Maryland governor: ‘I don’t think it’s helpful to encourage demonstrations’ against stay-at-home orders

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said Sunday he doesn’t think it’s helpful for President Trump to be encouraging protests against state stay-at-home orders put in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Hogan noted that the protesters calling for businesses to reopen directly oppose the Trump administration’s own guidelines released Thursday that recommend a gradual, step-by-step process for reopening that includes seeing a 14-day decline in cases before beginning to loosen restrictions. 

“I don’t think it’s helpful to encourage demonstrations, and encourage people to go against the president’s own policy,” Hogan said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“I don’t think it’s helpful to encourage demonstrations and encourage people to go against the President’s own policy,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says about Trump defending protesters who are not socially distancing. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/gAHSxJCqA5

— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) April 19, 2020

He said his state as well as several of the states under Democratic governors which Trump seemingly targeted in his support of protests, have not had a decline in cases for 14 days. 

{mosads}“So then to encourage people to go protest the plans that you just made recommendations on, on Thursday it just doesn’t make any sense. We’re sending completely conflicting messages out to the governors and to the people as if we should ignore federal policy and federal recommendations,” Hogan said. 

Trump tweeted Friday appearing to back protests in Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia. 

He continued to defend protests against stay-at-home orders during his Saturday briefing. 

“I just think some of the governors have gotten carried away,” Trump said.