It’s hardly a unique observation that Democrats and Republicans increasingly exist in different realities. Those who believe our pathologically dishonest president and who tune in to Hannity and Tucker Carlson Tonight operate in a paranoid world where the so-called Deep State is out to sabotage America from the inside out, where foreign hordes are clambering to swarm across our border, and conspiracy theories reign supreme.
The outbreak of the coronavirus should have logically bridged this divide. A virus that infects and kills at such an alarming rate should surely transcend this worsening epistemological balkanization. Instead, the Republican president started off this crisis by referring to COVID-19 as a Democratic hoax and has regularly peddled snake-oil cures for the virus.
On top of that, there is a disturbing strain of thought on the right arguing that reopening business prematurely might be worth it to boost the economy even if it means more people would die.
Trump himself tapped into this logic in his tweets this morning. He accused the “Fake News Media” of reporting for the sole purpose of “creating conflict and confusion” that the decision to “open up the states” belongs to the governors of their respective states. The president erroneously stated such an assessment is “incorrect” and that ultimately this power falls under his purview. He stated that he will make such a decision soon and will consult with the governors and “others” when he does.
The truth, as it so often is, is the opposite of what Trump is stating. The closing of businesses was ordered by the governors and it’s the governors who wield the police power to open them back up. Short of some gross abuse of power, there is no legitimate mechanism in place for Trump to do what he says he can do.
When and how the economy opens back up will be questions answered by state and local officials and even then it will require individual Americans actually deciding to leave the safety of their homes to return to work and patronize businesses. By any reasonable estimation, we are still a long way from that eventuality.
This is about Donald Trump’s ego. He despises the idea of not having absolute control and has at best a casual understanding of the Constitution. Luckily for the American people, it takes more than simply claiming a power to wield it.
For the purpose of creating conflict and confusion, some in the Fake News Media are saying that it is the Governors decision to open up the states, not that of the President of the United States & the Federal Government. Let it be fully understood that this is incorrect….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2020
….It is the decision of the President, and for many good reasons. With that being said, the Administration and I are working closely with the Governors, and this will continue. A decision by me, in conjunction with the Governors and input from others, will be made shortly!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2020
From @PeteWilliamsNBC: “For the purpose of eliminating confusion, here are the facts. The authority to require businesses to close in a public health crisis is what is known as a ‘police power,’ and it is reserved by the Constitution to the states, not to the federal government.” https://t.co/Z5jryxgRnY
— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) April 13, 2020
President Trump is flat-out wrong. The president has no authority to “close down” or “open up” the states. He’s the one creating conflict and confusion. Put down the authoritarianism and read the Constitution. https://t.co/3AFqRx7YTX
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) April 13, 2020
After weeks of his advisers pointing out that Republicans believe in states’ rights to explain why this is a states’ decision, the president asserts that no, it’s his. https://t.co/egjFuATDsl
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 13, 2020