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Coronavirus US live: Trump says US will stop sending money to WHO Coronavirus US live: Trump says US will stop funding World Heath Organization, then backtracks
(32 minutes later)
President claims World Health Organization ‘blew it’, though he initially downplayed crisis President claims WHO ‘blew it’ after downplaying crisis himself
Fact check: hydroxychloroquine
Trump loves to tout hydroxychloroquine. Last week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided the drug with an “emergency use authorization” to use on coronavirus patients in some circumstances. State officials in New York have said that about 4,000 seriously ill patients are now being treated with the drug. But experts say it’s too early to call it a cure.
What is hydroxychloroquine?
Hydroxychloroquine, also known by its brand name, Plaquenil, is a drug used to treat malaria. It is a less toxic version of chloroquine, another malaria drug, which itself is related to quinine, an ingredient in tonic water.
It is also readily available to Americans – already approved as a malaria and anti-inflammation treatment by the FDA – where it is an off-the-shelf drug with various low-cost generic versions. Despite the emergency use order, the FDA has not conducted clinical trials to fully ascertain whether the drug is an effective treatment for Covid-19.
Why is Trump touting it?
Trump was influenced by a widely publicized study in France where 40 coronavirus patients were given hydroxychloroquine, with more than half experiencing the clearing of their airways within three to six days. This apparent improvement is important as it would curtail the timeframe in which infected people could spread Covid-19 to others.
However, experts have warned that the study is small and lacks sufficient rigor to be classed as evidence of a potential treatment. The French health ministry has warned against the use of hydroxychloroquine for Covid-19, with Olivier Véran, France’s health minister, saying that it shouldn’t be used by anyone with the exception of “serious forms of hospitalization and on the collegial decision of doctors and under strict medical supervision”.
Trump is again touting hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, which has not yet been proven effective against the coronavirus.
The repeated a story about a Democratic state lawmaker who credits hydroxychloroquine and Trump for her recovery from Covid-19. “I really think it’s a great thing to try, just based on what I know,” he said. “Again, I’m not a doctor. Get a physician’s approval.”
Here’s more on that state representative, from the Detroit Free Press:
“Mail ballots are a very dangerous thing for this country,” the president said. The ballots are “forgeries in many cases - it’s a horrible thing,” he added, citing no evidence to back the claim.
Trump himself voted by mail — in March.
Fact check: Travel restrictions
Trump took credit for “closing down the borders” to China, and then later to Europe. In fact, he placed restrictions on travel from China but did not totally close it down, as he has repeatedly claimed. Trump also touted his decision to restrict travel from Europe to the US, but the initial order included only 26 countries that are part of the Schengen Area. He later added Ireland the UK but the restrictions still excluded a number of European countries.
Contradicting what he said just minutes ago, Trump is now denying that he’s saying the US will strop funding the WHO. “No I didn’t say it,” he said. “I said I’d look at it.
“They did give us some pretty bad play-calling,” Trump said of the WHO. “They’re taking a lot of heat.” Moreover, “social media” suggested to him that the organization was biased toward China, the president claimed.
Trump said he had “no role” in Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly’s resignation. “I would not have asked him,” the president said. “He didn’t have to resign but he felt it would be better for the country.”
Modly resigned after leaked audio revealed he called the former commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt “too naive or too stupid” to be in charge, in an address to the ship’s crew.
Captain Brett Crozier, the former commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, had sent a memo warning that coronavirus spreading among the crew. After the memo leaked, Modly fired Crozier.
Trump’s take? Crozier shouldn’t have written a letter, because “he’s not Ernest Hemingway”.
The president announced that the US will stop sending money to the World Health Organization, even as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Finding a scapegoat, the president blamed the WHO for the crisis, noting that they “blew it”.The president announced that the US will stop sending money to the World Health Organization, even as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Finding a scapegoat, the president blamed the WHO for the crisis, noting that they “blew it”.
“They called it wrong. They called it wrong,” Trump said. “They missed the call. They could’ve called it months earlier.”“They called it wrong. They called it wrong,” Trump said. “They missed the call. They could’ve called it months earlier.”
