for Trump to distract from his plan to combat the coronavirus.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said he does not believe Trump’s mixed messaging is “helpful to the discussion.”
De Blasio went on to reiterate if there is more focus on corporations and stock markets than Americans’ lives, it will lead to serious consequences.
“It will not only backfire, it will set us back by months and months,” de Blasio said. “And the recovery we all hope and pray for will be diminished and slowed and people will suffer.”
According to de Blasio, New York City will reopen when the time is right and they have all of the facts.
He warned places reopening too early will be putting Americans in more danger and “chaining their people to a painful reality.”
De Blasio closed his remarks reminding Americans New York City will be taking what he feels is the right approach.
“Here, we’re going to do it right and we’re going to look back and be glad we did,” de Blasio said.