Carson Refuses To ‘Preview’ Plan For Coronavirus-Stricken Cruise Ship

Republican Presidential hopeful Ben Carson speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) 2016 at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, outside Washington, March 4, 2016. / AFP / SAUL LOEB... Republican Presidential hopeful Ben Carson speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) 2016 at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, outside Washington, March 4, 2016. / AFP / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson wouldn’t go into details about the Trump administration’s plan upon the docking of the Grand Princess cruise ship in Oakland, California during an interview on ABC News Sunday morning.

On Friday, Vice President Mike Pence said during a coronavirus task force press briefing that 21 people aboard the ship tested positive for the coronavirus, which include 19 crew members and two passengers.

When pressed by ABC News’ George Stephanopolous regarding the administration’s plan to deal with the 3,500 people on board the ship, Carson — who is a member of the administration’s coronavirus task force — responded that Pence met with the CEOs of major cruise ship companies Saturday and that “they are coming up with a plan within 72 hours of that meeting.”

Stephanopolous then pointed out that the ship is docking tomorrow, prompting Carson to say that “the plan will be in place by that time” but that he doesn’t “want to preview the plan right now.”

“Shouldn’t you be able to do that?” Stephanopolous asked Carson.

Carson responded that he thinks “it needs to all come from a solitary source.”

“We shouldn’t have 16 people saying what the plan is particularly when it hasn’t been fully formulated,” Carson said.

Watch Carson’s remarks below:

Latest News
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: