US president Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that Americans would have a coronavirus vaccine in November, and possibly before November’s presidential election, in an unexpected announcement that would beat previous predictions on the timetable for a vaccine.
Meanwhile, three US social media sites censured president Donald Trump’s claims on Wednesday that children were “virtually immune” to Covid-19, with Facebook calling the president’s post “harmful Covid misinformation”.
The comments were also deleted on Twitter, as Mr Trump once again claimed that coronavirus would “go away”, as White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that ”I don’t think we’re going to eradicate [coronavirus]”.
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Trump says it is "absolutely necessary" to reimpose tariffs on aluminum from Canada
Trump promises that over the course of the next four years, the US will bring its pharmaceutical and medical supply chains home and end the reliance on China and other foreign nations.
US State Department lifts international travel warning for Americans
In March, the department put international travel on a level 4 warningKellyanne Conway calls social media companies’ action against Trump ‘election interference’
Counsellor to the president Kellyanne Conway said on Fox News that when Twitter and Facebook block the president’s social media posts it is tantamount to “election interference”.
“Twitter, Facebook, many of the forums are already overly anti-Trump. I think what's happened is that the president has over 200 million followers on all of his social media platforms, he has used it in a way no other politician has used it, and they don't like that,” she said.
“I think what many of these tech companies are doing now to the president, to conservatives, the shadow banning, the censoring, the selective engagement, is election interference,” she added.
In the same interview, Sandra Smith challenged Ms Conway about the president's statement that children are "nearly immune" when under-18s make up 7.4 per cent of cases (see earlier post). The post removed by Facebook spread that falsehood.
A bigger crowd than at the airport on drive to Whirlpool factory
Per the pool report:
The motorcade moved slowly along our route so supporters could wave and cheer on the president.
Hundreds stood along the side of the road and along green fields of corn to chant “4 more years” and wave signs and flags that read “Trump 2020,” “Thank you,” and “MAGA.” There were also signs that read “Q” and at the beginning of the drive there was a flag that was one half Confederate stripes, one half the American flag. Your pooler did not see anyone wearing a mask on the short trip.
My co-poolers spotted a few “IBEW Biden” and “We love Joe” signs as well, but the majority of the crowd appeared there to see POTUS.
President to sign ‘Made in America’ order for critical inputs
The purpose of the president’s trip to the Whirlpool facility is to sign an executive order requiring the federal government to purchase certain medications and equipment from US manufacturers.
Officially it is called the Executive Order on Combating Public Health Emergencies and Strengthening National Security by Ensuring Essential Medicines, Medical Countermeasures, and Critical Inputs Are Made In the United States.
Per the White House: “During a time when Americans are fearing for their health and suffering financially due to the effects of the China Virus, President Trump is taking bold action. Today’s Executive Order will expand Made in America manufacturing, bring blue-collar jobs back to the United States, and ensure Americans have critical access to the medicines they need.”
In attendance, in addition to the president, are Eugene Scalia, secretary of the Department of Labor; representative Jim Jordan, Ohio’s 4th Congressional District; and Jon Husted, Lieutenant Governor of Ohio.
Trump wears mask at Ohio Whirlpool factory
More to talk about than infrastructure
Governor Cuomo and president Trump have a lot more to talk about than just the needs of New York. Mr Cuomo was just named chair of the National Governors' Association, the bipartisan group that represents all of the nation's governors.
Trump-Cuomo meeting this weekend?
The president will end his travels today at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster where he is expected to spend the weekend.
Asked whether he would be speaking with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo while in the tristate area, the president said: “We’ll be talking to Governor Cuomo. They're looking to do a project -- the Second Avenue subway, as you know. And we’re talking about that. We’re also talking about the tram from the airport to a certain location. So we’ll be talking to him. Yes.”
Pressed if it would be an in-person meeting, he replied: “I think they have something scheduled, maybe in Bedminster. Yeah.”
More from the tarmac in Cleveland
Per the pool report (Meridith McGraw of Politico)
President Trump gave rally-like remarks from a podium in front of Marine One that focused on the economy and Joe Biden.
Trump said he is doing better than the last election in Ohio according to his former state director Bob Paduchik.
The president addressed DeWine’s positive Covid test: “A very good friend of mine just tested positive...we want to wish him the best. He’ll be fine,” Trump said.
Trump said he looked forward to seeing the governor but was informed he tested positive.
With cheers from the group of supporters, Trump came out swinging against Joe Biden and the “radical left.”
“He’s not all there,” Trump said.
Reading from prepared remarks, the President criticised Biden’s record in office. “During Joe Biden’s decades in office he’s done nothing...and I wouldn’t say he’s at the top of his game.”
“Biden’s policies our China first and America last,” Trump said. He then predicted a crash in the markets because he is “following the radical left agenda...hurt the Bible, hurt everything. He’s against God...guns.”
“We’re going to win bigger in Ohio now than years ago,” Trump predicted.
'I think we're doing great in Ohio'
Asked before the flight to Cleveland if he was going there because he was losing ground in Ohio, Trump said "I think we're doing great in Ohio." (per pool)
Trump holds mini-rally on the tarmac in Cleveland
Trump's Iran envoy quits administration as US pushes embargo
The Trump administration's top envoy for Iran is stepping down just as the United States tries to moves ahead with a major diplomatic effort that would extend a UN arms embargo against Tehran in the face of widespread international opposition.
Brian Hook announced his departure on Thursday, a day after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would call for a UN Security Council vote next week on a resolution to indefinitely extend the embargo, which is due to expire in October.
That resolution is expected to fail, setting the stage for a showdown between the US and the other Security Council members over the reimposition of all international sanctions on Iran. President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal two years ago but his administration argues it retains the right to invoke the "snapback" of UN sanctions because it is a council member. Others disagree.
Pompeo said in a statement that Hook "has been my point person on Iran for over two years and he has achieved historic results."
Hook will be replaced after an as-yet undetermined transition period as Iran envoy by Elliott Abrams, the US envoy for Venezuela.
Associated Press
On the plane
The president is joined on his trip to Ohio (which precedes visits to New Jersey and New York over a long weekend) by trade adviser Peter Navarro, seen on the steps of Air Force One.
Also seen boarding Marine One were press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, political aide John McEntee, deputy chief of staff for communications Dan Scavino, and advisers Jared Kushner and Stephen Miller.
Per pool report
Teens with AK-47 arrested for trespassing at Mar-a-Lago
Teens dump backpack containing weapon they claim to have foundQuite a to-do list while he's away
Ohio governor tests positive for Covid-19
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has tested positive for the coronavirus.
He will no longer meet the president on the tarmac in Cleveland this afternoon and has returned to Columbus. The test was administered as part of the standard protocol when meeting with the president.
