Trump says Democratic governor is 'like a dictator' for not reopening Maine over fears tourists will bring coronavirus
Maine's Democratic governor, Janet Mills, has resisted re-opening the state over fears tourists will bring coronavirus there this summer. Donald Trump said Friday that makes her "like a dictator," just days after his administration unleashed federal officers and military personnel on US citizens.
During a White House press conference then during a visit to Bangor, the president seemed flabbergasted that some states, including Maine, New York, New Jersey, California and others have not begun opening their economies amid the coronavirus outbreak.
All are overseen by Democratic state chiefs executive.
While speaking with GOP officials and fishing industry officials there in the afternoon, he zeroed in on Ms Mills.
"How does she do a thing like this? Destroying your state," the GOP president said. "How does she do a thing like this?"
"Tiffany likes Christmas," he said of the jewelry store chain. "You like these three months."
He was referring to June, July and August – huge months economically for the tourism-dependent state.
"She's like a dictator," he said, playing into right-wing narratives that the national lock down hindered Americans' freedoms.
It is difficult to overstate the importance of tourism to the state's economy.
That industry accounts for nearly 107,000 jobs there, which is about 16 per cent of the state's total employment, according to the Maine Office of Tourism.
More follows…
