After Trump’s Threat Cali Gov Newsom Backs Off Ridiculous Plan
President Trump held a conference call with governors on Monday, he expressed that he was mostly satisfied with how US governors are moving forward lifting their coronavirus restrictions. However, he warned them that if he disagrees with their plans or they stall reopening the country he “will step in.”
“The governors are making their decisions, and want to make their decisions, and that’s the way I want it to, and we will step in if we see something going wrong, or if we disagree, and some people say that’s nice, and some people say I shouldn’t be doing that, but we’re going to do it if we see something wrong,” Trump said to the governors Monday, according to the audio of the call obtained by CBS.
Trump continued: “If you have any problem, let me know please, but it seems that the governors are largely happy. And I think I can say extraordinarily happy with respect to what we’ve done.”
Before news about the call broke California Governor Gavin Newsom declared he was worried about a “third wave” of the Wuhan virus and wasn’t sure when the state would reopen. Well, twenty-four hours after the phone call with President Trump, he’s backed down.
Newsom announced a “relaxation” of restrictions and hinted that pro sports – without fans – could return as early as June.
The announcement is significantly different then what California officials were saying a week ago, the Associated Press reports:
While retail businesses may open for curbside pickup statewide, the new criteria would let counties seek state approval to allow dining in restaurants and other services to reopen. Newsom also suggested it may only be a matter of weeks before people can get their hair cut or worship in a church, which have been flashpoints in the fight over reopening.
“Bottom line is: People can go at their own pace, and we are empowering our local health directors and county officials that understand their local communities and conditions,” Newsom said. “We’re going to start seeing a lot more activity, let’s just make sure we do it thoughtfully and very, very strategically.”
So what changed?
Newsom claims a decline in hospitalizations and an increased ability to test people for the virus.
I have a feeling it had something to do with the fact that the federal government is all ready floating California’s unemployment payouts and President Trump told Gavin if he wants cooperation from his Administration he needs to move things along.