Governors Went Too Far With Coronavirus Restrictions, Trump Says

President Donald Trump said at a White House briefing Sunday that he believed that some governors had gone too far in implementing restrictions to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"Some have gone too far. Some governors have gone too far. Some of the things that happened are maybe not so appropriate. And I think in the end it’s not going to matter because we're starting to open up our states, and I think they're going to open up very well,” The Hill quoted Trump saying at the briefing.

Trump also told reporters that he was with the disgruntled protestors who chose to speak out against the strict restrictions imposed on their states, which led to businesses closing and a rise in unemployment. Trump sympathized with the supporters even though they came out in numbers flouting the social distancing norms which the White House had put in place, which urges Americans to avoid gathering in groups of 10 or more people.

"As far as protesters, you know, I see protesters for all sorts of things," Trump said. "And I’m with everybody. I'm with everybody."

While he initially declined to name any particular governor, Trump later went on to call out Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D). Whitmer has become a target for Trump after she was mentioned as a possible running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

"If you take Michigan, there were things in Michigan that I don’t think they were necessary or appropriate. Everyone knows that. I think the governor of Michigan — we’re getting along very well — but I think the governor of Michigan probably knows that," the President said.

This is not the first time Trump has supported protests against the restrictions imposed by governors. On Friday, Trump voiced his support for protesters who held demonstrations in Minnesota, Michigan, and Virginia, calling to “liberate” those states. All three of these states are run by Democratic governors.

According to Trump, the protestors were showing a love for the country by carrying out these demonstrations. Some of the protestors were seen waving Trump flags or wearing apparel bearing the president’s name, The Hill reported.

Some state leaders raised concerns after Trump called for the liberation of the states, fearing that it could lead to civil unrest. Health experts too urged everyone to maintain social distancing, warning that public gatherings during the demonstrations could further spread the virus.

More than 755,000 people have been infected in the U.S. due to the COVID-19 as of Sunday night and it has killed over 40,000 people, according to data from John Hopkins University.