Despite blustering in public that the coronavirus is “Fake News!” and being weaponised against him, Donald Trump is reportedly fretting about the growing crisis behind the scenes, with one ex-West Wing official telling Vanity Fair: “He’s just now waking up to the fact that this is bad, and he doesn’t know how to respond.”
The White House has said that the president himself has so far not been tested for the disease, despite coming into contact with several Republican allies who have since gone into self-isolation, including new chief of staff Mark Meadows and congressmen Doug Collins, Matt Gaetz and Paul Gosar.
If you're wondering, this is what might happen if Mr Trump himself becomes infected.
Democratic 2020 front-runner Joe Biden has meanwhile opened up a commanding lead over rival Bernie Sanders, according to multiple national polls, as the states of Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington all hold primaries on Tuesday.
The results could be make or break for Mr Sanders, who was once seen as the likely nominee but has since lost stature as centrist Democrats have coalesced around Mr Biden.
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Trump 'fretting over coronavirus' in private as narrative spins out of control
Despite blustering in public that the coronavirus is “Fake News!” and being weaponised against him, Donald Trump is reportedly fretting about the growing crisis behind the scenes, with one ex-West Wing official telling Vanity Fair: “He’s just now waking up to the fact that this is bad, and he doesn’t know how to respond.”
The same piece quotes sources close to the White House on the president's growing frustration with the media, which he views as relentlessly hostile to his administration: "He is trying to control the narrative and he can’t."
Another source even suggests the president has been putting pressure on William Barr's Justice Department "to open investigations of the media for market manipulation" as he worries that the "hysteria" being whipped up by the fresh is causing the stock markets to panic, undermining his insistence that the US economy is in robust health, which he believes is pivotal to his re-election case this year.
On that score, Trump's friends at Fox News are working overtime and out-doing themselves in attacking the left-wing political establishment on his behalf, as this raging clip from Trish Regan's show makes clear.
The Vanity Fair article goes on to offer an insight into the personal toll the epidemic has taken on Trump as a (neurotic) individual.
"Donald is a famous germaphobe," says one insider quoted. "He hates it if someone is eating nachos and dips a chip back in after taking a bite. He calls them “double dippers”".
One of his Twitter attacks on Michael Bloomberg last week would certainly appear to bear this out.
Here's Conrad Duncan's report.
Despite blustering in public that the coronavirus is “Fake News!” and being weaponised against him, Donald Trump is reportedly fretting about the growing crisis behind the scenes, with one ex-West Wing official telling Vanity Fair: “He’s just now waking up to the fact that this is bad, and he doesn’t know how to respond.”
The same piece quotes sources close to the White House on the president's growing frustration with the media, which he views as relentlessly hostile to his administration: "He is trying to control the narrative and he can’t."
Another source even suggests the president has been putting pressure on William Barr's Justice Department "to open investigations of the media for market manipulation" as he worries that the "hysteria" being whipped up by the fresh is causing the stock markets to panic, undermining his insistence that the US economy is in robust health, which he believes is pivotal to his re-election case this year.
On that score, Trump's friends at Fox News are working overtime and out-doing themselves in attacking the left-wing political establishment on his behalf, as this raging clip from Trish Regan's show makes clear.
The Vanity Fair article goes on to offer an insight into the personal toll the epidemic has taken on Trump as a (neurotic) individual.
"Donald is a famous germaphobe," says one insider quoted. "He hates it if someone is eating nachos and dips a chip back in after taking a bite. He calls them “double dippers”".
One of his Twitter attacks on Michael Bloomberg last week would certainly appear to bear this out.
Here's Conrad Duncan's report.
White House says Trump has not been tested for virus as new chief of staff and Republican allies self-isolate
The administration has said that the president himself has so far not been tested for the disease, despite coming into contact with several Republican allies who have since gone into self-isolation, including new chief of staff Mark Meadows and congressmen Doug Collins and Matt Gaetz.
"The president has not received Covid-19 testing because he has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed Covid-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms," White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement on Monday.
"President Trump remains in excellent health, and his physician will continue to closely monitor him."
But the question remains pertinent as one of the attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) - which took place in Maryland in late February - has since tested positve and the president was a keynote speaker at the gathering, with many members of his cabinet and trusted inner circle also in attendance.
