Donald Trump declared, without evidence, that the US is “doing sooo much better than any other country in the world” in testing for coronavirus after pledging at the White House that America would “soon” have the capacity to test 5m people per day.
But on Wednesday, less than 24 hours later, he falsely claimed that he never said the US would be testing at that rate.
The president’s optimism came despite the country passing 1m cases of Covid-19 and 60,000 deaths, a grim marker that officials initially said the US wouldn't reach until August.
Within four months of the outbreak, the nation's death toll has surpassed the total deaths from conflicts leading up to and during the Vietnam War over two decades.
Mr Trump has meanwhile invoked the Defense Production Act to keep American meatpacking plants open, despite declining to do so for the sake of ventilators or personal protective equipment, as his vice president Mike Pence finds himself in hot water for refusing to wear a mask during an official visit to the Mayo Clinic medical facility in Minnesota on Tuesday.
For the third day in a row, the president met with business leaders to discuss the coronavirus response and reopening plans as states begin to preparations to "reopen" against the warnings of health officials and epidemiologists.
He also claimed that coronavirus is "going to leave" despite, even without a vaccine.
"It's gonna be eradicated," he said. "It might take longer, it might be in smaller sections. It won't be what we had."
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Trump boasts about US Covid-19 testing prowess and touts blue state quid pro quo
Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to declare (without evidence) that the US is “doing sooo much better than any other country in the world” in testing for coronavirus after pledging at the White House that America would “soon” have the capacity to test 5m people per day.
The president made that claim in the East Room - a departure from the familiar venue for his daily conference on the virus, the James S Brady Press Briefing Room - despite the current rate of Covid-19 testing being closer to the 200,000 per day mark, meaning it would take a remarkable acceleration to match his pledge.
He also attempted to explain away the administration’s shortfall on testing to this point by saying his team had “inherited broken tests”, despite the virus only coming into existence in his third year in office.
Trump offered more blithe positivity, saying of the virus and the possibility of reopening states: “I think what happens is it's going to go away.”
Flanked at the podium by treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin and his daughter Ivanka Trump, the president flattered her by making another false claim, repeating his contention that her vanity business initiatives had resulted in the creation of a whopping 15m American jobs, which is just a fantasy.
Perhaps Trump's most disturbing suggestion though was that Democratic-run states may have to rein in their sanctuary city commitments protecting asylum seekers if they expect to receive federal bailout money to support their recovery from the national shutdown.
Which sounded an awful lot like another quid pro quo to many, with some reminded of Stanford Law professor Pamela Karlan’s remarks during last November’s House impeachment hearings.
Here’s John T Bennett’s report.
More Americans killed by coronavirus than Vietnam War
The president’s optimism yesterday came despite the country passing 1m cases of Covid-19 and 58,000 deaths, meaning it has now killed more people than died over the entire course of the Vietnam War.
Alex Woodward has this report.
The president’s optimism yesterday came despite the country passing 1m cases of Covid-19 and 58,000 deaths, meaning it has now killed more people than died over the entire course of the Vietnam War.
Alex Woodward has this report.
President invokes Defense Production Act to keep meat plants open
Trump has meanwhile invoked the Defense Production Act to keep American meatpacking plants open, despite declining to do so for the sake of ventilators or personal protective equipment.
At least 22 plants have closed across the US after workers tested positive for Covid-19, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, as concerns about the immediate future of the supply chain begin to spread.
Interest groups including the National Chicken Council have already moved to tell the president they are "grateful" for the executive order.
Danielle Zoellner has more on this one.
Trump has meanwhile invoked the Defense Production Act to keep American meatpacking plants open, despite declining to do so for the sake of ventilators or personal protective equipment.
At least 22 plants have closed across the US after workers tested positive for Covid-19, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, as concerns about the immediate future of the supply chain begin to spread.
Interest groups including the National Chicken Council have already moved to tell the president they are "grateful" for the executive order.
Danielle Zoellner has more on this one.
Mike Pence under fire for not wearing mask on hospital visit
The vice president finds himself in hot water this morning for refusing to wear a mask during an official visit to the Mayo Clinic medical facility in Rochester, Minnesota, where he he was filmed meeting with patients and staff and was the only one present failing to adhere to his own advice.
James Crump has this report.
