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Legal experts dismantle Trump’s claim that he alone has the authority to ‘open’ the country


This Monday, President Trump raised a few eyebrows with a tweet claiming that he alone has the power to decide when the economy reopens, lamenting that “the Fake News Media are saying that it is the Governors decision to open up the states, not that of the President of the United States & the Federal Government.”

According to Trump, that is “incorrect.”

“It is the decision of the President, and for many good reasons,” he wrote. ‘With that being said, the Administration and I are working closely with the Governors, and this will continue. A decision by me, in conjunction with the Governors and input from others, will be made shortly!”

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As CNN’s Elie Honig points out, Trump is overstating his power as president.

“For example, every state governor has the authority to issue quarantine or stay-home orders, and to revise or revoke those orders,” Honig writes. “The president does not have the legal authority, however, to undo a state-level quarantine order. The president also holds little if any power over matters of local government. He cannot, for example, decide when to reopen local public schools or parks. This could come to a head if the President attempts to ‘reopen’ the country, contrary to existing state-level quarantine orders. In that scenario, the state quarantine order prevails; the president simply has no legal mechanism empowering him to overrule a state governor and to lift a state-level stay-home order.”

The President just claimed (again) that he has absolute power to “re-open” the country. He’s wrong. Here’s why:

— Elie Honig (@eliehonig) April 13, 2020

Law professor Steve Vladeck agrees, pointing out that Trump’s claim is “just false.”

“The President has no formal legal authority to categorically override local or state shelter-in-place orders or to reopen schools and small businesses,” Vladeck tweeted. “No statute delegates to him such power; no constitutional provision invests him with such authority.”

This tweet is just false. The President has no formal legal authority to categorically override local or state shelter-in-place orders or to reopen schools and small businesses.

No statute delegates to him such power; no constitutional provision invests him with such authority

— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) April 13, 2020

"The beauty of me, is that I'm very rich."
-Donald Trump

Aidejay:
"The beauty of me, is that I'm very rich."
-Donald Trump

op you dey listen to cnn aka fake news

Trump was talking about the economy. CNN is talking of state lockdown. Ok if the state ends the lockdown on movement of citizens and the president orders businesses and airlines and other manufacturing costs not to open nko? I think cnn needs to relax their hate for trump.

Raysleek:
Trump was talking about the economy. CNN is talking of state lockdown. Ok if the state ends the lockdown on movement of citizens and the president orders businesses and airlines and other manufacturing costs not to open nko? I think cnn needs to relax their hate for trump.

No it's not hate, just common sense

jesmond3945:
op you dey listen to cnn aka fake news

trump is the Pinnacle of fake news

Obrigardo:
trump is the Pinnacle of fake news

how

jesmond3945:
how

Have you been living in a cave?

Obrigardo:
Have you been living in a cave?

you mean democrats and the left?

jesmond3945:
you mean democrats and the left?

Your style is stale.

Obrigardo:
Your style is stale.

maga is coming back next year whether you like it or not

jesmond3945:
maga is coming back next year whether you like it or not

You mean <morons are governing america> maga

Obrigardo:
You mean <morons are governing america> maga

take your frustration to china. Trump is working hard and you guys are sabotaging him. morning

jesmond3945:
take your frustration to china. Trump is working hard and you guys are sabotaging him. morning

Goodmorning. you mean hard as a farmer digging the ground with a blunt hoe
First he said i alone can fix it all in 2016 remember?
Now he is the Backup and he takes no responsibility
Save me another please

Obrigardo:
Goodmorning. you mean hard as a farmer digging the ground with a blunt hoe
First he said i alone can fix it all in 2016 remember?
Now he is the Backup and he takes no responsibility
Save me another please

before now were not enjoying the economic boom?

jesmond3945:
before now were not enjoying the economic boom?

Yes the one Obama saved in 2008 and kept it steady till trump took over
Also note that the economy wasnt in a tail spin when Obama had
Ebola
Swine flu
and Zika Virus

why you still support a proven liar is beyond me

Obrigardo:
Yes the one Obama saved in 2008 and kept it steady till trump took over
Also note that the economy wasnt in a tail spin when Obama had
Ebola
Swine flu
and Zika Virus

why you still support a proven liar is beyond me

ebola in america?
swine flu in america
how many cases please?

jesmond3945:
ebola in america?
swine flu in america
how many cases please?

The reason you don't know how serious it was,
Obama was ahead of it with his team. even though there was lags it was evident
US did a lot to stop the spread asap

jesmond3945:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN21B3K9&ved=2ahUKEwjY39Lv2efoAhWSs3EKHdEwB9oQFjAIegQIBRAC&usg=AOvVaw30vUhaMN8dLepdXheySvlt&ampcf=1

What the hell is that, explain