"This was a medical problem. We're not going to let it turn into a long-lasting financial problem," Trump says. "Just not gonna allow that to happen."
AG William Barr opened by heaping praise on the president for "decisive leadership in this unprecedented battle to save American lives." Observing the prime directive.
"We have a lot of people dying from the flu," Trump says when asked if he shares the surgeon general's view that things will get very bad this week. "Certainly this is going to be bad. We're trying to make it so it's much, much less bad."
Trump says it may be more than a week before mass isolation can come to an end, but he expects it to be "soon."
"It's not going to be three or four months."
"It's not going to be three or four months."
"You look at automobile accidents, which are far greater than any numbers we're talking about. That doesn't mean we're going to tell anybody no more driving of cars," President Trump tells reporters at the White House. "So we have to do things to get our country open."
Big takeaway here is that Trump is getting very anxious to restart economic activity that's on hold due to the coronavirus, and weighing guidance to that effect. He noted many people die from the flu and car accidents, too, and warned against a cure that's worse than the disease.
Q: So far, has the cure been worse than the problem when it comes to the coronavirus?
TRUMP: "I think the cure has been very tough."
TRUMP: "I think the cure has been very tough."
Trump, speaking sarcastically about drastic measures to contain COVID-19: "Let's shut down the entire world. And when we shut it down it'll be wonderful and let's keep it shut for a couple of years."
"It causes bigger problems than the original."
"It causes bigger problems than the original."
Trump also seems anxious to start speaking about coronavirus as a thing of the past. He says the U.S. has learned a lot, become more disciplined, established best practices on contact and shaking hands. "In the end we're going to end up becoming bigger, better and stronger."
"We're giving the governors a lot of leeway," Trump says.
(Note that some things, like education, are state issues and the federal government can't reopen shuttered public schools even if it wanted to.)
(Note that some things, like education, are state issues and the federal government can't reopen shuttered public schools even if it wanted to.)
"We are going to give a kick, so that it's a kick," Trump says re: need for an economic stimulus.
He says small businesses are the engine of the U.S. economy but some big biz also need assistance: "Boeing. Boeing's gonna need some help... a great company that we have to save."
He says small businesses are the engine of the U.S. economy but some big biz also need assistance: "Boeing. Boeing's gonna need some help... a great company that we have to save."
"Hopefully the Republicans and Democrats are going to be able to make a deal," Trump says of a coronavirus stimulus, without focusing blame for the recent snags on Senate Dems as McConnell and Republicans have been doing.
Quite a contrast today between the two leaders on opposite ends of the Atlantic:
Trump says he wants to end US isolation as soon as possible, comparing COVID-19 to flu and car deaths.
Johnson locks down the UK for 3 weeks, enforced by police, for all but essential services.
Trump says he wants to end US isolation as soon as possible, comparing COVID-19 to flu and car deaths.
Johnson locks down the UK for 3 weeks, enforced by police, for all but essential services.
