Governor Gretchen Whitmer leveled harsh words Thursday against President Donald Trump over his handling of the COVID-19 crisis. She called Trump “the biggest enemy of the state” over an interview taped by journalist Bob Woodward. In it, Trump acknowledged he downplayed the danger of COVID-19.
Whitmer said that deception cost lives.
“They knew. They didn’t tell us,” she said, “and I think the biggest enemy of the state right now is the misinformation that’s coming right now out of the head of state.”
The governor also said failing to take action to control the spread of COVID-19 only prolongs the crisis and further damages the economy.
“We will not be here forever,” she said.” I’m hopeful it will be a matter of months. I believe that to be the case. But every one of us has to do our part and we have to be honest about how serious the situation is.”
The rebuke from the Democratic governor came as Trump was about to make a campaign visit to the Saginaw area. Whitmer said she’s also concerned that people at the rally may not take precautions such as social distancing and wearing masks.
Michigan Republican Party Chair Laura Cox said Whitmer is trying to fob off responsibility for COVID-19 failures without owning shortcomings in the state’s response, in particular nursing home infections and deaths.
“If Whitmer is looking for a threat to the jobs and safety of Michiganders, she needs to only look in the mirror,” Cox said in a statement released by the GOP.
Also Thursday, the governor rolled out a scholarship program for people engaged in treating, fighting, or working through the COVID-19 crisis. Whitmer said the “Future for Frontliners” scholarships will be available to 625,000 workers who don’t already have degrees or professional certificates.
“Home and congregate care health workers who have been taking care of elderly patients, janitors and custodians who have been working in our hospitals, grocery store workers who’ve been stocking the shelves so the rest of us can put food on the table,” said Whitmer.
Whitmer said the funding for community college scholarships will come from federal CARES Act dollars.
The governor made a priority of getting more people into certification programs or community colleges for in-demand workers before the COVID-19 pandemic.
