Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Trump Challenges Governors' Authority on Reopening Economies

Steve Heman

   WHITE HOUSE - U.S. President Donald Trump is asserting that he, not the
   states, has "the ultimate authority" to decide when to lift
   stay-at-home directives and reopen the country's economy.

   The president "calls the shots," Trump said in a reply to a question
   from VOA about whether consortiums of states developing their own
   reopening plans pose a challenge to his authority to declare a national
   reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic.

   "They can't do anything without the approval of the president of the
   United States," Trump declared.

   Trump insisted there are numerous provisions of the Constitution
   backing him up on this, asserting "when somebody is president of the
   United States, the authority is total."

   Under the U.S. Constitution, what powers are not defined in that
   framework for the federal government are left to the states.

   When a reporter pointed this out to the presidentthat what he was
   claiming is not true, he responded, "Enough, please."

   New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, calling into CNN just after Trump's
   remarks, said that in the United States, "the president doesn't have
   total authority. We have a Constitution. We don't have a king."

   If the president puts forward a reopening plan that "I believe is
   irresponsible and jeopardizes public health, Iwouldoppose it legally,"
   Cuomo added.

   The governor noted Trump has helped New York and other states with the
   coronavirus response. And in view of that, Cuomo said, he does not
   understand why the president "would pivot at this point to this
   aggressive, hostile suggestion of a total authority of the federal
   government and abandon the partnership cooperation."

   Trump says he will soon decide whether to reopen the United States to
   commerce at a time when 42 of the 50 state governors have imposed
   stay-at-home edicts because of the viral pandemic.

   The president recommended physical distancing between Americans through
   the end of'¯April'¯but'¯is considering whether to reopen the country
   fully or partly May 1.'¯

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