The vice president finds himself in hot water this morning for refusing to wear a mask during an official visit to the Mayo Clinic medical facility in Rochester, Minnesota, where he he was filmed meeting with patients and staff and was the only one present failing to adhere to his own advice.
James Crump has this report.
Florida governor meets with Trump at White House to discuss reopening
Yesterday, as the Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds soared over New York City, Newark and Philadelphia to salute the frontline medical staff and essential workers saving lives in those cities...
...the president was meeting with Ron DeSantis, controversial governor of the Sunshine State, to discuss his plans for joining other southern states by ending stay-at-home orders and reopening, neither man apparently bothered by that climbing death toll.
Speaking to reporters with Trump in the Oval Office, DeSantis said he would announce a plan on Wednesday for a "phase one" loosening of restrictions on economic activity.
Declining to give details, he called the plan a "small step," adding, "we're going to approach it in a very measured, thoughtful and data-driven way."
Despite a high proportion of elderly residents, who are especially vulnerable to the virus, and having waited until early April to lock down its economy to accommodate Spring Break beach parties, Florida has averted the worst of the health crisis seen in other states such as New York and New Jersey. But the state has nevertheless tallied 32,846 cases of Covid-19 so far and 1,171 deaths.
DeSantis has drawn sharp criticism of his handling of the crisis from Democrats in Florida, a key electoral swing state in Trump's re-election bid this November.
"Apparently Trump and DeSantis find it appropriate to slap each other on the back while Floridians struggle to stay safe during this pandemic and navigate a broken unemployment system," Florida Democratic Party chair Terrie Rizzo said yesterday.
The president is having Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards over this morning for a similar chat.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious diseases expert, was speaking on CNN last night to offer reassurance on the president's testing pledges and used his platform to urge co-operation between the states and the federal government.
Yesterday, as the Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds soared over New York City, Newark and Philadelphia to salute the frontline medical staff and essential workers saving lives in those cities...
...the president was meeting with Ron DeSantis, controversial governor of the Sunshine State, to discuss his plans for joining other southern states by ending stay-at-home orders and reopening, neither man apparently bothered by that climbing death toll.
Speaking to reporters with Trump in the Oval Office, DeSantis said he would announce a plan on Wednesday for a "phase one" loosening of restrictions on economic activity.
Declining to give details, he called the plan a "small step," adding, "we're going to approach it in a very measured, thoughtful and data-driven way."
Despite a high proportion of elderly residents, who are especially vulnerable to the virus, and having waited until early April to lock down its economy to accommodate Spring Break beach parties, Florida has averted the worst of the health crisis seen in other states such as New York and New Jersey. But the state has nevertheless tallied 32,846 cases of Covid-19 so far and 1,171 deaths.
DeSantis has drawn sharp criticism of his handling of the crisis from Democrats in Florida, a key electoral swing state in Trump's re-election bid this November.
"Apparently Trump and DeSantis find it appropriate to slap each other on the back while Floridians struggle to stay safe during this pandemic and navigate a broken unemployment system," Florida Democratic Party chair Terrie Rizzo said yesterday.
The president is having Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards over this morning for a similar chat.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious diseases expert, was speaking on CNN last night to offer reassurance on the president's testing pledges and used his platform to urge co-operation between the states and the federal government.
Republican ex-senator backs Joe Biden and calls for Trump's 'sound defeat'
Jeff Flake is that man and he thinks victory for the former veep is the only remedy to restore the GOP after it sold its soul to Trump for a bucket of KFC and a discount golf club membership.
Griffin Connolly has more on what else he has to say.
Jeff Flake is that man and he thinks victory for the former veep is the only remedy to restore the GOP after it sold its soul to Trump for a bucket of KFC and a discount golf club membership.
Griffin Connolly has more on what else he has to say.
Hillary Clinton endorses Joe Biden as possible VP pick defends him against sexual assault allegation
Also belatedly throwing her support behind the nominee-in-waiting is the beaten 2016 Democratic nominee, joining the likes of Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, the rest of the 2020 field and, er, Howard Stern.
Meanwhile, the question of which female running mate he will pick to take on the Trump-Pence ticket is complicated by the emergence of a sexual assault allegation against him dating back to 1993, with the likes of Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris staying silent on the issue so far.
But one contender, Georgia's Stacy Abrams, weighed in to tell CNN's Don Lemon last night that she believes the candidate's protestation of innocence.
