Cuomo: ‘The political pressure of denying COVID is gone’ with Trump defeat

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) said on Sunday that Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 presidential election will make a difference in how state and local officials respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I think you’ll see a different tone now. I think you’ll even see some governors start to take a different tone now that Mr. Trump is out of office,” Cuomo on ABC’s “This Week.” “I think the political pressure of denying COVID is gone. I think you’ll see scientists speak with unmuzzled voice now. And I think the numbers are going to go up and Americans are going to get how serious this is.”

Cuomo also noted rising cases in the past two months and warned of the period until Biden is sworn in. 

“If this administration rolls out a flawed vaccination plan, it’s going to be a problem because it’s going to be very hard for the Biden administration to turn it back.”

Biden said after he was declared the winner of the 2020 race on Saturday that he would announce his COVID-19 task force on Monday.

“I will name a group of leading scientists and experts as transition advisers to help take the Biden-Harris COVID plan and convert it into an action blue print that will start on Jan. 20,” said Biden. Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and Yale University professor Marcella Nunez-Smith are expected to continue advising Biden on the pandemic.

Cuomo on Sunday was also asked for his thoughts on the election.

“I think the overwhelming message was the country was – it was about President Trump. And the country rejected the negativity, the personality, the controversy. He did everything he could … to divide the nation, right? He disunited the states of America. And Joe Biden is the exact opposite. You heard him speak from his heart last night. That’s who he is. He is an authentic person,” said Cuomo.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the 2020 election was a rejection of President Trump: “The country rejected the negativity, the personality, the controversy … he disunited the states of America and Joe Biden is the exact opposite.” https://t.co/RxWyF4Jwuf pic.twitter.com/PeoI67XNGd

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 8, 2020