The federal government will be making payments to Americans who were cut from their jobs because of the coronavirus, according to President Trump.
“For the people that are now out of work because of the important and necessary containment policies, for instance the shutting down of hotels, bars and restaurants, money will soon be coming to you,” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. “The onslaught of the Chinese Virus is not your fault! Will be stronger than ever!”
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For the people that are now out of work because of the important and necessary containment policies, for instance the shutting down of hotels, bars and restaurants, money will soon be coming to you. The onslaught of the Chinese Virus is not your fault! Will be stronger than ever!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
Congress has been working on a funding package to address the economic damage the coronavirus has caused. Several legislators have floated giving Americans cash to stimulate the economy and help those who were displaced, including Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, who suggested giving every adult $1,000.
Trump noted that he would be holding another press conference with officials from the Food and Drug Administration later in the day on Wednesday as part of his continued updates surrounding the coronavirus.
The president also responded to critics who have claimed he waited too long to take the pandemic seriously. He tweeted, “I always treated the Chinese Virus very seriously, and have done a very good job from the beginning, including my very early decision to close the “borders” from China – against the wishes of almost all. Many lives were saved. The Fake News new narrative is disgraceful & false!”
I always treated the Chinese Virus very seriously, and have done a very good job from the beginning, including my very early decision to close the “borders” from China – against the wishes of almost all. Many lives were saved. The Fake News new narrative is disgraceful & false!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
Trump’s remarks about the press broke from a statement he made on Monday when he claimed that coverage of the pandemic had been “very fair.”
As of Wednesday morning, nearly 6,500 Americans had tested positive for the coronavirus and more than 100 had died after contracting COVID-19. Globally, more than 200,000 have tested positive for the coronavirus and more than 8,000 have died from the virus. More than 82,000 have fully recovered after testing positive for the illness since the outbreak first began in Wuhan, China, in December.
