Donald Trump's press secretary Kayleigh McEnany calls states' rules to curb spread of COVID 'Orwellian' and claims 'American people know how to protect their health' as cases rocket

Kayleigh McEnany on Wednesday railed against state-level orders restricting private Thanksgiving celebrations as 'Orwellian', as governors attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus going into the holiday season.

'I think a lot of the guidelines you're seeing are Orwellian,' McEnany told the Fox & Friends panel on Wednesday morning.

'The American people know how to protect their health,' the White House press secretary asserted. 'We've dealt with COVID for many months.'

She continued: 'The American people are a freedom-loving people. We can make good decisions. We can wash our hands, wear masks, socially distance. But we can also decide in our own personal domicile, our own home, whether we can have our family members present at any given time. That is the American way. That is freedom.'

Despite McEnany's claim, coronavirus cases have been on the rise since around mid-September.

As of Wednesday, there are more than 11.3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., and nearly 249,000 deaths. This means, just over 0.02 per cent of those who have caught coronavirus in the U.S. have died from it.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany railed against state-wide restrictions on Thanksgiving celebrations, calling them 'Orwellian' as governors attempt to curb the spread of coroanvirus

McEnany specifically reference Oregon Governor Kate Brown for her two-week 'freeze' over Thanksgiving time, which includes restricting gatherings to six people or less or they can be issued a citation, fine or be arrested

'I think a lot of the guidelines you're seeing are Orwellian,' McEnany told the Fox & Friends panel on Wednesday morning. 'The American people know how to protect their health,' the White House press secretary asserted. 'We've dealt with COVID for many months'

 

McEnany was referencing in her comments Wednesday Oregon Governor Kate Brown's guidelines for private Thanksgiving gatherings, which include some strict restrictions on the number of guests permitted.

'But it's Orwellian in a place like Oregon to say, 'If you gather in numbers more than six, we might come to your house and arrest you, and you get 30 days of jail time.' That's not the American way,' she continued. 'We don't lose our freedom in this country. We make responsible health decisions as individuals.'

Brown announced Friday that most stringent COVID-19 restrictions yet, ordering a two week 'freeze' from November 18-December 2, a time period that encompasses Thanksgiving.

The so-called 'freeze' includes issuing citations, fines or even arrests to those who hold or attend gatherings of more than six people – including private gatherings.

'If we want to give Oregonians a fighting chance then we must take further measures to flatten the curve now,' Brown said during a press conference announcing the new restrictions on Friday.

She said this time is 'likely the most dangerous time in Oregon' and predicted 'dark days ahead.'

Also included in the strict lockdown is limiting pharmacy and retail stores to 75 percent capacity, and reducing faith-based organizations to only 25-people gatherings indoors and 50 outdoors.

During the two week period, gyms, museums, pools, sports courts, movie theatres, zoos, gardens and other venues will have to completely shut down

Restaurants and bars are also being close for in-person dining and can only serve take-out.

McEnany says these restrictions are un-American.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has also come under fire for his state-wide restrictions on Thanksgiving celebrations, as his guidelines went as far to restrict how families can celebrate.

Newsom announced his rules for Thanksgiving at the end of October, which included 'strongly discouraging' people from singing or yelling. Californians were also told to hold their celebrations outdoors, and only allow visitors inside the house if they are using the frequently-sanitized bathroom.

Under Newsom's rules, gatherings over the holiday cannot exceed people from three different households.

The claim comes as cases in the U.S. continue to spike over the last month

As of Wednesday, there are more than 11.3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., and nearly 249,000 deaths. This means, just over 0.02 per cent of those who have caught coronavirus in the U.S. have died from it

California Governor Gavin Newsom also issued Thanksgiving restrictions, including limiting celebrations to only people from three households and putting a two-hour time-limit on the private gatherings

The guidelines also limit the celebration from lasting longer than two hours and restricts people from taking off their masks – unless they are eating or drinking from six feet apart.

Masks can only be taken off to eat and drink, but guests must be sat six feet apart.

Newsom defended the rules, claiming people were 'misled' into believing the state was going to enforce these Thanksgiving guidelines.

Toward the beginning of the pandemic days earlier this year, Trump largely delegated the pandemic response to states and localities.

Fox News' Steve Doocy pressed McEnany on this point after she criticized governors' guidance.

'Ultimately, didn't the White House say, 'Do what you want to do?' Doocy asked.'Yeah, of course. It's up to every state to do what they want to do, but there are consequences for those states,' McEnany replied before referencing the rise in cases in some states like in New York.