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Gun-toting Trump supporters have marched against the US coronavirus lockdown, despite the country recording the world's highest number of deaths.

Demonstrators gathered in states across America to vent their fury over the "undemocratic" restrictions and the subsequent spike in unemployment.

Waving US flags, some of the protesters chanted "facts over fear" and "we want to work" after it emerged a record 22 million Americans had applied for unemployment benefits in the last month.

The death count in the US has soared past 33,000, with at least 668,000 Americans testing positive for the disease.

Rallies against the restrictions have taken place in Michigan, Kentucky, Virginia, Utah, Ohio and North Carolina, with shocking pictures emerging of rifle-wielding men standing on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing.

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

South Dakota's Governor Kristi Noem has been at the forefront of the campaign against the lockdown measures.

In defence of her stance, Governor Noem repeated founding father Benjamin Franklin's iconic phrase "they who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither" during an interview with Fox News.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

She said: "What I've seen across the country is so many people give up their liberties for just a little bit of security. And I don't have to do that."

The slogan has become a rallying cry for demonstrators opposing the lockdown.

Governor Noem has pledged to keep her state open, despite a spike in infections.

(Image: JEFFREY SAUGER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

(Image: JEFFREY SAUGER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

She said: "I took an oath when I was in congress, obviously to uphold the constitution of the United States. I believe in our freedoms and liberties.

"If a leader will take too much power in a time of crisis, that is how we lose our country."

The Governor promised to make decisions based on 'science and facts', rather than 'letting emotion grab a hold of the situation'.

(Image: JEFFREY SAUGER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

(Image: REUTERS)

Coronavirus cases in South Dakota shot up after around 500 employees tested positive for the virus at a meat processing plant in Sioux Falls, Mail Online reports.

The South Dakota State Medical Association has begged the Governor to introduce restrictions, warning they could face a situation like the one in New York, where nearly 11,000 people had died as of yesterday.

In Richmond, Virginia, about 30 people gathered outside the state capitol yesterday in defiance of the lockdown that the Democratic governor has announced until June 10.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: Getty Images)

"STOP the MADNESS! It's just a COLD VIRUS! End the shutdown for the GOOD of US all!" one of the demonstrators' signs read.

Hundreds of cars flooded the streets in Lansing, Michigan, on Wednesday to protest Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home orders, some of the strictest in the country.

One of the organisers of the demonstration, Meshawn Maddock, said: "All I know is that I care about Michigan. I've lived here my whole life and I want to help workers get back to work."

She added that she had received calls from people in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Virginia and other states asking for advice on planning similar protests.

(Image: JEFFREY SAUGER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

Some protesters left their cars to gather on the lawn in front of the capitol building.

Many of the demonstrators were not wearing masks or practising social distancing.

More demonstrations against the lockdown are planned for the coming days, including in Oregon, Idaho and Texas.

Trump announced a three-phase strategy to lift the lockdown yesterday, although state governors expressed caution about the rush to reopen.

The plan could allow some states to lift restrictions as early as this month.

However, Trump's opponents slammed his proposal, saying the US is a long way off reopening.

Democratic candidate Joe Biden said the process cannot take place until testing is significantly expanded.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Trump 'does not have total authority' and that the US does not 'have a king' after the President's previous comments about lifting the lockdown.