President Donald Trump took aim at Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam during a briefing at the White House on Tuesday, declaring his intent to “go after” the state and its “crazy governor” as he gave remarks on government efforts to support U.S. farmers.
Following an appearance from a Virginia potato farmer, the president said, “We’re going after Virginia, with your crazy governor. We’re going after Virginia. They want to take your Second Amendment away, you know that. You’ll have nobody guarding your potatoes.”
Potatoes are among Virginia’s top farming commodities, where production of the crop accounted for an estimated $17 million in 2018. Trump previously announced a $19 billion relief program for farmers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis in April, including $16 billion in direct payments and government purchases of meat, dairy, vegetables, and other goods.
Northam responded to Trump’s comment in a tweet on Tuesday, writing, “I grew up on a Virginia farm, Mr. President—our potatoes are fine. And as the only medical doctor among our nation’s governors, I suggest you stop taking hydroxychloroquine.” The president announced on Monday that he was taking the drug, which is unproven as a treatment for the coronavirus, to ward off COVID-19. Northam added, “Let’s all get back to work.”
The president’s comment is just his latest criticism of Northam on issues of the Second Amendment. Last month, he accused the governor and Virginia Democrats of trying to take guns away from residents after the Democratic-controlled General Assembly passed a series of bills aimed at strengthening gun laws, even appearing to link the new laws to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Virginia is a great case, though because they are using [the pandemic], they are trying to take your guns away in Virginia and if people in Virginia aren’t—aren’t careful that’s what’s going to happen to them,” he said during a press conference, per NBC Washington.
Northam responded and defended the bills, which enacted universal background checks, restored a one-handgun-per-month rule, and other changes, saying, “Virginians stood up. They spoke. They said, ‘Enough is enough.’ They said that thoughts and prayers, we appreciate those, but we want legislators that will come to Richmond and take votes and pass laws.”
On April 17, Trump also tweeted, “LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!” along with similar calls to reopen Minnesota and Michigan, siding with protesters who had gathered to rally against local lockdown orders.
This article has been updated to include a comment from Gov. Ralph Northam.