In other Biden news, it transpires he won Ohio's mail-in primary after in-person voting was cancelled because of the coronavirus shutdown.
Not that he had any serious competition left but a win is a win.
Here's Alex Woodward on Hillary.
Also belatedly throwing her support behind the nominee-in-waiting is the beaten 2016 Democratic nominee, joining the likes of Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, the rest of the 2020 field and, er, Howard Stern.
Meanwhile, the question of which female running mate he will pick to take on the Trump-Pence ticket is complicated by the emergence of a sexual assault allegation against him dating back to 1993, with the likes of Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris staying silent on the issue so far.
But one contender, Georgia's Stacy Abrams, weighed in to tell CNN's Don Lemon last night that she believes the candidate's protestation of innocence.
In other Biden news, it transpires he won Ohio's mail-in primary after in-person voting was cancelled because of the coronavirus shutdown.
Not that he had any serious competition left but a win is a win.
Here's Alex Woodward on Hillary.
Independent congressman Justin Amash weighing up third-party presidential bid
Trump and Biden could have one final new opponent after Republican escapee Justin Amash announced on Tuesday night that he would explore running for president as a Libertarian, the strongest sign yet that he will run as a third-party candidate.
Trump and Biden could have one final new opponent after Republican escapee Justin Amash announced on Tuesday night that he would explore running for president as a Libertarian, the strongest sign yet that he will run as a third-party candidate.
The gentleman from Michigan's long-shot bid comes as the presidential campaign has been upended by the coronavirus pandemic
Amash, a 40-year-old conservative lawmaker who has been a member of Congress since 2011 and had helped found the House Freedom Caucus, left the Republican Party last July after his criticisms of Trump alienated him from his former allies.
He joined with Democrats to vote to impeach Trump, but on most policy issues still votes as a straight-line Republican.
Here's more from Andrew Naughtie.
Amash, a 40-year-old conservative lawmaker who has been a member of Congress since 2011 and had helped found the House Freedom Caucus, left the Republican Party last July after his criticisms of Trump alienated him from his former allies.
He joined with Democrats to vote to impeach Trump, but on most policy issues still votes as a straight-line Republican.
Here's more from Andrew Naughtie.
Turkey sends medical supplies to US to help in coronavirus fight
The country's authoritarian president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to stand in solidarity with the United States in its struggle against the coronavirus pandemic and as it recovers from the outbreak.
The country's authoritarian president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to stand in solidarity with the United States in its struggle against the coronavirus pandemic and as it recovers from the outbreak.
In a letter sent to Trump, Erdogan also said he was following "with appreciation" the US president's efforts to control the outbreak - his latest attempt to butter Trump up like a bread roll.
The letter was sent on Tuesday along with a planeload of personal protective equipment that Turkey donated to the United States. It was made public on Wednesday.
"I am very pleased to observe that, thanks to your measures, America has taken the first steps towards normalisation by achieving a downward trend in the number of new cases," Erdogan wrote.
"You can be sure, as a reliable and strong partner of the US, we will continue to demonstrate solidarity in every way possible."
Turkey sent 500,000 surgical masks, 4,000 overalls, 2,000 litres of disinfectant (not for drinking, Donny Boy), 1,500 goggles, 400 N-95 masks and 500 face shields.
It has sent similar medical equipment aid to a total of 55 countries - including Britain, Italy and Spain.
It has sent similar medical equipment aid to a total of 55 countries - including Britain, Italy and Spain.
New York Times rebuffs Sean Hannity's apology demands
The NYT is not budging in the face of pressure from the Fox host to publish a retraction after one of its columnists trashed his coverage of the coronavirus, which Hannity has insisted is a "new hoax" to bring down his dear friend Donald Trump.
This was the newspaper's response to his outrage:
Justin Vallejo has more on this.
The NYT is not budging in the face of pressure from the Fox host to publish a retraction after one of its columnists trashed his coverage of the coronavirus, which Hannity has insisted is a "new hoax" to bring down his dear friend Donald Trump.
This was the newspaper's response to his outrage:
Justin Vallejo has more on this.
FBI documents expose Roger Stone's efforts to collude with Julian Assange
In more crony news, new FBI documents reveal that Roger Stone reassured WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in a Twitter message that if prosecutors came after him in response to Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, "I will bring down the entire house of cards."
