The Lead

In Tweet, Trump criticizes Pa. reopening strategy, says residents ‘want their freedom now’

By: John L. Micek - May 11, 2020 1:20 pm

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 10: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks while flanked by Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, during the daily briefing of the White House Coronavirus Task Force in the James Brady Briefing Room April 10, 2020 at the White House in Washington, DC. According to Johns Hopkins University, New York state has more confirmed coronavirus cases than any other country outside of the United States. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

With counties rebelling against Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay at home orders, President Donald Trump inserted himself into the debate Monday, arguing that state residents “want their freedom now.”

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1259852364326014978?s=20

In a news conference announcing repercussions, including the loss of federal stimulus money, for counties who choose to disregard his administration’s order, Wolf responded to Trump’s Tweet

“I don’t know how you stay safe and move quickly,” Wolf said.

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, D-3rd District, also weighed in with a tweet of his own:

What people want is freedom FROM THE VIRUS.

And we’ll only get it if we have #UniversalTesting + tracing + isolating.

Can we count on your support for this bipartisan plan? https://t.co/oo5kJGbpi3 https://t.co/DfALoW7QIz

— Congressman Dwight Evans (@RepDwightEvans) May 11, 2020

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John L. Micek

A 3-decade veteran of the news business, John L. Micek is the Pennsylvania Capital-Star's Editor-in-Chief. An award-winning political reporter, Micek’s career has taken him from small town meetings and Chicago City Hall to Congress and the Pennsylvania Capitol. His weekly column on U.S. politics is syndicated to 800 newspapers nationwide by Cagle Syndicate. He also contributes commentary and analysis to broadcast outlets in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Micek’s first novel, “Ordinary Angels,” was released in 2019 by Sunbury Press.