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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/mar/25/coronavirus-us-live-trump-news-stimulus-package-deal-senate
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Trump praises Senate stimulus deal and attacks US media – as it happened | Trump praises Senate stimulus deal and attacks US media – as it happened |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Trump said he will sign stimulus package ‘immediately’ | Trump said he will sign stimulus package ‘immediately’ |
Live coverage of the coronavirus in the US and American politics continues on Thursday’s blog: | |
Donald Trump continued to fixate on the idea that the country could scale back distancing measures within a fortnight, even as his top public health official, Anthony Fauci, signaled that the virus could be seasonal and resurge even after it abates. | Donald Trump continued to fixate on the idea that the country could scale back distancing measures within a fortnight, even as his top public health official, Anthony Fauci, signaled that the virus could be seasonal and resurge even after it abates. |
Senate leaders struggled to smooth over last-minute snags as they rush to pass a $2.2tn emergency relief package. Republican senators complained that the bill’s expansion of unemployment benefits would allow some to make more money on unemployment than they would if they were working. The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, signaled that Congress would pass the bill, but the logistics of how remained unclear, especially with several representatives under quarantine. | Senate leaders struggled to smooth over last-minute snags as they rush to pass a $2.2tn emergency relief package. Republican senators complained that the bill’s expansion of unemployment benefits would allow some to make more money on unemployment than they would if they were working. The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, signaled that Congress would pass the bill, but the logistics of how remained unclear, especially with several representatives under quarantine. |
New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, signaled early signs that physical distancing measures were working. But the number of cases and deaths in New York are continuing to mount. | New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, signaled early signs that physical distancing measures were working. But the number of cases and deaths in New York are continuing to mount. |
A Democratic debate in April looks unlikely. Though Joe Biden appears to be the presumptive nominee, Bernie Sanders is remaining in the race. | A Democratic debate in April looks unlikely. Though Joe Biden appears to be the presumptive nominee, Bernie Sanders is remaining in the race. |
More than 1m Californians filed for unemployment. Last week, the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, asked residents to shelter in place, businesses to close down unless they provide essential services. | More than 1m Californians filed for unemployment. Last week, the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, asked residents to shelter in place, businesses to close down unless they provide essential services. |
Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran in 2007, died in Iranian custody, according to a statement from his family. | Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran in 2007, died in Iranian custody, according to a statement from his family. |
The statement said Levinson’s family received the news from US officials but did not know how or when he died, only that his death preceded the coronavirus outbreak that has ravaged Iran. | The statement said Levinson’s family received the news from US officials but did not know how or when he died, only that his death preceded the coronavirus outbreak that has ravaged Iran. |
“It is impossible to describe our pain,” the statement said. “If not for the cruel, heartless actions of the Iranian regime, Robert Levinson would be alive and home with us today. It has been 13 years waiting for answers.” | “It is impossible to describe our pain,” the statement said. “If not for the cruel, heartless actions of the Iranian regime, Robert Levinson would be alive and home with us today. It has been 13 years waiting for answers.” |
The family added they did not know if or when his body would be returned. | The family added they did not know if or when his body would be returned. |
Joe Biden is hosting a happy hour video chat, on issues facing young people. He doesn’t drink, he said – but he’d poured himself a cup of Gatorade. | Joe Biden is hosting a happy hour video chat, on issues facing young people. He doesn’t drink, he said – but he’d poured himself a cup of Gatorade. |
Asked what his guilty pleasure is, he said ice cream. but “after all these years, being known for Ray-Bans and ice cream is pretty dull”, he joked. | Asked what his guilty pleasure is, he said ice cream. but “after all these years, being known for Ray-Bans and ice cream is pretty dull”, he joked. |
His real guilty pleasure is driving his “’67 Corvette that’s been rebuilt”. The only thing he doesn’t like about having Secret Service protection these days is “I can’t drive my fast cars anymore.” | His real guilty pleasure is driving his “’67 Corvette that’s been rebuilt”. The only thing he doesn’t like about having Secret Service protection these days is “I can’t drive my fast cars anymore.” |
Top public health official Anthony Fauci said that the coronavirus could be seasonal and cyclical. | Top public health official Anthony Fauci said that the coronavirus could be seasonal and cyclical. |
“I know we’ll be successful in putting this down now. But we really need to be prepared for another cycle,” he said. | “I know we’ll be successful in putting this down now. But we really need to be prepared for another cycle,” he said. |
New York counties remain the most impacted by coronavirus, said Deborah Birx, the physician coordinating the White House coronavirus response. She encouraged New York residents who had traveled elsewhere to continue to self-isolate. | New York counties remain the most impacted by coronavirus, said Deborah Birx, the physician coordinating the White House coronavirus response. She encouraged New York residents who had traveled elsewhere to continue to self-isolate. |
“We have a role to protect one another,” she said. “To every American out there, when you protect yourself, you protect everyone else.” | “We have a role to protect one another,” she said. “To every American out there, when you protect yourself, you protect everyone else.” |
She referenced her grandmother who brought home a flu infection to her mother, who died in the 1918 pandemic. “For 88 years she lived with the fact that at age 11 brought home the flu to her mother,” Birx said. “She never forgot.” | She referenced her grandmother who brought home a flu infection to her mother, who died in the 1918 pandemic. “For 88 years she lived with the fact that at age 11 brought home the flu to her mother,” Birx said. “She never forgot.” |
The president remained fixated on how quickly he could get the country back to work. | The president remained fixated on how quickly he could get the country back to work. |
“It’s time. People want to get back to work,” he said, signaling that the administration would issue guidance in the coming fortnight. “I want to get our country back,” he said. | “It’s time. People want to get back to work,” he said, signaling that the administration would issue guidance in the coming fortnight. “I want to get our country back,” he said. |
He reassured reporters that he would heed the advice of public health officials. “I’m not going to do anything rash or hastily,” he said. “I don’t do that.” | He reassured reporters that he would heed the advice of public health officials. “I’m not going to do anything rash or hastily,” he said. “I don’t do that.” |
But he continued to negotiate what would be possible, musing that perhaps the US could have its cake and eat it, too — maintaining social distance while sending people back to work. | But he continued to negotiate what would be possible, musing that perhaps the US could have its cake and eat it, too — maintaining social distance while sending people back to work. |
“They’re not going to walk around hugging and kissing each other in the office when they come back,” he said. “Even though they may feel like it.” | “They’re not going to walk around hugging and kissing each other in the office when they come back,” he said. “Even though they may feel like it.” |
Trump repeated some of his favorite lines about a “big beautiful wall” and complained about Nato countries. His coronavirus briefings are beginning to look increasingly like his 2020 campaign rallies. | Trump repeated some of his favorite lines about a “big beautiful wall” and complained about Nato countries. His coronavirus briefings are beginning to look increasingly like his 2020 campaign rallies. |
“We don’t have to test the entire state in the Middle West,” Trump said, suggesting that areas of the country were barely affected. “I think it’s ridiculous.” | “We don’t have to test the entire state in the Middle West,” Trump said, suggesting that areas of the country were barely affected. “I think it’s ridiculous.” |
Public health experts said that the surest way out of the pandemic is to test widely and to continue social distancing measures. | Public health experts said that the surest way out of the pandemic is to test widely and to continue social distancing measures. |