Just days after saying he had total authority to reopen states, U.S. President Donald Trump sounded more deferential as he released a set of guidelines and said governors could “call their own shots.” But with legal authority and public support already on their side, Trump’s reversal changes little.
In the battle to reopen their states, governors faced off against U.S. President Donald Trump with the law and public opinion on their side, and in the end, Trump deferred.
Trump said Thursday the governors can “call their own shots” about when to reopen businesses and schools, and released new guidelines that allow states to phase in reopening, saying some states are in better position than others and could start right away.
“Governors will be empowered to tailor an approach that meets the diverse circumstances of their own state. If they need to remain closed, we will allow them to do that,” said Trump, who began the week saying he had total authority to force states to reopen.
Critics say the announcement changes little since the governors already have that authority under the constitution.
“His directive today will be greeted with eye-rolls in governors’ offices across the country I suspect,” said Democratic strategist Ian Russell.
“For a lot of people … there was never a question that they would actually be the ones in control.”
One step ahead
Before Trump’s pivot, states were already well ahead in the discussion of what comes next. Earlier Thursday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, said he would begin slowly reopening on May 1, when current shutdown orders expire. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on the other hand, extended his state’s stay-at-home orders until May 15.
Trump encouraged states to work together, though many had already formed alliances to co-ordinate their efforts on a regional basis. Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky said they would work “in close co-ordination” to reopen the Midwest’s economy.
California, Oregon and Washington said Monday they had formed a Western States Pact for a “shared vision” on how and when to open their states. The governors of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Delaware also announced a partnership Monday.
People want reassurance
Apart from having legal authority, governors have also built up the trust and credibility to reassure a nervous public, says Jai Ch