The likes of Georgia representative Collins and Texas senator Ted Cruz have since returned to their home states for quarantine after shaking hands with the sick man, while Gaetz represents a Florida constituency in which a person died of the disease over the weekend (a development making his decision to turn up at a key vote last week sporting a gas mask look even more ill-judged).
Here's John T Bennett with more on this.
The administration has said that the president himself has so far not been tested for the disease, despite coming into contact with several Republican allies who have since gone into self-isolation, including new chief of staff Mark Meadows and congressmen Doug Collins and Matt Gaetz.
"The president has not received Covid-19 testing because he has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed Covid-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms," White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement on Monday.
"President Trump remains in excellent health, and his physician will continue to closely monitor him."
But the question remains pertinent as one of the attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) - which took place in Maryland in late February - has since tested positve and the president was a keynote speaker at the gathering, with many members of his cabinet and trusted inner circle also in attendance.
The likes of Georgia representative Collins and Texas senator Ted Cruz have since returned to their home states for quarantine after shaking hands with the sick man, while Gaetz represents a Florida constituency in which a person died of the disease over the weekend (a development making his decision to turn up at a key vote last week sporting a gas mask look even more ill-judged).
Here's John T Bennett with more on this.
Joe Biden opens up huge leads over Bernie Sanders ahead of key primaries
Democratic 2020 front-runner Joe Biden has meanwhile opened up a commanding lead over rival Bernie Sanders, according to multiple national polls, as the states of Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington all hold primaries on Tuesday.
Democratic 2020 front-runner Joe Biden has meanwhile opened up a commanding lead over rival Bernie Sanders, according to multiple national polls, as the states of Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington all hold primaries on Tuesday.
Sanders slams Trump for saying 'stupid' things as epidemic spreads
Bernie ventured onto Fox News last night for a town hall event as he seeks to kickstart his campaign today, arguing that his positions are far from radical or to be feared by the network's right-wing audience and that it is "absurd" to rely on the generosity of billionaires to help with the coronavirus crisis.
Asked he would act differently, he said: “You listen to the scientists; you don’t say stupid things.”
Andrew Buncombe was watching.
Bernie ventured onto Fox News last night for a town hall event as he seeks to kickstart his campaign today, arguing that his positions are far from radical or to be feared by the network's right-wing audience and that it is "absurd" to rely on the generosity of billionaires to help with the coronavirus crisis.
While he found time to say hello to the president – “Donald, you’re probably watching. How are you?” – he also attacked him over his handling of the crisis.
“Sadly, we have an administration in Washington that has shown the world that it does not believe in science,” he said. “When you appoint vice president [Mike] Pence, an individual who also doesn’t much believe in science, what you’re telling the whole world is that you’re politicising this issue.”
Asked he would act differently, he said: “You listen to the scientists; you don’t say stupid things.”
Andrew Buncombe was watching.
President vows 'major' steps to aid US economy
Trump said yesterday he will be taking "major" steps to gird the economy against the impact of the spreading coronavirus outbreak and will discuss a payroll tax cut with congressional Republicans on Tuesday.
"We'll be discussing a possible payroll tax cut or relief, substantial relief, very substantial relief, that's a big number," Trump told reporters.
House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer told reporters that any payroll tax cut should be limited to those affected by the virus.
They also said they are crafting new legislation, on the heels of $8.3bn (£6.4bn) coronavirus funding enacted last week, that might be ready to be introduced this week.
Among proposals that could be included are ensuring water supplies are maintained for people even if they cannot pay their bills as a result of the crisis, expanded unemployment insurance, medical leave and providing food for children who rely on school nutrition programs if schools are shut.
Vice president Pence said the administration was consulting Congress on providing paid sick leave to workers, an idea that Democrats already have been trying to advance.
The stepped-up response to the coronavirus came as the number of confirmed cases in the United States hit 605, according to Johns Hopkins University. Three additional deaths in Washington state, according to officials, brought the total nationwide to 25.
Earlier on Monday, Johns Hopkins said that worldwide, there are 113,584 cases, with 3,996 deaths, the majority in China.
The Trump administration moves came as stock markets plunged and top health officials urged some people to avoid cruise ships, air travel and big public gatherings.
The administration was planning to huddle in coming days with executives of the banking, hospital and health insurance industries.
