COVID-19: Donald Trump claims 'total authority' over decision to lift lockdown

US President Donald Trump claimed ‘total authority’ over decision to ease up restrictions and reopen businesses as country is struggling to contain spread of coronavirus. During heated White House press conference, Trump asserted that US President has power to overrule decisions taken by goverrs who have issued stay-at-home orders for ir respective states.

“I am going to put it very simply: president of United States has authority to do what president has authority to do, which is very powerful. president of United States calls shots,” said Trump.

However, constitutional experts have found basis for Trump’s claim as authority to shut businesses during a public health crisis is reserved by Constitution to states and t federal government. When pressed by a reporter about basis of ‘total authority’ claim, Trump said, “When somebody is President of United States, authority is total. And that's way it's gotta be. It's total.”

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'Fake news media'

Earlier, Trump had blamed "fake news" media for creating "confusion" over  power dynamics between US President and goverrs on decision to open up states. He reiterated that decision to reopen states does t lie with goverrs but with President. 

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United States has already reported nearly 587,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and around 23,640 deaths due to infection with New York being hardest-hit which has alone reported over 10,000 deaths. According to latest report, over 1.9 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide with more than 119,700 deaths, overwhelming health care facilities across globe.

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(Im credit: AP)