Coronavirus cases are surging in states across the country as the death count surpasses 125,000 and the US economy is in freefall with approximately 47 million Americans filing for unemployment. But now, after months of backing Trump’s botched response to the coronavirus, Republicans are starting to distance themselves from the president and his failed leadership.
See below for the ways Trump’s allies are breaking with Trump:
- After rushing to reopen at Trump’s urging, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that the state will pause reopening as it experiences a record number of new cases and hospitalizations.
- “Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Thursday that the state will pause any further reopening as the state continues to report record increases in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations. Businesses that were permitted to open under the previous phases can continue to operate at the designated occupancy outlined by the Texas Department of State Health Services, according to a statement from Abbott’s office.” [NBC News, 6/25/20]
- And today, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a new executive order to close bars at noon in order to help prevent further spread of coronavirus. [KXAN, 6/26/20]
- After rushing to reopen at Trump’s urging, key White House ally Florida Governor Ron DeSantis acknowledged that Florida was experiencing “a real explosion” in new coronavirus cases.
- “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis acknowledged at a briefing in Orlando on Tuesday that the state has seen ‘a real explosion in new cases’ over the past week among younger residents. Florida officials are cracking down on bars and restaurants that violate occupancy limits and social distancing recommendations, DeSantis said, decrying ‘packed’ establishments that are ‘like mayhem’ and ‘dance party USA.’” [Politico, 6/23/20]
- Texas senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz wrote a letter criticizing the move by the Trump administration to end federal support for coronavirus testing sites at the end of the month.
- Senator Cornyn: “Frankly I didn’t really understand what they were thinking. … At a time cases are spiking, we’re gonna pull back?” [Politico, 6/25/20]
- Senator Cruz: “Now is not the time to end a program that is working and successfully increasing testing capacity — especially for underserved communities in the state,” [LA Times, 6/25/20]
- South Dakota Senator John Thune urged Trump to rethink his approach in dealing with the coronavirus response.
- “Republican senators, their majority suddenly imperiled by a president in political danger, have begun to suggest publicly, however delicately, that Trump recalibrate his approach given his eroding support from suburban white voters and the elderly, two blocs that supported him in 2016. Winning those voters back over the next four months, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said Wednesday, will likely require ‘a message that conveys, perhaps, a different tone.’ [LA Times, 6/25/20]
- West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott pushed back on Trump’s resistance to mask wearing even as medical experts say it prevents the spread of the virus.
- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito: “We’re going to be required to wear it. … I think he should be leading that effort, yeah. Should he be wearing a mask? In certain situations, yes.” [Politico, 6/25/20]
- Sen. Marco Rubio: “I’d prefer he do it. You know he’s not gonna do it. I’m not excusing it, obviously. I’d prefer he wore it because people follow an example.” [Politico, 6/25/20]
- Sen. Rick Scott: “I think mayors, governors, the president, they have a responsibility. I think they ought to be talking about masks more and social distancing.” [Politico, 6/25/20]
- Republicans in the Senate are urging Trump to help states coordinate testing and development treatments and vaccines.
- Missouri Senator Roy Blunt: “This is no time to decide that we can walk away and leave this all up to the states.” [Politico, 6/25/20]
- “Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said as states decide how to reopen, the federal government needs to continue coordinating testing and developing treatments and vaccines. She also said federal health officials should brief the public and appear before Congress.” [Politico, 6/25/20]
- Ohio Senator Rob Portman and Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander have spoken out about Trump’s failures to increase testing and slow down the spread of the coronavirus.
- Sen. Rob Portman: “We have to acknowledge we’re not making as much progress as we hoped to on the coronavirus.” [Politico, 6/25/20]
- “Sen. Lamar Alexander: “We need to keep focusing on increased testing, speed up treatments and bring the vaccines as quickly as we can. That’s really the only solution for the disease.” [Politico, 6/25/20]