Trump news: President doubles down on support of controversial drug as Fauci sits out coronavirus briefing amid tensions with White House
President defies health officials as he urges to open economy as it nears end of two-week shutdown
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
The US now has the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, as New York mayor Bill de Blasio implores Donald Trump for more federal assistance and warns that the city’s 11 public hospitals only have enough medical supplies to last for the next week.
The Senate reached yet another stalemate over a $2trn (£1.7trn) economic stimulus package on Monday after Democrats have argued that the Republican-led bill amounts to a “slush fund” for the president and his corporate allies in its present form.
Republican majority leader Mitch McConnell hit back, saying that “our nation cannot afford a game of chicken" as both sides moved to reassure the public that they are “very close” to coming to an agreement on the bailout.
The president has meanwhile continued to push to re-open the US from its effective shutdown within weeks, rather than months, as the White House approaches the end of a 15-day shuttering next week.
He said: "Our country wasn't built to be shut down."
After arguing that business as usual should continue in the coming weeks to keep the economy moving, he said that doctors in his administration haven't "endorsed" easing those restrictions but he claimed "they're OK with it".
Asked whether any health officials agree that guidelines should be eased within a week, the president said: "If it were up to the doctors, they may say, 'Let's keep it shut down. Let's shut down the entire world.'"
The president also promoted the use of a controversial drug that will begin trials this week to determine its efficacy combatting the virus. A man in Arizona died after trying to recreate the drug from an aquarium cleaner, days after Mr Trump had contradicted his own health officials in declaring it a "game changer" against the virus.
Follow live coverage as it happened
Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load
Trump urges people 'protect' Asian Americans after reports of racism and violence in wake of coronavirus
Trump: 'Our country wasn't built to be shut down'
Dr Anthony Fauci is missing from another White House briefing on coronavirus, while Donald Trump promotes a controversial drug that has not been proven to combat the virus.
The president said that he intends to "reopen" the US economy by June without assurance that the threat of the virus will have subdued.
"Our country wasn't built to be shut down," he said. "We'll be back in business pretty soon."
Self-tests will be available this week, White House says
Dr Deborah Birx says that self-swabbing coronavirus tests will be available in the US later this week.
Vice President Mike Pence says that 313,000 tests have been completed. Self-collected nasal swabs will "expedite the testing process" and reduce exposure to health workers, he said. He also said it would reduce the use of personal protective equipment.
Dr Birx says that 28 per cent of all coronavirus tests in New York City are coming back positive, whereas only 8 per cent of people being tested in the rest of the US have positive results: "Clearly, the virus had been circulating there for a number of weeks to have this level of penetrance into the general community."
White House promoting '15-day' rule, one week away
Dr Deborah Birx suggests "social distancing" orders will last only one more week, referring to orders to stay away from others to prevent spreading the virus as a "15-day challenge."
Pence also echoed the "15-day period", signaling the administration's eagerness to restart the economy.
The president said "I'm not looking at months" and repeated claims that stalling the economy could be as dangerous as exposure.
Dr Birx said she had a fever over the weekend — the president and Attorney Generally William Barr laughed — but had tested negative for the virus.
Asked whether any health officials agree that guidelines should be eased within a week, the president said: "If it were up to the doctors, they may say, 'Let's keep it shut down. Let's shut down the entire world.'"
Trump on whether doctors support easing guidelines to keep virus at bay: 'I think they're OK with it'
After arguing that business as usual should continue in the coming weeks to keep the economy moving, Donald Trump says that doctors in his administration haven't "endorsed" easing restrictions but he said: "I think they're OK with it, and I'm OK with it."
Asked whether any health officials agree that guidelines should be eased within a week, the president said: "If it were up to the doctors, they may say, 'Let's keep it shut down. Let's shut down the entire world.'"
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies