Tag: Bill Lee

WASHINGTON – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday.

Trump discussed states that are reopening such as Tennessee.

“Now things are opening, as an example, Governor Lee is doing a great job in opening up Tennessee and he’s opening it up rapidly and safely,” Trump said. “I think he said to me two words – about safe and rapid – he’s doing it quickly and safely and Tennessee’s a great story.”

Trump went on to say that Lee is someone “I happen to like a lot and he’s done a fantastic job in a fantastic state.”

“A state that I happen to like a lot, it’s called Tennessee,” Trump continued.

Lee thanked Trump for his support.

“Thank you very much Mr. President, and thank you to your team, many in this room that we have worked with,” Lee said. “You are guiding America through a tremendous crisis and you’re doing it incredibly well and America’s very grateful for that, and we are grateful in Tennessee for the partnership between the federal government and states like ours.

“As we work to make our contribution to fighting COVID-19, we can do so because of the work that you’re doing and the way that you’re supporting what we’re doing.”

NASHVILLE – Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee announced Saturday that he communicated with nearby states, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina, to strategize for a plan to have citizens returning to work safely.

“This afternoon, I spoke with fellow Southeastern governors about strategies to get our states safely back to work,” Lee Tweeted. “Grateful for their thoughts as we work to reboot the economy.”

This afternoon, I spoke with fellow Southeastern governors about strategies to get our states safely back to work. Grateful for their thoughts as we work to reboot the economy. @GovernorKayIvey @GovKemp @tatereeves @GovRonDeSantis @henrymcmaster

— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) April 18, 2020

Lee’s discussions with other governors come on the heels of President Donald Trump outlining an Opening Up America Again plan.

“Based on the latest data, our team of experts now agrees that we can begin the next front in our war, which we are calling, Opening Up America Again – and that’s what we’re doing,” Trump said Thursday during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing. “We’re opening up our country, and we have to do that.

“America wants to be open and Americans want to be open. As I have said for some time now, a national shutdown is not a sustainable long-term solution.”

Trump also mentioned that citizens returning to work “is a gradual process” and that “governors will be empowered to tailor an approach that meets the diverse circumstances of their own states.”

“We are also encouraging states to work together to harmonize their regional efforts,” Trump said Thursday. “We’ll have numerous cases where states have worked and we’ll be working very closely together. As we reopen, we know that there will be continued hardships and challenges ahead.

“Our goal will be to quickly identify and address any outbreaks and put them out rapidly. If the virus returns in the fall as some scientists think it may, possibly, these guidelines will ensure that our country is up and running so that we can likewise put it out quickly.”