The week started with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) offering rare praise of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
“The fairness dictates that kudos where kudos are due, and here the vice president and the President responded very quickly. So, I want to thank them for that,” Cuomo said on Monday while speaking about the Trump administration’s response to the outbreak of the virus in the state.
But, within hours, Trump accused Cuomo of not doing enough to handle the coronavirus outbreak in New York.
“Just had a very good teleconference with Nation’s Governors. Went very well. Cuomo of New York has to ‘do more.’
Just had a very good tele-conference with Nation’s Governors. Went very well. Cuomo of New York has to “do more”.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2020
Cuomo fired back in a tweet and called on Trump to take more action to address the outbreak, “I have to do more? No — YOU have to do something! You’re supposed to be the President.”
I have to do more?
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 16, 2020
No — YOU have to do something! You’re supposed to be the President. https://t.co/tYeDt1lcOZ
Happy to do your job, too.
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 16, 2020
Just give me control of the Army Corps of Engineers and I’ll take it from there.https://t.co/nfjZ8xiRL4 https://t.co/YNvdHC3Xz3
The spat comes as The New York Times reports that during a meeting with the nation’s governors, Trump encouraged states to try to acquire ventilators and other hospital equipment on their own.
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Trump reportedly said.
He added, “We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself.”
On Sunday, Cuomo called on Trump to activate the Army Corps of Engineers to help expand hospital capacity across the country.