The records reveal the extent of communications between Stone and Assange, whose anti-secrecy website published Democratic emails hacked by Russians during the 2016 presidential election and underscore efforts by Trump allies to gain insight about the release of information they expected would embarrass Hillary Clinton.
The documents - FBI affidavits submitted to obtain search warrants in the criminal investigation into Stone - were released following a court case brought by The Associated Press and other media organisations.
They were made public as Stone, convicted last year in Mueller's investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign, awaits a date to surrender to a federal prison system that has grappled with outbreaks of the coronavirus.
In a June 2017 Twitter direct message cited in the records, Stone reassured Assange that the issue was "still nonsense" and said "as a journalist it doesn't matter where you get information only that it is accurate and authentic."
He cited as an example the 1971 Supreme Court ruling that facilitated the publishing by newspapers of the Pentagon Papers, classified government documents about the Vietnam War.
"If the US government moves on you I will bring down the entire house of cards," Stone wrote, according to a transcript of the message cited in the search warrant affidavit. "With the trumped-up sexual assault charges dropped I don't know of any crime you need to be pardoned for - best regards. R."
Stone was likely referring to a sexual assault investigation dropped by Swedish authorities. Assange, who at the time was holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, was charged last year with a series of crimes by the US Justice Department, including Espionage Act violations for allegedly directing former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in one of the largest compromises of classified information in US history.
According to the documents, Assange, who is imprisoned in London and is fighting his extradition to the United States, responded to Stone's 2017 Twitter message by saying: "Between CIA and DoJ they're doing quite a lot. On the DoJ side that's coming most strongly from those obsessed with taking down Trump trying to squeeze us into a deal."
Stone replied that he was doing everything possible to "address the issues at the highest level of Government."
The records illustrate the Trump campaign's curiosity about what information WikiLeaks was going to make public. Former White House adviser Steve Bannon told Mueller's team under questioning that he had asked Stone about WikiLeaks because he had heard that Stone had a channel to Assange and he was hoping for more releases of damaging information.
In more crony news, new FBI documents reveal that Roger Stone reassured WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in a Twitter message that if prosecutors came after him in response to Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, "I will bring down the entire house of cards."
The records reveal the extent of communications between Stone and Assange, whose anti-secrecy website published Democratic emails hacked by Russians during the 2016 presidential election and underscore efforts by Trump allies to gain insight about the release of information they expected would embarrass Hillary Clinton.
The documents - FBI affidavits submitted to obtain search warrants in the criminal investigation into Stone - were released following a court case brought by The Associated Press and other media organisations.
They were made public as Stone, convicted last year in Mueller's investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign, awaits a date to surrender to a federal prison system that has grappled with outbreaks of the coronavirus.
In a June 2017 Twitter direct message cited in the records, Stone reassured Assange that the issue was "still nonsense" and said "as a journalist it doesn't matter where you get information only that it is accurate and authentic."
He cited as an example the 1971 Supreme Court ruling that facilitated the publishing by newspapers of the Pentagon Papers, classified government documents about the Vietnam War.
"If the US government moves on you I will bring down the entire house of cards," Stone wrote, according to a transcript of the message cited in the search warrant affidavit. "With the trumped-up sexual assault charges dropped I don't know of any crime you need to be pardoned for - best regards. R."
Stone was likely referring to a sexual assault investigation dropped by Swedish authorities. Assange, who at the time was holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, was charged last year with a series of crimes by the US Justice Department, including Espionage Act violations for allegedly directing former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in one of the largest compromises of classified information in US history.
According to the documents, Assange, who is imprisoned in London and is fighting his extradition to the United States, responded to Stone's 2017 Twitter message by saying: "Between CIA and DoJ they're doing quite a lot. On the DoJ side that's coming most strongly from those obsessed with taking down Trump trying to squeeze us into a deal."
Stone replied that he was doing everything possible to "address the issues at the highest level of Government."
The records illustrate the Trump campaign's curiosity about what information WikiLeaks was going to make public. Former White House adviser Steve Bannon told Mueller's team under questioning that he had asked Stone about WikiLeaks because he had heard that Stone had a channel to Assange and he was hoping for more releases of damaging information.
Why so many people are desperate to end Mitch McConnell’s political career
For Indy Premium, Andrew Buncombe considers the Grim Reaper and his pleasure in taking the scythe to liberal bills.