While an across-the-board payroll tax cut has been under discussion, top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow and others have advocated specific tax credits, loans or direct subsidies to certain industries or hard-hit areas.
A payroll tax cut could encourage consumer spending and help households that might otherwise struggle to make rent and mortgage payments on time or pay medical bills if family members' work hours are reduced during the coronavirus outbreak.
All of which is all very well, but the president's lacklustre response is still not inspiring confidence among Americans, with tweets like this hardly helping matters.
John T Bennett has this report on anxiety spreading faster than the virus itself.
Trump said yesterday he will be taking "major" steps to gird the economy against the impact of the spreading coronavirus outbreak and will discuss a payroll tax cut with congressional Republicans on Tuesday.
"We'll be discussing a possible payroll tax cut or relief, substantial relief, very substantial relief, that's a big number," Trump told reporters.
House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer told reporters that any payroll tax cut should be limited to those affected by the virus.
They also said they are crafting new legislation, on the heels of $8.3bn (£6.4bn) coronavirus funding enacted last week, that might be ready to be introduced this week.
Among proposals that could be included are ensuring water supplies are maintained for people even if they cannot pay their bills as a result of the crisis, expanded unemployment insurance, medical leave and providing food for children who rely on school nutrition programs if schools are shut.
Vice president Pence said the administration was consulting Congress on providing paid sick leave to workers, an idea that Democrats already have been trying to advance.
The stepped-up response to the coronavirus came as the number of confirmed cases in the United States hit 605, according to Johns Hopkins University. Three additional deaths in Washington state, according to officials, brought the total nationwide to 25.
Earlier on Monday, Johns Hopkins said that worldwide, there are 113,584 cases, with 3,996 deaths, the majority in China.
The Trump administration moves came as stock markets plunged and top health officials urged some people to avoid cruise ships, air travel and big public gatherings.
The administration was planning to huddle in coming days with executives of the banking, hospital and health insurance industries.
While an across-the-board payroll tax cut has been under discussion, top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow and others have advocated specific tax credits, loans or direct subsidies to certain industries or hard-hit areas.
A payroll tax cut could encourage consumer spending and help households that might otherwise struggle to make rent and mortgage payments on time or pay medical bills if family members' work hours are reduced during the coronavirus outbreak.
All of which is all very well, but the president's lacklustre response is still not inspiring confidence among Americans, with tweets like this hardly helping matters.
John T Bennett has this report on anxiety spreading faster than the virus itself.
Trump administration orders immigration judges to remove CDC posters aimed at slowing outbreak
The National Association of Immigration Judges has recommended that coronavirus advice posters from the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) be posted in US court buildings – only to be ordered by a government office to take them down.
The incident comes just a week after an immigration judge retired while claiming the Trump administration was turning the immigration courts into a “politburo rubber stamp” and the government’s immigration policies have been accused of potentially hastening the spread of coronavirus by scaring immigrants into dropping their health insurance.
Andrew Naughtie has more on this.
The National Association of Immigration Judges has recommended that coronavirus advice posters from the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) be posted in US court buildings – only to be ordered by a government office to take them down.
The incident comes just a week after an immigration judge retired while claiming the Trump administration was turning the immigration courts into a “politburo rubber stamp” and the government’s immigration policies have been accused of potentially hastening the spread of coronavirus by scaring immigrants into dropping their health insurance.
Andrew Naughtie has more on this.
'We need the Wall more than ever!'
It's 7.15am in DC right now and Trump is (presumably) sitting up in bed as he jabs out paranoid retweets, from 2016 Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein attacking Biden and from alt-activist Charlie Kirk.
The president is using the latter to make a renewed case for his laughable US-Mexico border wall and to somehow blame all of this on Barack Obama.
It's 7.15am in DC right now and Trump is (presumably) sitting up in bed as he jabs out paranoid retweets, from 2016 Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein attacking Biden and from alt-activist Charlie Kirk.
The president is using the latter to make a renewed case for his laughable US-Mexico border wall and to somehow blame all of this on Barack Obama.
Mike Pence reveals he has not been tested and says he will find out if Trump has
John T Bennett has more here on the palace intrigue swirling around DC about the potential spread of the coronavirus among the top tiers of the Trump administration.
Pence - overseeing the crisis task force despite being no friend to medical science - says he has not been tested while his boss simply dodged a question on it yesterday.
