Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) says he “sure as hell” still remembers former President Donald Trump‘s opposition to reopening from COVID-19 lockdowns in April 2020.
Kemp responded to a clip of Trump insisting that he will not comply with public health mandates from “COVID tyrants” by reminding the former president of when he opposed Kemp reopening Georgia from the initial COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020.
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The fact is former president Trump led the opposition to my decision to reopen Georgia – the first state in the country to do so.
While he listened to Fauci & parroted media talking points, I listened to hardworking Georgians.
He may not remember, but I sure as hell do. https://t.co/8eWPidlnfP
— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) September 9, 2023
“The fact is former president Trump led the opposition to my decision to reopen Georgia – the first state in the country to do so. While he listened to Fauci & parroted media talking points, I listened to hardworking Georgians. He may not remember, but I sure as hell do,” Kemp said.
The video Kemp responded to was of Trump saying, “To every COVID tyrant who wants to take away our freedom, Hear these words: We will not comply. So don’t even think about it.”
Kemp began the phased reopening of the Peach State in April 2020 by allowing some retailers, nail salons, massage therapists, bowling alleys, and gyms to open, with theaters and restaurants opening shortly after. The reopening plan violated Trump’s federal guidelines set by the White House COVID-19 task force.
Trump was vocally opposed to Kemp’s decision at the time but said he had the right to do so.
“I told the governor very simply that I disagree with this decision, but he has to do what he thinks is right,” Trump said at the time.
“I love these people that use all of those things, spas, and the beauty parlors and barber shops, tattoo parlors. I love them, but they can wait a little bit longer,” he said.
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Georgia was one of the first states to reopen from the initial COVID-19 lockdowns, which began in March 2020. The schism between Trump and Kemp, which started over COVID-19 policy, would be exacerbated when the former president allegedly tried to convince the Georgia governor to overturn the 2020 election results, something Kemp refused to do.
Trump endorsed David Perdue in the GOP gubernatorial primary in Georgia in 2022, but Kemp soundly defeated Perdue and was reelected in the general election.
