CNN correspondent Jim Acosta claimed the coronavirus pandemic is “highlighting” President Trump’s “authoritarian impulses.”
Following President Trump’s Wednesday coronavirus briefing, Acosta told CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer that his takeaway from the daily White House events was Trump’s “authoritarian impulses.”
“I think what we are seeing this week with the president’s response to the pandemic, is that it is really highlighting some of his authoritarian impulses,” said Acosta.
“He went back to this idea that he has total authority, that he essentially retreated from yesterday. He was saying … that we have the right, meaning the White House, to do whatever we want. That is false,” Acosta continued.
“The White House does not have the right. He does not have the right to do whatever he wants. He can’t order these states, these governors, to do what he wants. Obviously, if he puts out guidelines that they don’t agree with, they’re not going to follow those guidelines.”
During a Monday White House press briefing, the president declared he possessed the total authority to reopen business amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“The president of the United States has the authority to do what the president has the authority to do, which is very powerful. The president of the United States calls the shots,” Trump said. “If we weren’t here for the states, you would’ve had a problem in this country like you’ve never seen before.”
“It’s a decision for the president of the United States. Now, with that being said, we’re going to work with the states because it’s very important,” Trump continued. “They can’t do anything without the approval of the president of the United States.”