John T Bennett has more here on the palace intrigue swirling around DC about the potential spread of the coronavirus among the top tiers of the Trump administration.
Pence - overseeing the crisis task force despite being no friend to medical science - says he has not been tested while his boss simply dodged a question on it yesterday.
Republican Matt Gaetz placed in quarantine days after ‘mocking’ measures to combat outbreak
Conrad Duncan has this on the humbling of a Trump apologist and self-parodying frat boy.
Conrad Duncan has this on the humbling of a Trump apologist and self-parodying frat boy.
Trump obsesses over TV ratings and bizarrely starts referring to himself in quotation marks
The latest tweets from the president again find him descending into self-parody and taking the fight to English grammar.
Does he now consider himself an ironic abstract concept, rather than a living breathing human being?
He's also been busy accusing Britain's own dear Daily Mail of "Fake News!!" so even a stopped clock etc.
The latest tweets from the president again find him descending into self-parody and taking the fight to English grammar.
Does he now consider himself an ironic abstract concept, rather than a living breathing human being?
He's also been busy accusing Britain's own dear Daily Mail of "Fake News!!" so even a stopped clock etc.
White House officials ‘privately discussing declaration of national state of emergency’
Trump administration aides have had preliminary talks about calling a national emergency over the coronavirus, which would allow disaster-level action to be taken by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, The Washington Post reports this morning.
Rory Sullivan has more on this.
Trump administration aides have had preliminary talks about calling a national emergency over the coronavirus, which would allow disaster-level action to be taken by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, The Washington Post reports this morning.
Rory Sullivan has more on this.
Stock markets rebound as Trump pledges tax cut after Black Monday
Ben Chapman has the latest on the market response to the coronavirus and Trump's latest pronouncements as European stocks rebounded this morning after a rout on Monday that saw £124bn wiped off the combined value of FTSE 100 companies.
The UK’s blue-chip index of large firms rose two per cent in early trading to 6,086.76, erasing some of the previous day’s plunge – the index’s worst since the 2008 financial crisis.
Ben Chapman has the latest on the market response to the coronavirus and Trump's latest pronouncements as European stocks rebounded this morning after a rout on Monday that saw £124bn wiped off the combined value of FTSE 100 companies.
The UK’s blue-chip index of large firms rose two per cent in early trading to 6,086.76, erasing some of the previous day’s plunge – the index’s worst since the 2008 financial crisis.
Super Bernie World game lets players stomp on Trump supporters in 8-bit
“After you enjoy this game, please support the candidate of your choice in the real world,” the message continues. “VOTE!”
Louis Chilton has more on this.
A new video game has been created which lets players control Bernie Sanders and jump on the heads of his Trump-supporting enemies. Called Super Bernie World, the free-to-play platforming game is designed in the style of the iconic Super Mario games.
According to a message at the start of the game, Super Bernie World ”is designed to get out the vote! Newsworthy persons are portrayed and their actual statements are provided to help educate voters and inspire political action.”
“After you enjoy this game, please support the candidate of your choice in the real world,” the message continues. “VOTE!”
Louis Chilton has more on this.
How Joe Biden is cutting down on gaffes on the campaign trail
As Biden leads the race heading into the next set of primary votes today, he has unleashed a rarely used weapon in what has become a two-man battle for the Democratic presidential nomination: Brevity.
His campaign event in St Louis clocked in at about seven minutes on Saturday. A short time later, at a windswept event in Kansas City, people were streaming towards their cars after Biden wrapped up in 12 minutes. His longest speech of the weekend, in the gym of Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi, didn't quite make 15 minutes.
The tactic represents a seismic shift for Biden who in five decades of political office and three White House runs has never had a reputation for breviloquence. It's a habit perhaps nurtured in the Senate, which prides itself on limitless debate and has a special term - filibuster - for talking endlessly.
As Biden leads the race heading into the next set of primary votes today, he has unleashed a rarely used weapon in what has become a two-man battle for the Democratic presidential nomination: Brevity.
His campaign event in St Louis clocked in at about seven minutes on Saturday. A short time later, at a windswept event in Kansas City, people were streaming towards their cars after Biden wrapped up in 12 minutes. His longest speech of the weekend, in the gym of Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi, didn't quite make 15 minutes.
