President Trump said turnout at anti-lockdown protests around the United States over the past two months signals strong support for his reelection bid this fall.
Washington Examiner columnist Salena Zito spoke with the president on Thursday before delivering remarks at the Owens & Minor distribution center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Trump blamed Democrats for “playing politics” with state restrictions meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“We have to be a little bit careful with that because they’re playing politics,” he said. “They’re playing politics, as you know, by delaying the opening.”
Trump added that he believes such a strategy would backfire.
“They think it’s a bad thing for me if they delay the opening. I think it’s bad for them. You have people protesting outside, and those people like Trump,” he added.
Later Zito noted that many Pennsylvania residents who live outside the major urban areas are frustrated with their state’s lockdown order. On Thursday, hundreds of protesters gathered at the state Capitol in Harrisburg to protest Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order.
“Here in Pennsylvania, a lot of rural counties are sort of upset that had a low amount of cases with the exception of nursing homes, but they’re still not being allowed to move into the Yellow Phase, which is pretty restrictive,” Zito said.
“That’s what happens when you have a Democratic governor that is playing politics,” Trump said. “I see your Capitol. They have a lot of people up there protesting today. They have the Trump signs all over the place, too, nothing to do with us. Just like this crowd. That’s your poll, I mean that’s your poll. You had to see this coming in, I wish you could have.”
Trump met with workers at the Owens & Minor distribution center, where they have been busy manufacturing personal protective equipment to help U.S. citizens fight against the spread of the coronavirus.
“Since February, we have distributed over 3 billion units of PPE across the United States through our distribution facilities,” Owens & Minor CEO Edward Pesicka told Fox News after Trump’s speech.
During his address, Trump highlighted the crowds that greeted him at the airport.
“We were received by thousands and thousands of people coming in, and they came in from all over,” Trump said.
Trump also told the audience that he appreciates social distancing measures enacted since January to protect workers at the company, but he expects the country will get back to normal soon even as some states and localities are extending lockdown measures as the numbers of coronavirus cases and associated deaths continue to rise.
