Day 1,187: Oxymoron: Trump closes immigration for ‘protection’ at the same time he’s pressuring states to open
Donald Trump has been putting serious pressure on state governors to open their states as soon as possible, even with the coronavirus pandemic raging and the testing infrastructure sorely lacking.
For weeks Trump has been using dangerous rhetoric with regard to elected officials, frequently casting blame for his own shortcomings. Lately, that bombast has included calling for residents to “liberate” their states and putting governors “under siege,” despite the fact that the are following federal guidelines.
Trump has also supported protests that go directly against federal guidelines.
Governors eager to rescue their economies and feeling heat from President Donald Trump are moving to ease restrictions meant to control the spread of the coronavirus, even as new hot spots emerge and experts warn that moving too fast could prove disastrous.
Adding to the pressure are protests against stay-at-home orders organized by small-government groups and Trump supporters. They staged demonstrations Saturday in several cities after the president urged them to “liberate” three states led by Democratic governors.
At his Monday press briefing, Trump doubled down on the idea that states have to open while continuing to downplay the real threat of the coronavirus.
There was a strange juxtaposition a few hours later when Trump made the announcement he has tried to find a way to do for years: suspend all immigration into the U.S.
Using coronavirus as an ally, Trump is using an executive order as the weapon.
But, as with so many decisions, the logic doesn’t comport.
If Trump was asking everyone to hunker down for more days, weeks or months, the idea of stopping more people from entering the country might make sense.
Yet that’s the opposite of what Trump wants.
Trump is pushing for millions of people in the streets right now. Trump is pushing for people to spend money right now. Trump is pushing for things to return to normal right now. Trump is pushing for people to take the risk of not getting sick en masse right now.
All of that is undercut by Trump’s immigration announcement. Out of one side of the mouth he’s screaming, “OPEN, OPEN, OPEN!” as the other side is yelling, “CLOSE, CLOSE, CLOSE!”
It’s almost like his immigration decision has nothing to do with coronavirus at all.
1,187 days in, 275 to go
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