Gov. Wolf Calls Out Trump For 'Unsafe' Rallies In Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday sharply admonished President Donald Trump for holding unsafe campaign rallies in Pennsylvania that have violated the state's gathering limits, mask orders and social distancing guidelines.
Trump on Tuesday held a rally at Pittsburgh International Airport attracting crowds that ignored those state coronavirus mandates. A similar rally earlier this month at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, Westmoreland County, attracted Trump supporters who also disregarded the mandates.
"I am requesting that the president of the United States not endanger Pennsylvanians by holding unsafe rallies that will put Pennsylvania communities at risk," Wolf said in a news release.
"It is gravely concerning that the president would insist on holding this event with blatant disregard for social distancing and masking requirements. His decision to bring thousands of people together in a tight space in the midst of a global pandemic caused by an airborne virus is flat-out wrong."
Wolf accused the president of putting headlines and publicity above the health and safety of families and communities.
"The president has admitted to lying about the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our country has lost more than 200,000 lives on his watch," Wolf said. "Instead of spending his time on rallies, the president should return to Washington and deal with things that matter to Pennsylvanians — like unemployment assistance, state and local aid, hazard pay and a cohesive strategy for pulling the country out of this pandemic as quickly as possible."
Pennsylvania is not the only state to express concern over the president's disregard of actions that health officials have said need to be taken to avoid spreading the virus.
Ahead of a Trump rally scheduled for Friday evening at the Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport in Virginia, local health officials said the event could pose a severe public health threat. The state currently has a 250-person limit on public gatherings, and the rally is expected to draw as many as 4,000 people, according to The Washington Post.
This article originally appeared on the Pittsburgh Patch
