Cuomo to Trump: 'We don't have a king in this country'

Governor Cuomo, speaking deliberately during his daily briefing Tuesday, responded to President Trump’s assertion that he has “total authority” over reopening of the economy, which has been battered by the coronavirus, with a number of sectors shut down.

The president has not offered a specific plan for how and when he would reopen the economy, but has indicated that he would like it back up and running soon. Federal social-distancing guidelines are set to expire May 1.

Cuomo has pushed back, yesterday announcing a seven-state council that will examine how the economy can be reopened regionally. Among the states are Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

In tweets Tuesday, Trump called the governors mutineers, according to Cuomo.

The governor asserted the Constitution does not grant the president total authority. Rather, he said, it gives great authority and responsibility to the states.

The relationship between the federal and state governments is “central to our democracy,” Cuomo said, noting that the founders did not install a monarch, with complete power, but rather a president who is beholden to the Constitution.

“We don’t have a king in this country,” Cuomo said. 

“The president is clearly spoiling for a fight on this issue,” the governor said, speaking about reopening of the economy.

Cuomo pledged, however, that he would not engage in a political battle with Trump, but would continue to extend his hand in partnership with the federal government. 

“This is too important for anyone to play politics here,” Cuomo said. “Everything we do here is so important.”

He later noted, “The president will not have a fight with me” — unless, Cuomo said, the president were to suggest a “reckless” plan that would endanger the lives of New Yorkers.

The state needs to continue social distancing to keep reducing the number of new Covid-19 cases, he said.