Trump argues he has 'total' authority over shutdown

President Donald Trump has claimed he has “total” authority to decide how and when to reopen US ecomy after weeks of tough social distancing guidelines aimed at fighting new coronavirus.

Trump would t offer specifics about source of his asserted power, which he claimed, despite constitutional limitations, was absolute.

“When somebody is president of United States, authority is total,” he said on Monday at White House, ding: “ goverrs kw that.”

comments came t long after Democratic leers in rast and along West Coast anunced separate state compacts to coordinate ir efforts to scale back stay-at-home orders or reopen businesses on ir own timetables.

Goverrs from both parties were quick to push back against Trump's comments, ting y h primary responsibility for ensuring public safety in ir states and would decide when it's safe to begin a return to rmal operations.

US constitution gives public health and safety responsibilities primarily to state and local officials.