Governor Cuomo is no longer criticizing Trump for not invoking the Defense Production Act, as he called on Trump to do yesterday, and is actually praising Trump and his administration:
DC EXAMINER – After trading barbs Tuesday with President Trump, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo struck a conciliatory tone, scaling back his criticism of the White House decision not to enforce the production of essential medical supplies and offering praise for Trump.
The Democrat said he had spoken “several times” with the president and senior adviser Jared Kushner since Tuesday, calling Kushner, “extraordinarily helpful.”
New York has reached 30,811 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus, Cuomo said, adding 5,146 new cases since Tuesday, and is in need of medical supplies to stem the spreading outbreak.
“The president and his team are using the DPA well,” Cuomo said in a briefing Wednesday, citing the Defense Production Act, a law that the White House could use to force companies to produce much-needed supplies.
Cuomo did not call for the White House to invoke the DPA, as he had urged on Tuesday when he called that the 400 ventilators the federal government sent New York a “pat on the back.”
Instead, Cuomo said the act could be used as “leverage” with companies, as White House trade and manufacturing policy adviser Peter Navarro has suggested.
Trump tweeted yesterday that while the DPA is in full force, they haven’t had to use it because nobody is saying ‘no’ to the federal government:
The Defense Production Act is in full force, but haven’t had to use it because no one has said NO! Millions of masks coming as back up to States.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2020
Trump has also tweeted several times about New York today, pointing out how the federal government is helping New York with respirators:
I am working very hard to help New York City & State. Dealing with both Mayor & Governor and producing tremendously for them, including four new medical centers and four new hospitals. Fake News that I won’t help them because I don’t like Cuomo (I do). Just sent 4000 ventilators!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2020
The four hospitals that we (FEMA) are building in NYC at the Javits Convention Center are moving along very well, ahead of schedule. Many additional ventilators also delivered. Good conversation with Governor Cuomo!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2020
Lastly, since we’re on the subject of Trump’s tweets, here’s a related one that just came out where Trump is ripping on the “Lame Stream Media” for trying to hurt his electoral chances with this crisis:
The LameStream Media is the dominant force in trying to get me to keep our Country closed as long as possible in the hope that it will be detrimental to my election success. The real people want to get back to work ASAP. We will be stronger than ever before!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2020