Donald Trump leads rebellion as US is roiled by open and shut debate

WASHINGTON: Defying and disregarding continued warnings from government experts that ending the coronavirus-driven shutdown prematurely could set back the quest to return to normal and result in needless suffering and death down the line, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday pressed states, governors, and businesses to re-open, saying the American people are “warriors” and the country would “transition to greatness” on his watch.
The remarkable spectacle of the President flouting his own experts and bearing down on Democratic-run states to end the lockdown came amid growing tension and even strife across America between those who want the country to re-open regardless of consequences or because they believe the pandemic is overhyped, and those who believe they are vulnerable and a reckless reopening will put them and the country in even greater trouble.
The furious debate was illustrated by a high-profile clash in California between the local administration and Elon Musk, CEO of the automaker Tesla, who said he is re-opening his factory in Fremont in defiance of county orders and dared officials to arrest him. Musk, who has threatened to leave Democratic-run California and move his factory to Texas, a Republican-administered state, or to Nevada, where restrictions are less onerous, if California continued to force him stay shut, found support from Trump, who tweeted: "California should let Tesla & @elonmusk open the plant, NOW. It can be done Fast & Safely!"
Trump’s exhortation has ignited a rebellion in many parts of the country with Republican officials at the county level and businesses defying Democratic state administrations to reopen. In some places counties and local governments are suing businesses that, emboldened by the President, are re-opening in defiance of restriction.
In one of the remarkable visual that ignited social media, a group of heavily armed anti-lockdown protestors, including one tattoo-ed man armed with a rocket launcher, is seen ordering lunch at a sandwich shop.
The tension on the street and in front of city halls came even as the nation’s top infectious disease expert told a remotely held Senate hearing that the U.S death toll from Covid-19 is likely higher than 80,000 and a premature re-opening will see little spikes in cases that can turn into outbreaks.
The logistics of the hearing itself was unprecedented, offering a peek into future such meetings. The Senate committee chair Senator Lamar Alexander and the principal witness Dr Anthony Fauci, both in self-quarantine after coming in proximity to coronavirus positive carriers, respectively conducted and testified at the hearing from remote locations, with other lawmakers participated while wearing masks and observing social distancing.
Fauci’s warning was preceded on Monday by another turbulent White House press conference at which Trump claimed successes on a range of fronts against the pandemic, blamed his predecessor administration for any failure while also leveling unspecified charges of criminal behavior against President Obama, and finally lost his cool and walked out of the briefing when faced with hard questions from reporters.
Accusations of racist behavior rang out on social media after Trump smacked down on a Chinese-American reporter for CBS news who asked him why the issue of testing for the coronavirus, which Trump keeps insisting is an area where US is doing better than any other country, has become a matter of global competition to him when Americans continue to die every day.
“They’re losing their lives everywhere in the world,” Trump replied, before adding, “And maybe that’s a question you should ask China. Don’t ask me. Ask China that question, okay? If you ask them that question, you may get a very unusual answer.” As Trump proceeded to call on another journalist, the reporter, Weijia Jiang followed up. “Sir, why are you saying that to me, specifically?”
“I’m not saying it specifically to anybody,” Trump responded, visibly irritated. “I’m saying that to anyone who would ask a nasty question like that.” Jiang: “That’s not a nasty question.” Trump then called another CNN reporter to ask a question and then changed his mind before abruptly turning on his heels and ending the briefing.
On Tuesday, the US President appeared to have recognized the backlash to his outburst against the Chinese-American reporter. “Asian Americans are VERY angry at what China has done to our Country, and the World. Chinese Americans are the most angry of all. I don’t blame them!” he tweeted.
Trump also took note of someone who posted on Twitter that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would be third in line to serve as President if and vice-president Mike Pence become incapacitated by Covid-19. “Then we must be very careful. Crazy Nancy would be a total disaster, and the USA will never be a Communist Country!” he replied.