A Trump administration official denounced Eric Trump’s assertion that Democratic leaders are keeping their states shutdown to politically damage President Trump.
The president’s son claimed during an interview Saturday that the shutdowns are meant to prevent his father from holding campaign rallies and that the coronavirus will “magically all of a sudden go away and disappear” after Election Day.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar was asked Sunday during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union to respond to the comments. The president’s son was not directly named in the question or Azar’s response.
“I think hyperbolic rhetoric on any side is not appropriate. These aren’t partisan issues. This is just health and economic welfare for our citizens,” Azar said.
Azar said he would not question governors’ motives for shutting down their states to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus.
“I find that it’s better not to try to impugn individuals’ motives. The president, the vice president, and I have had superb working relationships with the governors across this country, from whether red state or blue state,” he said.