Trump repeatedly downplayed the crisis even after the WHO “called it” a pandemic.Trump repeatedly downplayed the crisis even after the WHO “called it” a pandemic.
Fact check: GovernorsFact check: Governors
Trump claimed that he’s getting along swimmingly with the nation’s governors. But that is a rosy read of the relationship.Trump claimed that he’s getting along swimmingly with the nation’s governors. But that is a rosy read of the relationship.
For weeks, governors have pleaded with the administration to do more, walking a fine line as they criticize what the view is a chaotic federal response while also trying not to alienate the famously prickly president. “If they had started in February building ventilators, getting ready for this pandemic, we would not have the problems we are having today and, frankly, very many fewer people would die,” Illinois governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, said on CNN’s State of the Union on SundayFor weeks, governors have pleaded with the administration to do more, walking a fine line as they criticize what the view is a chaotic federal response while also trying not to alienate the famously prickly president. “If they had started in February building ventilators, getting ready for this pandemic, we would not have the problems we are having today and, frankly, very many fewer people would die,” Illinois governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, said on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday
Context: Coronavirus and racial disparitiesContext: Coronavirus and racial disparities
Addressing the impact of coronavirus on Black communities, Dr. Anthony Fauci said that “we’ve known literally forever that diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity and asthma are disproportionately affecting minority populations, especially the African Americans.”Addressing the impact of coronavirus on Black communities, Dr. Anthony Fauci said that “we’ve known literally forever that diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity and asthma are disproportionately affecting minority populations, especially the African Americans.”
Those underlying conditions put people at greater risk for complications from coronavirus. “There’s nothing we can do about it right now,” Fauci said.Those underlying conditions put people at greater risk for complications from coronavirus. “There’s nothing we can do about it right now,” Fauci said.
What the top health official didn’t get into were the reasons why people of color are at greater risk - which include a lack of access to health care, especially preventative care, and the “weathering” effect of facing racism. Federal officials could, of course, make it easier for people to access healthcare, right now. But the Trump administration has resisted reopening the public health exchanges to allow the uninsured to get health insurance.What the top health official didn’t get into were the reasons why people of color are at greater risk - which include a lack of access to health care, especially preventative care, and the “weathering” effect of facing racism. Federal officials could, of course, make it easier for people to access healthcare, right now. But the Trump administration has resisted reopening the public health exchanges to allow the uninsured to get health insurance.
Donald Trump said he knows “for a fact” that other countries have more coronavirus cases, but are reporting misleading or wrong numbers, without providing any evidence to back up the claim.Donald Trump said he knows “for a fact” that other countries have more coronavirus cases, but are reporting misleading or wrong numbers, without providing any evidence to back up the claim.
“When you look at some of these large countries, I know for a fact they have more cases than we do but they don’t report them,” Trump said.“When you look at some of these large countries, I know for a fact they have more cases than we do but they don’t report them,” Trump said.
“There’s been great coordination, especially over the last little while” between the federal government and states, Trump said. But, he added, “if you have a governor that’s failing, we’re going to protect you.”“There’s been great coordination, especially over the last little while” between the federal government and states, Trump said. But, he added, “if you have a governor that’s failing, we’re going to protect you.”
“We pray for Prime Minister Boris Johnson,” Trump said. “He’s going through a lot.“We pray for Prime Minister Boris Johnson,” Trump said. “He’s going through a lot.
Johnson has “always been very good to us,” he added. “We appreciate it.”Johnson has “always been very good to us,” he added. “We appreciate it.”
Senior administration official Seema Varma and Dr Deborah Birx have joined the president today.
Utah representative Ben McAdams is reportedly doing better, after contracting the coronavirus.
Hi there, it’s Maanvi, blogging from the West Coast.
We’re awaiting a coronavirus briefing at 5:30. We’ll be fact-checking and contextualizing the president’s claims throughout, as usual. In the meantime, here’s a little pre-debate fact-check. During a meeting on small business relief, Donald Trump claimed that his daughter Ivanka Trump created 15m jobs. Per Vox’s Ian Millhiser, that would amount to about 10% of all American jobs.
