The actions of Trump guests at N.J. golf club should concern us all, Murphy says – NJ.com

President Donald Trumps guests at his Bedminster golf club Friday evening engaged in behavior that should concern us all, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday.

You see people inside on top of each other, Murphy said at his coronavirus press briefing. We all ought to be really concerned. Thats where the flareups are coming from.

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Earlier this month, Murphy tightened the rules for indoor gatherings, restricting them to no more than 25 people, except for weddings, funerals and religious and political events.

Photos of Trumps Friday press conference showed Bedminster golf club members congregating in the back of the ballroom to watch the event, cheering the president. Many did not wear masks.

Asked about the guests, Trump said they took advantage of Murphys exemption.

You know, you have an exclusion in the law, Trump said. It says exactly political activity or peaceful protests. And you can call it political activity, but Id call it peaceful protests because they heard you were coming up. And they know the news is fake. They understand it better than anybody.

Murphy said the exemption on crowd size was for outdoor protests, not those inside a room.

The First Amendment protests relate to outdoor activities principally, and not indoors, he said. Any pictures of people inside on top of each other without wearing face coverings top of each other should concern us all.

The guests wore masks when they attended Trumps Saturday press conference, according to White House pool reports. They watched the president sign four executive orders designed to address the coronavirus-caused recession.

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com.

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The actions of Trump guests at N.J. golf club should concern us all, Murphy says - NJ.com