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Coronavirus US live: Cuomo says Trump is 'spoiling for a fight' over re-opening economy Coronavirus US live: Cuomo says Trump is 'spoiling for a fight' over re-opening economy
(32 minutes later)
New York governor says to Trump: ‘Get past yourself and act responsibly for everyone else’ at daily coronavirus briefingNew York governor says to Trump: ‘Get past yourself and act responsibly for everyone else’ at daily coronavirus briefing
Dr Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease specialist, said he doesn’t think the US is in a position to start reopening its economy. The Senate is not expected to return to session until May 4 at the earliest, majority leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement today.
“As the country continues working together to flatten the curve, following the advice of health experts, the full Senate is not expected to travel back to Washington D.C. sooner than Monday, May 4th,” McConnell said.
House majority leader Steny Hoyer similarly announced yesterday that members would likely not return until May 4 at the earliest.
The delay will help lawmakers observe social distancing guidelines as the Washington metropolitan area sees a surge in coronavirus cases, but it will also make it difficult to pass the next coronavirus relief bill, considering McConnell’s attempt to pass it by unanimous consent failed last week.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said Trump was “spoiling for a fight” on reopening the economy. Cuomo said Trump’s claim that he has “total” authority to reopen the economy was “factually wrong,” and the governor said he would not be pressured into reopening New York’s economy if he thought it would jeopardize public health.
Barack Obama officially endorsed Joe Biden’s presidential bid. Obama said in the widely expected endorsement that his former vice president has “all the qualities we need in a president right now.”
Dr Anthony Fauci said “we’re not there yet” on reopening the economy. The infectious disease expert said that the country needed to develop a better system to quickly identify and isolate coronavirus patients before states could start relaxing stay-at-home orders.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease specialist, said he doesn’t think the US is in a position to start reopening in the next couple of weeks.
Fauci said that May 1 might be “a bit overly optimistic” as a target date to reopen the economy, even as Trump reportedly looks to begin that process by the end of the month.
“We have to have something in place that is efficient and that we can rely on, and we’re not there yet,” Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the AP of the country’s testing capacities.“We have to have something in place that is efficient and that we can rely on, and we’re not there yet,” Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the AP of the country’s testing capacities.
Fauci added that May 1 might be “a bit overly optimistic” as a target date to start reopening the economy, even as Trump reportedly looks to begin that process by the end of the month. Fauci warned that areas will likely see a surge of infections when social distancing guidelines are relaxed, so the country needs to develop a robust testing operation to identify and isolate those new patients.
Fauci warned that areas will likely see a surge of infections when social distancing guidelines are relaxed, so the country needs to develop a robust testing operation to prepare for those new cases.
“I’ll guarantee you, once you start pulling back there will be infections,” Fauci said. “It’s how you deal with the infections that’s going [to] count.”“I’ll guarantee you, once you start pulling back there will be infections,” Fauci said. “It’s how you deal with the infections that’s going [to] count.”
Trump is currently meeting with several people who have recovered from coronavirus, as the president looks to reopen the US economy.Trump is currently meeting with several people who have recovered from coronavirus, as the president looks to reopen the US economy.
When one of the women present for the White House meeting said she was about 85% recovered from the virus, the president jokingly told her to stay away from him.When one of the women present for the White House meeting said she was about 85% recovered from the virus, the president jokingly told her to stay away from him.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo just wrapped up his daily briefing on the state’s response to coronavirus.New York governor Andrew Cuomo just wrapped up his daily briefing on the state’s response to coronavirus.
Here’s some of what he said:Here’s some of what he said:
Cuomo said Trump was “clearly spoiling for a fight” on reopening the economy. Cuomo said Trump’s claim that he has “total” authority to reopen the economy was “factually wrong,” and the governor insisted he would not be drawn into a partisan fight amid a pandemic.Cuomo said Trump was “clearly spoiling for a fight” on reopening the economy. Cuomo said Trump’s claim that he has “total” authority to reopen the economy was “factually wrong,” and the governor insisted he would not be drawn into a partisan fight amid a pandemic.
New York recorded 778 coronavirus deaths yesterday. The figure marks an increase fom Sunday’s death toll, and the state’s total coronavirus death toll has reached 10,834.New York recorded 778 coronavirus deaths yesterday. The figure marks an increase fom Sunday’s death toll, and the state’s total coronavirus death toll has reached 10,834.
Cuomo said he believes New York is at the apex of its crisis. Coronavirus hospitalizations slightly decreasd yesterday, Cuomo said, even as 1,600 new people were admitted to New York hospitals. The small tick down shows more people are being discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus.Cuomo said he believes New York is at the apex of its crisis. Coronavirus hospitalizations slightly decreasd yesterday, Cuomo said, even as 1,600 new people were admitted to New York hospitals. The small tick down shows more people are being discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus.