Billionaire tech executive Jack Dorsey explained his decision to commit $1 billion in stocks to supporting coronavirus relief in a series of tweets.
“Why now?” wrote Dorsey, who is the CEO of two public companies, Twitter and Square. “The needs are increasingly urgent, and I want to see the impact in my lifetime. I hope this inspires others to do something similar. Life is too short, so let’s do everything we can today to help people now. ”
Dorsey is not making a straightforward donation. Instead, he is planning to transfer $1bn in Square stock to Start Small LLC, a limited liability corporation that he established in 2015 to house his charitable work. LLCs are not subject to the same disclosure requirements that tax-exempt charitable donations are, but Dorsey also published a Google spreadsheet that he said would be used to disclose all of his grants. Dorsey said the structure “provides flexibility.”
The first donation on the spreadsheet is a $100,000 gift to America’s Food Fund, which has raised more than $13m on GoFundMe to combat hunger in the US.
That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
Acting navy secretary Thomas Modly resigned over insulting comments he made about Captain Brett Crozier, the commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt who raised concerns about the spread of coronavirus on the ship.
Trump removed a Pentagon official tapped to oversee the coronavirus relief effort from his post. Acting Pentagon inspector general Glenn Fine was supposed to oversee implementation of the $2 trillion coronavirus bill, but an agency spokesperson confirmed he is no longer in the role.
New York reported the largest single-day increase in its coronavirus death toll yet. The state has recorded 5,489 deaths linked to the virus, up from 4,758 a day earlier, governor Andrew Cuomo announced at his daily briefing today.
The White House announced an overhaul of its communications team. Press secretary Stephanie Grisham is returning to the first lady’s staff after never having held a single White House briefing in more than nine months. She will be replaced by Kayleigh McEnany, who currently serves as a spokesperson for Trump’s reelection campaign.
Congress is seeking to allocate additional funds to the small business loan program established by the stimulus package. Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said he would ask Congress to add $250 billion to the program, which was originally given $350 billion under the stimulus package passed last month.
Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Trump said he would discuss Peter Navarro’s January memo warning of a potential coronavirus pandemic at his press conference today.
“I know all about it,” Trump said of the memo, which was first reported on by Axios and the New York Times last night. “We’ll talk about it at the press conference,” Trump added.
In the memo, Navarro, Trump’s told trade adviser, reportedly warned that the coronavirus outbreak had the potential to turn into a pandemic, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans and devastating the US economy.
The memo’s existence undermines claims from Trump and many of his advisers that the administration was not properly warned about the potential impact of the virus.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said he would commit $1 billion of his wealth to helping coronavirus relief efforts.
The financial commitment appears to be the largest one yet from a billionaire, although a number of the world’s wealthiest people have donated funds to various coronavirus relief efforts.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, for example, donated $100 million to food banks helping with the crisis, but he has faced criticism over how he has treated his own workers as demand for Amazon products has increased amid the pandemic.
Some Wisconsin voters are saying they never received their absentee ballots for today’s primary, despite requesting them before the deadline.
Without an absentee ballot, voters are left with an unappealing choice between going to an in-person polling site and not voting at all, increasing the likelihood that many people will be disenfranchised.
Sam Levine reports:
Wisconsin state House speaker Robin Vos assured voters they are “incredibly safe to go out,” but the Republican leader undermined that message somewhat by making it while covered in personal protective equipment.
Vos and the Republican majority leader of the state Senate challenged Democratic governor Tony Evers’ executive order to cancel in-person voting for today’s election, an order that was later blocked by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Some voters in Milwaukee are reporting wait times of up to two hours today after all but five of the city’s polling sites were closed after poll workers quit over concerns about coronavirus.
Defense secretary Mark Esper has accepted acting Navy secretary Thomas Modly’s resignation, according to a CNN reporter.
Esper reportedly pressured Modly to apologize after the acting Navy secretary said Captain Brett Crozier was “too naive or too stupid” to command a ship if he thought his letter raising concerns about the spread of coronavirus wouldn’t be leaked.
Modly issued a statement apologizing last night after initially standing by his original comments.