NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Gov. Bill Lee says the country needs to focus on principled leadership and how to move forward following this week’s deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol. Lee condemned the unrest, calling it a “sad day for America.”
The governor made the remarks Friday during an update on the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts. Lee called Wednesday’s riot “tragic” and said he will work with the Biden administration to advocate for what is best for Tennesseans.
“The turmoil we saw this week says something about us as a country and the chasm that can occur when we rely too much on politics to fill a void,” Lee said. “Our national identity has never been politics; it’s been principles and I believe that this new year offers us an opportunity to recommit to those principles. I will make every effort to do that. The principles of unity, compassion and thoughtful leadership. Disagreements occur on policies and politics, but my goal will be to be thoughtful and principled and wise in the days ahead as we work with this new administration because that’s what our country needs the most.”
Lee went on to say that politics has “failed us” over the last several weeks and principled leadership is a “fail safe” going forward.
The governor also said that he, along with other governors, had a call with the Biden transition team on Thursday about the state's pandemic response.
