DGA Responds to the President’s Attacks On Governors During ABC Town Hall

Last night during a town hall on ABC, President Trump said his response to the COVID-19 pandemic “made a lot of governors feel good” and it “enhanced their reputation,” although he didn’t think they deserved it. Trump also claimed the federal government “got them supplies” while governors “didn’t have anything.”

DGA Executive Director Noam Lee released the following statement in response to the President’s comments:

“When the worst public health crisis in over a century hit, President Trump bucked all responsibility for the pandemic and deserted the states. Trump told governors they were on their own, leaving states to compete in what one governor described as a ‘Hunger Games’ style competition for ventilators, PPE, and other critical resources.

“Democratic governors have been working around the clock to combat the virus and protect their states. While Trump was downplaying the virus, practicing his golf swing, and listening to right-wing hacks instead of public health experts, Democratic governors put in place life-saving policies such as mask mandates, built up testing capacity, and sought out supplies, sometimes in the middle of the night.

“Governors of both parties persistently and urgently requested medical supplies from the federal government and received next to nothing. Trump should be focused on delivering states’ needs rather than his Twitter feed.

“It’s not too late for the President to make a difference. Trump needs to follow the lead of Democratic governors and focus on public health instead of politics.”