After Schumer Attacks Trump, CA Dem Gov. Newsom Says POTUS Has Been ‘Responsive’ To State’s Needs: ‘I’d Be Lying’ To Say Otherwise

11 months ago
Martin Walsh

Not long after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer slammed President Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus, one of the most liberal figures in America is defending the president.

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom praised the president for his attentiveness to the Golden State’s needs amid the coronavirus outbreak, saying he’d be “lying” if he said otherwise.

During an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Newsom was asked if he was only publicly praising Trump so that his state is not “punished” by the president.

“I’ve talked to officials around the country who have said that they have to temper their remarks in what they say about the federal government’s response for fear that President Trump will punish the citizens of their state if he considers them to be a complainer,” Tapper said. “You and President Trump seemed to have been working collaboratively. He praised you yesterday. Do you find yourself, by necessity, tempering what you say in terms of any issue you might have with the federal response?”

Newsom pointed to Trump’s assistance in the wildfires and droughts California has previously faced.

“This is not the time to bicker. I don’t care who’s up and down, whose polls are looking better than someone else’s or who wants to run for president or who doesn’t. When it comes to times of crisis, we need to [rise] above the partisanship and I’ve extended always an open hand, not a closed fist, in those circumstances. And this is no different,” Newsom told Tapper.

“But let me just be candid with you. I’d be lying to you to say that he hasn’t been responsive to our needs. He has,” the governor continued. “And so, as a question, as a sort of an offer of objectivity, I have to acknowledge that publicly.”

Newsom continued: “And the fact is every time I’ve called the president, he’s quickly gotten on the line. […] Those are the facts.”

WATCH:

Newsom — certainly not an ally to Trump — made his remarks around the same time the president sent a scorching hot letter to Schumer blasting him for playing politics instead of doing anything to help during the coronavirus pandemic.

Schumer theatrically claimed he was “appalled” over the letter, which came after he demanded the president appoint a coronavirus czar to oversee the administration’s efforts.

Schumer told MSNBC’s Chris Hayes: “I spoke to the president late this afternoon and explained it and the result is this letter. So I’m just appalled. You know I say to the president just stop the pettiness. People are dying and so, President Trump, we need leadership. We need to get the job done. Stop the pettiness.”

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“I sent the letter with the best of intentions,” Schumer added.

Schumer, during a TV hit on Wednesday night and again in a letter, demanded Trump appoint a military official in charge of overseeing the coronavirus supplies effort amid.

Trump obliterated Schumer in his letter.

“If you spent less time on your ridiculous impeachment hoax, which went haplessly on forever and ended up going nowhere (except increasing my poll numbers) and instead focused on helping the people of New York, then New York would not have been so completely unprepared for the ‘invisible enemy.’ No wonder AOC and others are thinking about running against you in the primary. If they did, they would likely win,” Trump wrote.

Liberals have been going after the Trump administration for just about everything regarding COVID-19.

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