Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) is firing back at New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) criticism of states now battling soaring coronavirus infection rates.
During an interview on Fox News Thursday night, Patrick was asked about Cuomo’s remarks, where he insisted the New York governor is “probably the biggest fraud” out of all 50 governors in the United States.
“First of all, Governor Cuomo is probably the biggest fraud who holds that position in the country,” Patrick told host Laura Ingraham, adding, “He had about 6,000 people die in nursing home and we had less than a thousand — and that’s on top of the other people who have died in New York.”
“He shortchanged the people in New York,” Patrick continued. “He cost people their lives. How dare him come on [CNN] and point his finger at any other governor in the state for what he did. He killed people, and I’ll say it clearly.”
See Patrick’s remarks below:
Patrick’s remarks came hours after Cuomo criticized multiple Republican governors who opted to reopen for economic reasons while seemingly disregarding health experts’ warnings.
During an interview on CNN, Cuomo slammed the governors who appeared to downplay the virus as they deemed it “Democratic hyperbole,” as previously reported on IJR.
“I say to them all, look at the numbers. You played politics with this virus and you lost,” Cuomo said, adding, “You told the people of your state, and you told the people of this country, White House, ‘Don’t worry about it. Just open up, go about your business, this is all Democratic hyperbole.’”
In case you missed it:
JUST NOW: "I say to them all, look at the numbers. You played politics with this virus and you lost. "@NYGovCuomo to Florida @GovRonDeSantis and others on rising cases in some states in U.S.
— John Berman (@JohnBerman) June 25, 2020
@NewDaypic.twitter.com/HjL7JP8Mj7
Over the last two weeks, multiple Republican-led states have seen significant increases in coronavirus infection rates. In fact, Texas has had more than 3,200 cases per day over the last seven days.
As of Thursday morning, regular ICU beds at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, have reached capacity. Due to the alarming uptick in cases, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has halted reopening plans.
Although Patrick also lauded the state for its testing capacity and handling of the virus, some people argue otherwise. Multiple people recalled his previous remarks insisting older people should be willing to die to save the U.S. economy.
Texas had 5,500 new coronavirus cases today. 1K more than the previous daily record.
— Adam Best 🥥🌴 (@adamcbest) June 24, 2020
In Houston, a children's hospital is now taking adults because ICUs are overflowing.
Give it up for the staggering incompetence of Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick, everybody!
I am old enough to remember April 2020, and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick saying the economy needs to reopen and that “there are more important things than living.” Welp. So. Much. Winning. In covid deaths. pic.twitter.com/lR1jXnGBeL
— Dr. StephanieB (@sboumedi) June 25, 2020
Dan Patrick mentions in this clip that Texas is testing a lot, but it really isn’t when you look at it on a per capita basis. In fact, Texas tests at less than half the rate of New York. #txlege https://t.co/DBQ1PtiOIW pic.twitter.com/yQMb9KjVzN
— Michael Li 李之樸 (@mcpli) June 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_/status/1276187079802785794
As of Friday morning, there are at least 137,152 confirmed coronavirus cases in Texas. On Thursday, the state led the country with the highest number of reported coronavirus cases reported for the day.