President Trump went further with his recent remarks advocating for the reopening of the U.S. economy, despite a spike in coronavirus cases, during a “virtual town hall” on Fox News Tuesday.
On Monday night, Trump repeatedly said during his coronavirus task force briefing at the White House that “our country wasn’t built to be shut down,” referring to the extreme measures that some cities, states and even the federal government have suggested or enforced in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The President added that “America will again and soon be open for business,” which he said would be “a lot sooner than three or four months, that somebody was suggesting.”
According to Johns Hopkins University, there are over 50,000 confirmed cases and at least 600 total deaths in the U.S. alone from COVID-19 as of Tuesday afternoon.
The President didn’t stray far from his Monday night remarks during Fox News’ “virtual town hall” the next morning, which also featured members of the White House coronavirus task force, by saying that he wants to “open” the U.S. economy back up by Easter (April 12).
“We’re opening up this incredible country because we have to do that. I would love to have it open by Easter,” Trump said. “I would love to have that. It’s such an important day for other reasons, but I’d love to make it an important day for this. I would love to have the country opened up, and rarin’ to go by Easter.”
Minutes before declaring his Easter deadline goal, Trump said that social distancing and going back to work is possible, but we’ll have to “work a little harder.”
“You can clean your hands five times more than you use to,” Trump said. “You don’t have to shake hands anymore with people — that might be something good coming out of this.”
In an interview with Fox News’ Bill Hemmer after the “virtual town hall” later Tuesday, Trump said that Easter Sunday would be a “beautiful time” for Americans to get back to work because there will be “packed churches” all over the country.
“It is just about the timeline that I think is right,” Trump said. “Gives us more chance to work on what we’re doing and I’m not sure that’s going to be the day, but I would love to aim it right at Easter Sunday so we are open for church service and services generally on Easter Sunday — that would be a beautiful thing.”
Trump explains why Easter Sunday is a "beautiful time" for Americans to be working again pic.twitter.com/lwg5cayiKB
— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) March 24, 2020
Trump’s latest remarks come as public health experts have warned that relaxing social distancing could prompt a surge in millions of deaths, which would further overwhelm the U.S. health care system.
And I want an honorable, intelligent president.
Not gonna happen…
So long as he accepts the responsibility for the consequences…oh wtf…sorry, we’re talking about Donald J. Trump after all…he can only blame Obama or the Democrats or the Chinese or whoever/whatever.
A decision to do this in this timeframe can only be described as extremely risky, to say the least, and needs a much steadier hand at the wheel.
So is he arguing this out of genuine (albeit misplaced) concern for the economy?
Or is it something else?
It would really help to know more about his personal finances.
Has anyone thought to ask him to show his tax returns?
If that jerk wants to ruin the economy, then he has surely figured out how to do that. I sure as hell am not going to venture forth.
BTW Too bad about all those hotels being closed up.
Trump at his latest press conference (with Mnuchin falling ill);
Turn those machines back on!