Trump Demands States Let Places of Faith Open, Chafing at Limits

President Donald Trump demanded on Friday that states allow houses of worship to reopen from stay-at-home restrictions imposed to combat the coronavirus outbreak, yet his authority to override governors’ orders is restrained by constitutional limits.

“The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now,” Trump said Friday in a statement to reporters at the White House. “For this weekend.”

“If they don’t do it I will override the governors,” he added.

Trump cited no legal grounds that would allow him to impose his wishes on states that want to keep houses of worship closed or restricted. Health and safety rules are primarily the domain of the states, in part because of the explicit preservation of state powers in the Constitution’s 10th Amendment and Supreme Court rulings that have enforced limits on federal power.