A day after saying U.S. governors would “call the shots” when it comes to reopening their states amid the COVID-19 crisis, President Donald Trump abruptly reversed course.

On Friday morning, Trump tweeted calls (above) to “LIBERATE” three states where Democratic governors have been targeted by anti-lockdown protesters.
Here’s how Twitter responded:
Stirring up hate against governors soley because theyβre Democrats, governors who are doing nothing different than what their Republican counterparts are doing to protect people. https://t.co/JIUifKGATE
— Kyle Whitmire (@WarOnDumb) April 17, 2020
About the Michigan protesters, a reporter asked Trump yesterday, "shouldn't they listen to local authorities?" Trump's reply: "I think they listen to me. They seem to be protesters that like me." With these new tweets, is Trump making a direct appeal to his fans, to raise hell? pic.twitter.com/XkVV9miTgW
— Marshall Cohen (@MarshallCohen) April 17, 2020
Jesus H. Christ waving a Confederate flag. pic.twitter.com/kibxI0lCMW
— Gary Legum (@GaryLegum) April 17, 2020
This comes a day after Trump said governors can make their own decisions about reopening their states but Whitmer has become a MAGA target and thus…. https://t.co/Fgt2h4bzV5
— James Oliphant (@jamesoliphant) April 17, 2020
These are states governed by democrats, who are enforcing the kind of public safety measures Trrump's own guidelines say are necessary. pic.twitter.com/pnW6ZXO91H
— Jackson Proskow (@JProskowGlobal) April 17, 2020
How far are we from half the country trying to secede? https://t.co/DLbNEgsTfR
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) April 17, 2020
The President of the United States (plural): pic.twitter.com/MPylhJbRMQ
— π· David Gura π‘ (@davidgura) April 17, 2020
Trump just said that governors were going to "call your own shots." But now he's tweeting about 'liberating' states led by Democratic governors who have seen protests from anti-lockdown protesters. pic.twitter.com/LDEzuKjeEh
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 17, 2020
Now that the death toll has hit nearly 5K in a single day, Donald Trump thought it might be helpful to encourage civil war.
— Kaz Weida (@kazweida) April 17, 2020
This man is a monster. pic.twitter.com/kkfNELiSCj
Hey @FBI, the President of the United States appears to be calling for COVID-19-spreading riots against Democratic governors on his Twitter feed.
— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) April 17, 2020
You can find him at @realDonaldTrump. Thanks. pic.twitter.com/oDt1EYBHbZ
Is Trump now trying to incite unrest across the United States? What on earth is he doing?? #25thAmendment pic.twitter.com/A8on99Bb34
— Mark Follman (@markfollman) April 17, 2020