Trump expected to visit Maine despite governor’s concerns

President Trump will travel to Maine on Friday, marking his first visit to the state despite concerns expressed by the state’s Democratic governor.

The president will visit medical swab maker Puritan, which was directed to ramp up manufacturing under the Defense Production Act. Trump is expected to deliver remarks at the facility as well.

Gov. Janet Mills told Trump during a conference call earlier Monday that she was concerned his visit “may cause security problems” for the state, according to audio of the conversation.

The White House indicated at a press briefing on Monday afternoon that Trump still plans to make the trip.

Friday’s visit is the latest in a string of events intended to highlight the role of the private sector in combating the coronavirus pandemic. He has previously visited factories in Pennsylvania, Arizona and Michigan that are contributing to the cause through manufacturing or distributing materials to front-line workers.

The coronavirus has largely taken a backseat in the news cycle in recent days as national protests have erupted nationwide in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for roughly eight minutes.

Trump encouraged governors on Monday’s conference call to crackdown harshly on protesters, accusing state leaders of being “weak” as demonstrations escalated over the weekend.

Trump has yet to visit Maine as president. He won one of the state’s four electoral votes in 2016, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) faces a difficult reelection bid there in November.