Georgia Governor Brian Kemp took aim at former President Donald Trump over the weekend for recent remarks that he made about “COVID tyrant[s],” noting that the former president opposed him back in April 2020 for reopening his state early.
“The left-wing lunatics are trying very hard to bring back COVID lockdowns and mandates with all of their sudden fearmongering about the new variants that are coming,” Trump said in a video statement, adding, “Gee whiz. You know what else is coming? An election.”
“These are bad people, these are sick people we’re dealing with,” he said. “But 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 responded to the video on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, pointing out that Trump publicly opposed him in reopening his state.
“The fact is former president Trump led the opposition to my decision to reopen Georgia — the first state in the country to do so,” Kemp said. “While he listened to Fauci & parroted media talking points, I listened to hardworking Georgians. He may not remember, but I sure as hell do.”
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 presidential campaign manager for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to Kemp’s tweet, writing: “@BrianKempGA and @RonDeSantis were right and Donald Trump was wrong.”
Kemp led the nation in reopening his state from lockdown measures that were put in place following guidance from public health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci, who played a key role in the Trump and Biden administration’s responses to the pandemic.
“I disagree with him on what he is doing,” Trump said at a White House briefing on April 22, 2020, in response to Kemp reopening his state. “I think it’s too soon.”
Trump later added, “I was not happy with Brian Kemp. I will tell you that.”
Kemp has grown bolder in his pushback against statements from the former president, including his claim that the 2020 presidential election in Georgia was “stolen.”
Kemp posted a screenshot of Trump’s statement last month on X and wrote: “The 2020 election in Georgia was not stolen.”
“For nearly three years now, anyone with evidence of fraud has failed to come forward — under oath — and prove anything in a court of law,” Kemp said. “Our elections in Georgia are secure, accessible, and fair and will continue to be as long as I am governor. The future of our country is at stake in 2024 and that must be our focus.”