Trump: ‘It’s My Decision,’ Not Governors’, to Reopen Economy
Legal experts have disagreed with Trump’s claim that he can “override” the decisions of state and local officials, arguing that he does not have the authority to do so.

Alex Wong/Getty
President Trump insisted on Monday that it is ultimately up to him to decide when social distancing guidelines should be lifted and the economy reopened. “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,” Trump wrote on Twitter, “not that of the President of the United States & the Federal Government. Let it be fully understood that this is incorrect.” The president previously claimed that he can “override” the decisions of state and local officials, but it is reportedly not clear whether he has the authority to do so. Legal experts have disagreed with Trump’s claims, arguing that he does not have the power to force states to reopen their economies, Politico reported. There is no law that grants the president authority to control an entire nation’s movements, according to NBC News. “It is the decision of the President, and for many good reasons,” Trump added. “With that being said, the Administration and I are working closely with the Governors, and this will continue.”
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.