Coronavirus: Donald Trump calls to ‘liberate’ states as protesters demand easing of lockdowns
- US president names Michigan, Virginia and Minnesota, all led by Democrat governors, in series of all-caps tweets
- Critics say Trump is encouraging attacks on state authorities in midst of nationwide health crisis
US President Donald Trump on Friday called on supporters to “liberate” states that have experienced protests over coronavirus lockdowns, a day after he unveiled guidelines aimed at reopening the nation’s economy.
A day after declining to name the states he felt might be prepared to begin easing social distancing guidelines intended to halt the spread of the virus, Trump named Virginia, Michigan and Minnesota as states that could benefit from liberation.
“LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” Trump posted in a series of all-caps tweets.
All three states are led by Democratic governors, and all three have seen protests aimed at state officials in recent days demanding a rollback of social distancing and the closing of businesses. Demonstrators drove thousands of vehicles to Michigan’s state Capitol this week to protest Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order, for instance.
It was not clear exactly what Trump meant with the tweets. The only context he offered came with a third “liberate” tweet, directed at Virginia, in which he urged supporters to “save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!”