Trump calls Michigan lockdown protesters ‘good people’ a day after armed demonstrators stormed statehouse

Governor Gretchen Whitmer previously extended stay-at-home orders until 15 May

Donald Trump has called Michigan protesters “good people” and implored the state governor to ease stay-at-home measures, just one day after armed residents intimidated lawmakers.

“The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire,” Mr Trump tweeted on Friday, addressing Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat. “These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal.”

The president and his followers turned against Ms Whitmer for her stricter stay-at-home orders, with some accusing her of taking the power too far during the coronavirus pandemic.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing on Thursday to protest stay-at-home measures and implore lawmakers to lift them. Among these protesters were people armed with rifles, which the state allows residents to legally carry as long as they’re visible to police.

State Senator Dayna Polehanki, a Democrat, tweeted on Thursday that some of her colleagues were so concerned about armed demonstrators in the Capitol that they decided to wear bulletproof vests to work.

“Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bulletproof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today,” she wrote, sharing an image of men holding guns in the Capitol.

When contacted by The Independent, the senator shared a picture of her colleague Senator Sylvia Santana, a Democrat, wearing a bulletproof vest and face mask while working.

Protesters called their movement on Thursday “American Patriot Rally” and was organised by Michigan United for Liberty group. The demonstration mirrored that of the “Operation Gridlock” protest 15 April, and protesters were spotted in the crowd carrying Trump memorabilia and chanting “lock her up” at the governor, a resurgence of what the president’s supporters chanted against Hillary Clinton.

Video footage captured inside the Capitol showed protesters raising guns into the air as they shouted chants of “let us in” outside the House chamber. Most of them were not wearing face coverings or practising social distancing.

The reason behind their protest was Michigan’s state of emergency was expected to expire on Thursday, and the Republican-lead Legislature was considering if they would give approval to Ms Whitmer to extend it. The state of emergency order gives the governor power to enact other orders, such as stay-at-home measures.

But Republicans instead advanced a bill that they would not approve an extension to the original declaration. In response, Ms Whitmer extended the state’s current emergency declaration through an executive order by citing authority under a 1945 state law.

“While some members of the legislature might believe this crisis is over, common sense and all of the scientific data tells us we’re not out of the woods yet,” Ms Whitmer said in a statement Thursday.

“By refusing to extend the emergency and disaster declaration, Republican lawmakers are putting their heads in the sand and putting more lives and livelihoods at risk,” she added. “I’m not going to let that happen.”

The stay-at-home order was previously extended until 15 May to the dismay of protesters.

The governor also issued a fourth executive order on Thursday that extended the previous order requiring theaters, bars, and casinos to remain closed. Restaurants are only allowed to operate through carry-out and delivery services.

Ms Whitmer did promise to ease some of her restrictions as Michigan passes its peak in Covid-19 infections. One of the exceptions she made was allowing construction projects to resume on 7 May. But she could face a legal battle with Republican lawmakers and residents by extending the state of emergency without the Legislature.

Already residents filed a lawsuit against the governor by claiming the stay-at-home measures infringed on their constitutional rights. But a Michigan judge sided with Ms Whitmer in the lawsuit.

"Although the Court is painfully aware of the difficulties of living under the restrictions of these executive orders, those difficulties are temporary, while to those who contract the virus and cannot recover (and to their family members and friends), it is all too permanent," Judge Christopher M Murray wrote on Wednesday.

Michigan has the seventh-most coronavirus cases with more than 40,000 confirmed infections. As of Friday, 3,789 people died from the novel virus.

Senator Dayna Polehanki shared on Thursday some colleagues, like Senator Sylvia Santana (pictured), are wearing bulletproof vests to work as armed protesters storm the Michigan State Capitol (Senator Dayna Polehanki)

The president’s decision to incite frustration among Michigan residents about their stay-at-home measures could be focused around political gains for the 2020 election.

Whether Michigan will swing red or blue come November remains up in the air, with former Vice President Joe Biden currently leading over Mr Trump in the key state, according to a Fox News poll. So the president firing up his base in the state could work to increase his support.

Previously, the president tweeted to "liberate" three states - Michigan, Minnesota, and Virginia - from their stay-at-home measures. Minnesota and Virginia are also key states during the 2020 election and have Democratic governors.