Gov. Murphy: Trump's Visit To NJ 'Wrong Decision At Every Level'

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday blasted President Donald Trump's recent visit to his golf club in Bedminster, telling CBS This Morning that it was the "wrong decision at every level" now that the president has tested positive for COVID-19.

Murphy told CBS that the trip "should've been canceled" and should have been conducted virtually. Later on Monday, the governor called the president's decision "reckless."

"It's very frustrating. There is no other way to put it," Murphy said. "To have a group of folks, from out of state, coming in, knowingly having been exposed to someone who is COVID positive, is really, really frustrating."

Later on Monday, during the governor's news conference, Murphy said Trump's decision to visit New Jersey after White House Advisor Hope Hicks tested positive for COVID-19 "put lives at risk."

"The -resident and his staff acted recklessly in coming to New Jersey knowing that they had been exposed to someone with a confirmed positive test," Murphy said.

Murphy added this is the "latest chapter in a long series of chapters" of irresponsible behavior by the White House amid the coronavirus crisis, noting Trump's own resistance to promote mask usage.

Murphy also said the Bedminster event itself may not have complied with current rules. The New Jersey Attorney General's Office is investigating whether the event complied with social distancing rules and if it exceeded capacity limits.

The state Department of Health said it has received information from the management of Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster and the White House. The White House gave New Jersey officials the names of at least 206 people who attended the events. Read More: More Warnings For Possible COVID-19 Exposure From Trump NJ Visit

Of the attendees listed, about half were reportedly from New Jersey, including the staff members of the club who live in Somerset County.

The DOH has reached out to these people to make them aware of possible exposure and recommend that they self-monitor for symptoms and quarantine if they were in close contact with the president and his staff, officials said.

The Somerset County Health Department is interviewing 19 staff members of the club and assessing the level of contact they had with the President and his staff and providing public health recommendations accordingly. The majority of staff live in Somerset County, according to Nathan Rudy, spokesman for Somerset County.

The contact tracing process is ongoing.

Bedminster Mayor Larry Jacobs also sent out a note Friday alerting residents of the contact tracing being conducted.

"Bedminster Township wishes the President and the First Lady, and all who are affected with COVID-19, a full and speedy recovery," Jacobs said.

Attendees should consider waiting at least five to seven days from the event to take a coronavirus test as it takes time for the virus to incubate, Murphy said.

"This is very much a race against the clock," Murphy said. "We certainly hope and pray fervently that there are no confirmed cases come out fo the event ... This is not a matter of politics but a matter of humanity."

As of Sunday, Somerset County has reported a total of 58 positive coronavirus cases in Bedminster and 5 deaths. Somerset County as a whole has a total of 5,907 positive coronavirus cases and 503 deaths.

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