Donald Trump contended on Wednesday that he chose to keep the White House coronavirus task force alive despite internal discussions about terminating it because he realized it was very popular.
"I thought we could wind it down sooner. But I had no idea how popular the task force is until actually yesterday when I started talking about winding down. It is appreciated by the public," Mr Trump said, appearing to have consumed media reports criticising him for saying on Tuesday he might end the group.
But he told reporters in the Oval Office the group eventually will be disbanded, though he likely will add two or three unnamed members.
Meantime, the president claimed he intended to wear a mask a day earlier while touring a Honeywell mask facility, but the company's boss convinced him the facility was coronavirus-free.
"I had a mask on for a period of time. .... We were far away from people," the president told reporters. "I did put a mask on" but not for "too long," Mr Trump added before saying he wore one "backstage."
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