‘Don’t call the governor of Washington.’ Trump holds Inslee grudge amid pandemic
President Donald Trump accused Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday of not being “appreciative” of his coronavirus efforts and said he had directed Vice President Mike Pence not to call him.
Over 150 people have died in Washington state since the outbreak began – one of the highest death tolls in the country – and over 3,000 state residents have contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
“I say ’Mike, don’t call the governor of Washington. You’re wasting your time with him’,” Trump said at a White House media briefing.
He went on to target Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: “Don’t call the woman in Michigan.”
“If they don’t treat you right, I don’t call,” Trump added.
Pence has repeatedly praised Inslee’s performance as governor during the coronavirus outbreak. The vice president visited Washington early in the crisis to thank Inslee for his efforts, and the two have been in close contact ever since.
But the day after Pence’s March 5 visit, as Washington state was registering its first deaths from the coronavirus, Trump called Inslee a “snake” and encouraged Pence then not to work with him.
“I told Mike not to be complimentary of the governor, ‘cause that governor is a snake, okay? Inslee. I said, if you’re nice to him, he will take advantage. And I would’ve said no,” Trump said on a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at that time.
Inslee ran for the Democratic nomination for president last year to unseat Trump from office.
This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 4:34 PM with the headline "‘Don’t call the governor of Washington.’ Trump holds Inslee grudge amid pandemic."
