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Trump Tweets in Support of Protests Against Stay-at-Home Orders

VOA News

   U.S. President Donald Trump sent out messages Friday from his Twitter
   account apparently in support of protesters in three statesseeking to
   defy measures designed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

   In three successive tweets, the president wrote,"LIBERATE MINNESOTA!"
   "LIBERATE MICHIGAN!" and, finally, "LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your
   great 2ndAmendment.Itis under siege!"The last tweet refers to gun
   control measures being proposed by Democratic lawmakers in the state.

   Protests were held in all three states this week demandingrestrictions
   on businesses andother public activitiesbe lifted, arguing they are
   killing the economy and violating personal rights.

   Trump's tweets would seem to contradict guidelines for howstates can
   begin to reopen, whichhe released at a White House briefing Thursday.
   Those guidelines call for a slow phase-out ofsafety measureswhereas the
   protesters want them lifted immediately.

   The Washington Post notes all three states mentioned in Trump'stweets
   have Democratic governorsand are likely tobe significant in the
   November presidential election.

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