Trump calls Whitmer a 'dictator,' misleads about Michigan COVID-19 orders
Dan Boucher
President Donald Trump continued his barrage of attacks against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, calling her a "dictator" unprompted while spreading misleading information during an interview Thursday on Fox Business.
The comments come one week after state and federal authorities announced they had thwarted an alleged plot to kidnap and possibly kill Whitmer. The governor thanked law enforcement for their work, but also said the president's rhetoric spurred on action by hate groups around the country.
Asked during the television interview on Thursday about his health — the president continues to recover after contracting COVID-19 — Trump instead chose to go after Whitmer in connection to executive orders she issued in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Many opponents have criticized the orders, arguing they went to far and usurped the power of the legislature. Whitmer argued they have been necessary to curb the impact of a disease already contracted by more than 137,000 Michigan residents.
Recently, the Michigan Supreme Court issued several rulings that essentially invalidated the governor's orders. It determined one law cited by the governor was unconstitutional, and another did not give Whitmer the authority to extend a state of emergency without new approval from the legislature.
The court's decision was brought on by a federal lawsuit filed by health care companies, not the Republican party. A different lawsuit brought by GOP leaders in the legislature resulted in a separate order from the court, determining it's opinion on the governor's executive orders had immediate effect. Trump said "we're winning a lot of lawsuits" before referencing Whitmer and saying the state needs to "open up."
"She wants to be a dictator in Michigan and the people can't stand her," Trump said.
According to polls commissioned by the Free Press, Whitmer's popularity in the state remains substantially higher than the president's.
While executive orders required many businesses to remain closed in the spring, most establishments have been allowed to operate in some capacity for months.
In response to the court order, the Michigan health department issued it's own directive that mandates masks, capacity limits and social distancing at an array of venues. State labor and safety officials unveiled emergency rules on Wednesday that institute similar requirements for employers who need employees to work on-site.
The rules largely mirror Whitmer's executive orders but rely on laws and regulations not addressed by the Michigan Supreme Court.
Republican leaders in the state legislature have criticized the governor for not working with them to pass legislation that would help those affected by the pandemic. After spending hours negotiating Tuesday and Wednesday, lawmakers reached an agreement with the governor's office on measures that extend unemployment benefits, craft new regulations for nursing homes and create additional legal protections for businesses.
Trump and Whitmer feuding is not new, but it has remerged on a national stage in light of the kidnapping plot. In a recent statement about the allegations, Whitmer noted the president chose not to denounce a hate group during a nationally televised debate.
"'Stand back, and stand by,' he said to them. 'Stand back, and stand by.' Hate groups heard the president's words not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry. As a call to action," Whitmer said.
The president later denounced white supremacy after he did not during debate. He and several of his supporters lashed out at Whitmer after her comments.
The General Election is Nov. 3, but Michigan voters may request and cast an absentee ballot now.
Contact Dave Boucher atdboucher@freepress.comor 313-938-4591. Follow him on Twitter@Dave_Boucher1.