For Indy Premium, Andrew Buncombe considers the Grim Reaper and his pleasure in taking the scythe to liberal bills.
Mike Pence's refusal to wear a face mask 'to look patients in the eye' mercilessly ridiculed online
For Indy100, here's Greg Evans to round up the day's memes, with AOC leading the charge.
For Indy100, here's Greg Evans to round up the day's memes, with AOC leading the charge.
'The key in leadership is recognising you’re not the smartest guy in the room'
Utah senator Mitt Romney, whom Trump still bears a king-size grudge against for breaking GOP ranks to vote for his impeachment, will hardly endear himself to the president any further with these thoughts on his leadership during the pandemic.
Andrew Naughtie has the full story.
Utah senator Mitt Romney, whom Trump still bears a king-size grudge against for breaking GOP ranks to vote for his impeachment, will hardly endear himself to the president any further with these thoughts on his leadership during the pandemic.
Andrew Naughtie has the full story.
Trump lashes out at media because ultimately it's just a Wednesday like any other
Here's the president's latest score-settling with the press as his preoccupation with petty grievances and negative coverage rumbles on.
It's almost become a reassuring background noise at this point, his discontent with the Fourth Estate a familiar constant amid the endless upheaval of our times.
Here's Andrew Naughtie on the president backing up another of his spurious arguments after making a fool of himself.
Here's the president's latest score-settling with the press as his preoccupation with petty grievances and negative coverage rumbles on.
It's almost become a reassuring background noise at this point, his discontent with the Fourth Estate a familiar constant amid the endless upheaval of our times.
Here's Andrew Naughtie on the president backing up another of his spurious arguments after making a fool of himself.
Two men in Georgia drink disinfectant in bid to protect themselves against Covid-19
Listen to the experts folks, not the president.
Listen to the experts folks, not the president.
Dr Fauci: US could face 'bad winter and bad fall' if coronavirus returns
Speaking of experts, the Trump administration's top coronavirus adviser took part in a webinar event hosted by the Economic Club of Washington and told his online audience that the US should prepare for the virus to return and hit hard later this year.
“I don’t know whether that’s going to make a major difference here, but what we do know is that right now, as we start to stabilise, southern Africa, places like KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, and Cape Town and other places are starting to see the emergence of cases. So it’s not going to disappear from the planet.”
As we saw at last night's presser, Trump's messaging is rather different.
He continues to maintain it's just going to "go away".
Speaking of experts, the Trump administration's top coronavirus adviser took part in a webinar event hosted by the Economic Club of Washington and told his online audience that the US should prepare for the virus to return and hit hard later this year.
However, Dr Fauci also said he was “cautiously optimistic” that a vaccine for Covid-19 can be developed and that provided measures put in place to limit the virus’s spread are adhered to, the worst effects of a winter resurgence can at least be mitigated.
“I’m almost certain it will come back,” he said, “because the virus is so transmissible, and it’s globally spread. Remember, all kinds of viruses like this when people are indoors and congregated in the cold dry weather, they tend to do better than when you’re in a warmer climate.
“I don’t know whether that’s going to make a major difference here, but what we do know is that right now, as we start to stabilise, southern Africa, places like KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, and Cape Town and other places are starting to see the emergence of cases. So it’s not going to disappear from the planet.”
As we saw at last night's presser, Trump's messaging is rather different.
He continues to maintain it's just going to "go away".
Steve Mnuchin asks for coronavirus stimulus cheques sent to dead people to be returned
In what sounds like the plot of a satirical Russian novella, Trump's treasury secretary is demanding that the deceased return their $1,200 (£954) cheques to the federal government.
“We’re checking the databases, but there could be a scenario where we missed something, and yes, the heirs should be returning that money,” the executive producer of Suicide Squad told The Wall Street Journal.
Gino Spocchia is your guide to the underworld.
Trump trash talks Justin Amash
The president has served up his inevitable takedown of the ex-Republican after he touted a run for the Oval Office as an independent candidate, suggesting he would split the Democratic vote and harm Biden by going ahead with it.
The president has served up his inevitable takedown of the ex-Republican after he touted a run for the Oval Office as an independent candidate, suggesting he would split the Democratic vote and harm Biden by going ahead with it.
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