Jay Inslee, the Democrat governor of Washington state, which has suffered more than 600 deaths, accused Mr Trump of "putting millions of people in danger" by "encouraging illegal and dangerous acts."

Mr Inslee said: "The president is fomenting domestic rebellion and spreading lies even while his own administration says the virus is real and is deadly, and that we have a long way to go before restrictions can be lifted.

"The president is off the rails. He’s not quoting scientists and doctors but spewing dangerous, anti-democratic rhetoric."

He added: "I hope political leaders of all sorts will speak out firmly against the president’s calls for rebellion."

In Florida hundreds of people cheered and swarmed onto the sand in Jacksonville as beaches were partially reopened following a green light from Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor. Social distancing guidelines remained in place.

Mr DeSantis said it was important for Floridians to get "out in the sunshine and be able to get some fresh air."

The move came as the state recorded over 1,400 new coronavirus cases, its highest daily total so far.

A beach-goer told CNN: "We all live on it, so it has been torture looking at it and not being able to be out here."

Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, who only issued a stay-at-home order just over two weeks ago, also announced a partial easing of restrictions.

He said stores in Texas, which is the world's 10th largest economy, would be able to operate "retail-to-go" curbside pickups starting next Friday.

State parks would reopen on Monday but social distancing there would continue.

Mr Abbott said: "Because of the efforts by everyone to slow the spread, we're now beginning to see glimmers that the worst of Covid-19 may soon be behind us."

Some religious leaders and conservative activists urged Mr Trump's administration to sue state governments to relieve restrictions.

They argued stay-at-home orders were infringing on constitutional rights, including the right to religious worship, gathering to protest, and buying guns.

In a letter to Bill Barr, the attorney general, groups including the American Conservative Union called Democrat state governors “petty would-be dictators” and accused them of committing "rampant abuses of constitutional rights and civil liberties."

Mr Trump ignited the row earlier in the week when, in apparent support for anti-lockdown protesters, he issued a call to "LIBERATE" the states of Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia.

Ralph Northam, the Democrat governor of Virginia, who is a medical doctor, said: "We're fighting a biological war. I do not have time to involve myself in Twitter wars. "I will continue to make sure that I do everything that I can to keep Virginians safe and to save lives."