Donald Trump Invites Every GOP Senator to White House Task Force -- Except Mitt Romney

President Donald Trump invited every Senate Republican to join his task force on reopening the country amid the coronavirus pandemic except for Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, CNN reports.

Trump chose nearly 100 lawmakers, including Democrats, to join his “Opening Up America Again Congressional Group” but Romney was the only Senate Republican left off the list.

The snub comes after Romney was the lone Republican senator to vote to remove Trump from office in the Senate impeachment trial earlier this year.

Trump responded by calling Romney a “failed presidential candidate.”

Trump reverses on reopening:

The new group will advise the White House on issues related to reopening the economy after Trump backed off his claim that he had “absolute authority” to order states to lift restrictions.

On Thursday, Trump had a change of heart.

"You are going to call your own shots," he told governors, according to CNN. "I've gotten to know almost all of you, most of you I've known and some very well. You are all very capable people, I think in all cases, very capable people. And you're going to be calling your shots."

White House publishes new guidelines:

The White House rolled out new guidance allowing states to reopen parts of their economies starting on May 1.

The guidelines require states to see a sustained decrease in new cases and to have the "ability to quickly set up safe and efficient screening and testing sites” and “quickly and independently supply sufficient Personal Protective Equipment" in hospitals.

The first phase would allow large venues and restaurants to reopen under strict social distancing rules.

Phase two and Phase three gradually lift other restrictions though the protocols will remain until there is a vaccine.

 

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