Trump news: President says some states could reopen 'literally tomorrow' as White House taskforce unveils new guidelines
White House plan for 'Opening Up America Again' draws fire as president claims 'national shutdown is not a sustainable long-term solution'
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Donald Trump has said the US will investigate a conspiracy theory surrounding the coronavirus suggesting it originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, and was originally intended as a weapon for use in biological warfare, with secretary of state Mike Pompeo urging Beijing to “come clean” on the matter.
While the president was triggering a new constitutional crisis by threatening to adjourn Congress on Wednesday over a minor political grievance, his supporters were staging protests across the country against ongoing stay-at-home orders, with armed demonstrators chanting “Lock her up!” outside the offices of Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer.
After teasing out the release of a set of "guidelines" for state and local government to begin reopening during the pandemic, the president unveiled his MAGA-referencing "Opening Up America Again" plan, which he said could allow some states to begin reopening "literally tomorrow" despite criticisms that the plan doesn't offer any worker protections or consistent enforcement to prevent a spike in outbreaks.
He said his guidelines offer a "phased, deliberate approach" for states to re-open businesses, after the president has grown impatient with a stalled economy in the wake of the pandemic.
Mr Trump said "a national shutdown is not a sustainable long-term solution."
The president told governors on Thursday that "you're going to be calling the shots" despite telling Americans just days earlier that he has "total authority" to end quarantine and other mitigation efforts.
Ronald Klain, who led the Ebola response under former president Barack Obama, said that the "plan" is "barely a PowerPoint."
Meanwhile, the president's approval rating dropped six percentage points within the first weeks of April, marking the largest point drop in his presidency, according to Gallup.
His current 43 per cent rating, however, still hovers above his 40 per cent average.
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In New York federal court filings this week, US Attorney General William Barr and intelligence director Richard Grenell invoked unprecedented claims that the documents remain state secrets, which must be locked down to "protect the national security interests" of the US government, despite the president's pledge to help families in the case.
New Orleans Jazz Fest, one of the biggest music festivals in the US, cancels 2020 event
After New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell suggested that all major 2020 events be postponed to 2021, Essence Festival — which takes place at the Superdome and Convention Center over Fourth of July weekend — cancelled this year's events.
Now the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, or Jazz Fest, which takes place over two weeks and draws millions of visitors to the region, has pulled the plug on this year's events, a blow to the incomes of thousands of hospitality and gig workers and the city's coffers which depends on the annual surge in visitors.
The event, originally scheduled for April and May, was moved to the fall, but is now off the calendar following the mayor's guidance.
Dr Oz on Fox News: Deaths of 2 or 3 per cent of American schoolchildren could be a 'tradeoff' to re-open schools
Dr Mehmet Oz appeared on Sean Hannity's Fox News show on Wednesday night and said that schools should be among places that re-open amidst the pandemic "without getting into a lot of trouble" and suggested the mortality rate could could be "2 or 3 per cent."
He said: "Any, you know, any life is a life lost, but ... that might be a tradeoff some folks would consider."
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Democrats are holding out for more money for states and hospitals as well as $60bn to be channelled towards non-traditional financial institutions providing capital to small business owners in poor areas.
Griffin Connolly reports:
White House to unveil plans for states to re-open tonight
Donald Trump will announce new guidelines for states to "re-open" as he grows impatient to reboot the economy under the coronavirus pandemic.
On Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence said the White House will roll out new "guidance for greater flexibility" to some states as the US looks to relax its quarantine efforts to resume business as usual.
The White House said that it will tell some states to continue mitigation efforts.
States and local municipalities have authority of their quarantine measures; the White House may only issue guidelines, not enforce them, as states beginning to see some recovery risk endangering communities by reviving outbreaks.
Mr Pence said the guidance will allow states to reopen "in a safe and responsible" manner.
Trump's approval rating sinks by six points, largest dip since he took office
Donald Trump's approval rating now sits at 43 per cent, slipping six percentage points within the last month as he struggles to answer for the administration's coronavirus response amid reports that he ignored or dismissed warnings of the outbreak.
The Gallup poll was conducted April 1-14.
A six-point drop is his largest decline since taking office, though his 43 per cent rating remains higher than most of the ratings he has received over the last few years. His average rating is 40 per cent.
Getty
Trump praises 'essential' US truck drivers during pandemic
John T Bennett reports:
Donald Trump, donning his dark overcoat on a chilly day in Washington, patted the hood of a bright white semi truck cab. "That's beautiful stuff," he said of the machine.
The president was there to praise the country's truck drivers for their efforts hauling and delivering what one described as "essentials" and other items that keeping America's stocked up during the coronavirus outbreak.
For the most, The Donald played the part. He delivered a flowery speech hailing truckers as "heroes" and other honorifics.
"At a time of widespread shutdowns, truck drivers form the lifeblood of our economy," Mr Trump said on the South Lawn of the White House. "In the war against the virus, American truckers are the foot soldiers."
But as usual, the president who lived for decades in a Manhattan penthouse uttered a few boasts about blue-collar life.
"I know a lot about trucking. I know a lot about truckers," he said, appearing to refer to his own background in the real estate development business.
Amid continued criticisms from Democrats and health experts that he is a "threat" and has overseen an ineffective federal pandemic response, Mr Trump flashed what can be a self-deprecating sense of humour.
"I don't know if they call me essential," he said, turning to some of the truck drivers. "But you're essential, that's for sure."
Trump hosts calls with Republicans and Democrats for the 'Opening Up America Again Congressional Group'
As Donald Trump is set to speak with US governors about guidance to begin "re-opening" their states during the pandemic, he spoke with a bipartisan group of senators and congress members about "the need for additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, the international and domestic supply chains, ways to energize the economy, surprise medical billing, clarifying the difference between essential and non-essential workers, mental health, and relief for small businesses." according to a White House statement.
The president's "Opening Up America Again Congressional Group" — borrowing from his MAGA campaign — also "discussed the rapidly expanding access to Covid-19 diagnostic and anti-body tests, ventilators, face masks, and other PPE."
President tells governors to 'call your own shots' over reopening as he backs down from 'total authority' claims
Donald Trump reportedly told governors during a Thursday afternoon conference call they would be "calling the shots" on reopening their states, echoing his description of coming guidelines he previewed during press conferences the previous two evenings.
"You're going to call your own shots," Mr. Trump told the state chiefs executive, according to The New York Times, citing an audio recording it obtained.
"You're going to be calling the shots. We'll be standing right alongside of you, and we're going to get our country open and get it working," Mr Trump reportedly said.
Dropping one of his preferred claims about the coronavirus lockdown, Mr Trump told the governers "people want to get working," the Times reported.
His comments continue a remarkable backdown from his own contention on Monday night, during yet another contentious press conference, when he claimed "total" authority to give an order to reopen the entire economy, or just those of individual states.
Mr Trump is scheduled to lay out guidelines he wants governors to use to craft plans to reopen their states, plans he claims the power to approve. He also has threatened them he could take over their reopening and testing efforts if he deems their blueprints ineffective.
The president tweeted this earlier in the day: "Major News Conference tonight, the White House at 6:00 P.M. (Eastern), to explain Guidelines for OPENING UP AMERICA AGAIN!"
US economy could take two years to return to 'full strength', Federal Reserve says
Returning the US economy to "full strength" could take up to two years, said New York Federal Reserve president John Williams. "First we have to make sure we're seeing the number of cases plateau and come down, and then think about a gradual return to normal."
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