Kemp criticizes Trump’s stance on April 2020 COVID lockdowns.
Gov. Brian Kemp Remembers Trump’s Opposition to Reopening from COVID-19 Lockdowns
Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) vividly recalls former President Donald Trump’s resistance to reopening from COVID-19 lockdowns in April 2020. In response to a clip of Trump adamantly refusing to comply with public health mandates from “COVID tyrants,” Kemp reminds the former president of his own opposition to reopening Georgia during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns.
“The fact is former president Trump led the opposition to my decision to reopen Georgia – the first state in the country to do so. While he listened to Fauci & parroted media talking points, I listened to hardworking Georgians. He may not remember, but I sure as hell do,” Kemp said.
The video that prompted Kemp’s response featured Trump declaring, “To every COVID tyrant who wants to take away our freedom, Hear these words: We will not comply. So don’t even think about it.”
Kemp initiated the phased reopening of Georgia in April 2020, allowing certain retailers, nail salons, massage therapists, bowling alleys, and gyms to resume operations. Theaters and restaurants followed suit shortly after. However, this reopening plan contradicted the federal guidelines set by Trump’s White House COVID-19 task force.
At the time, Trump openly opposed Kemp’s decision but acknowledged the governor’s authority to make such choices.
“I told the governor very simply that I disagree with this decision, but he has to do what he thinks is right,” Trump stated.
“I love these people that use all of those things, spas, and the beauty parlors and barber shops, tattoo parlors. I love them, but they can wait a little bit longer,” he added.
Georgia was among the first states to lift the initial COVID-19 lockdowns that began in March 2020. The disagreement between Trump and Kemp, initially sparked by COVID-19 policies, escalated when the former president allegedly attempted to persuade Kemp to overturn the 2020 election results, a request Kemp firmly rejected.
In the 2022 GOP gubernatorial primary in Georgia, Trump endorsed David Perdue, but Kemp emerged victorious, securing his reelection in the general election.
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