The tactic represents a seismic shift for Biden who in five decades of political office and three White House runs has never had a reputation for breviloquence. It's a habit perhaps nurtured in the Senate, which prides itself on limitless debate and has a special term - filibuster - for talking endlessly.
First lady cancels Beverly Hills fundraiser but denies coronavirus the reason
Melania Trump has canceled a California fundraiser set for later this month.
Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's spokeswoman, cited an unspecified "scheduling conflict" as the reason on Monday. The cancellation comes as organisations and groups around the country are scrapping large gatherings amid an outbreak of the new coronavirus.
Her husband's re-election campaign had been asking supporters to make a donation for a chance to meet the first lady in California.
"Win a trip to meet first lady Melania Trump in Beverly Hills," campaign literature said. A date for the event was not included, though it was believed to have been set for mid-March.
Mrs Trump will go ahead with plans to deliver remarks Tuesday at the National PTA Legislative Conference in Alexandria, Virginia, Grisham said.
President Trump, meanwhile, headlined a $4m (£3.1m) fundraiser on Monday at a private home in the Orlando, Florida, area.
Melania Trump has canceled a California fundraiser set for later this month.
Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's spokeswoman, cited an unspecified "scheduling conflict" as the reason on Monday. The cancellation comes as organisations and groups around the country are scrapping large gatherings amid an outbreak of the new coronavirus.
Her husband's re-election campaign had been asking supporters to make a donation for a chance to meet the first lady in California.
(Drew Angerer/Getty)
"Win a trip to meet first lady Melania Trump in Beverly Hills," campaign literature said. A date for the event was not included, though it was believed to have been set for mid-March.
Mrs Trump will go ahead with plans to deliver remarks Tuesday at the National PTA Legislative Conference in Alexandria, Virginia, Grisham said.
President Trump, meanwhile, headlined a $4m (£3.1m) fundraiser on Monday at a private home in the Orlando, Florida, area.
Trump’s surgeon general ridiculed for claiming president is healthy ‘despite rarely sleeping’
US surgeon general Jerome Adams appeared on CNN's State of the Union over the weekend and entirely failed to convince with some wild claims about the president's allegedly exceptional health.
Andrew Naughtie has this report.
US surgeon general Jerome Adams appeared on CNN's State of the Union over the weekend and entirely failed to convince with some wild claims about the president's allegedly exceptional health.
Andrew Naughtie has this report.
'Team Trump is backing Bernie as a joke - it might backfire'
For Indy Voices, Jay Caruso has this warning for Magaworld on the very real threat posed by the Vermont senator.
For Indy Voices, Jay Caruso has this warning for Magaworld on the very real threat posed by the Vermont senator.
Trump offers Democratic primaries forecast and resumes scapegoating long-suffering Federal Reserve chairman
In the last hour, the president has been back on Twitter predicting "a BAD day for Crazy Bernie", claiming to care about the public's health while promoting a sychopant's attack on the media, trailing a White House ceremony to award Fox pundit General Jack Keane with the Medal of Freedom and again rollicking Jay Powell over the fluctuating economy.
Here's John T Bennett on all the president's posts.
In the last hour, the president has been back on Twitter predicting "a BAD day for Crazy Bernie", claiming to care about the public's health while promoting a sychopant's attack on the media, trailing a White House ceremony to award Fox pundit General Jack Keane with the Medal of Freedom and again rollicking Jay Powell over the fluctuating economy.
Here's John T Bennett on all the president's posts.
Trump accused of playing down coronavirus threat to protect hotel interests
The real reason the president is insisting on downplaying the threat of the coronavirus? To protect his hotels, say his (many enemies).
"If there is any public health shutdown of restaurants, conventions and meetings, that will impact his property and his finances," says Kathleen Clark, an ethics lawyer at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis and frequent critic of Trump. "I think a reasonable person can conclude that he is motivated by personal interests."
Clark Mindock has a great deal more where that came from.
The real reason the president is insisting on downplaying the threat of the coronavirus? To protect his hotels, say his (many enemies).
"If there is any public health shutdown of restaurants, conventions and meetings, that will impact his property and his finances," says Kathleen Clark, an ethics lawyer at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis and frequent critic of Trump. "I think a reasonable person can conclude that he is motivated by personal interests."
Clark Mindock has a great deal more where that came from.