Nursing homes are an “increasing issue” in the state, Cuomo said. The governor warned that the rate of coronavirus deaths in New York’s nursing homes is higher than that of the state’s hospitals.Nursing homes are an “increasing issue” in the state, Cuomo said. The governor warned that the rate of coronavirus deaths in New York’s nursing homes is higher than that of the state’s hospitals.
Notably, Barack Obama did not mention Trump by name in his endorsement of Joe Biden, but the former president assailed Republicans, saying they are not interested in “progress”, only “power”.Notably, Barack Obama did not mention Trump by name in his endorsement of Joe Biden, but the former president assailed Republicans, saying they are not interested in “progress”, only “power”.
“Repeatedly, they’ve disregarded American principles of rule of law, and voting rights, and transparency – basic norms that previous administrations observed regardless of party – principles that are the bedrock of our democracy,” Obama said. “The other side has a massive war chest. The other side has a propaganda network with little regard for the truth,” he continued. “On the other hand, pandemics have a way of cutting through a lot of noise and spin to remind us of what is real, and what is important.”He signed off by vowing: “I’ll see you on the campaign trail as soon as I can.”“Repeatedly, they’ve disregarded American principles of rule of law, and voting rights, and transparency – basic norms that previous administrations observed regardless of party – principles that are the bedrock of our democracy,” Obama said. “The other side has a massive war chest. The other side has a propaganda network with little regard for the truth,” he continued. “On the other hand, pandemics have a way of cutting through a lot of noise and spin to remind us of what is real, and what is important.”He signed off by vowing: “I’ll see you on the campaign trail as soon as I can.”
Barack Obama has officially endorsed his former vice president, Joe Biden.Barack Obama has officially endorsed his former vice president, Joe Biden.
“Choosing Joe to be my Vice President was one of the best decisions I ever made, and he became a close friend,” the former president said in a 12-minute video published on Tuesday. “And I believe Joe has all the qualities we need in a President right now.”“Choosing Joe to be my Vice President was one of the best decisions I ever made, and he became a close friend,” the former president said in a 12-minute video published on Tuesday. “And I believe Joe has all the qualities we need in a President right now.”
Obama praised Biden’s rivals as “talented and decent”, and said Biden would be a better nominee for having competed in “one of the most impressive Democratic fields ever.”Obama praised Biden’s rivals as “talented and decent”, and said Biden would be a better nominee for having competed in “one of the most impressive Democratic fields ever.”
In his remarks, Obama singled out Bernie Sanders, who he called an “American original.”In his remarks, Obama singled out Bernie Sanders, who he called an “American original.”
“He and I haven’t always agreed on everything, but we’ve always shared a conviction that we have to make America a fairer, more just, more equitable society,” Obama said of Sanders, adding: “The ideas he’s championed; the energy and enthusiasm he inspired, especially in young people, will be critical in moving America in a direction of progress and hope.”Obama also made reference to the criticism of his presidency and agreed that “structural change,” a term popularized by senator Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign, was needed to combat the “vast inequalities created by the new economy”.“He and I haven’t always agreed on everything, but we’ve always shared a conviction that we have to make America a fairer, more just, more equitable society,” Obama said of Sanders, adding: “The ideas he’s championed; the energy and enthusiasm he inspired, especially in young people, will be critical in moving America in a direction of progress and hope.”Obama also made reference to the criticism of his presidency and agreed that “structural change,” a term popularized by senator Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign, was needed to combat the “vast inequalities created by the new economy”.
“If I were running today, I wouldn’t run the same race or have the same platform as I did in 2008,” he said. “The world is different; there’s too much unfinished business for us to just look backwards.”“If I were running today, I wouldn’t run the same race or have the same platform as I did in 2008,” he said. “The world is different; there’s too much unfinished business for us to just look backwards.”
New York governor Andrew Cuomo emphasized he hoped to work with Trump and the federal government in “partnership” and “coordination” to respond to the current crisis.New York governor Andrew Cuomo emphasized he hoped to work with Trump and the federal government in “partnership” and “coordination” to respond to the current crisis.
“I am not going to fight with him,” Cuomo said of the president. “This is no time for any division between the federal government and state governments.”“I am not going to fight with him,” Cuomo said of the president. “This is no time for any division between the federal government and state governments.”
Cuomo noted he has coordinated with other governors from both parties to address the pandemic. “This is not about Democratic or Republican,” Cuomo said. “This is about New York -- 10,000 lives lost. ... Forget the darn politics.”Cuomo noted he has coordinated with other governors from both parties to address the pandemic. “This is not about Democratic or Republican,” Cuomo said. “This is about New York -- 10,000 lives lost. ... Forget the darn politics.”
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said Trump’s claim that he has “total” authoritiy to determine when the economy should reopen is “factually wrong.”New York governor Andrew Cuomo said Trump’s claim that he has “total” authoritiy to determine when the economy should reopen is “factually wrong.”
“That statement cannot stand,” Cuomo said when asked why he decided to push back against the president’s claim, which has been contradicted by constiutional experts.“That statement cannot stand,” Cuomo said when asked why he decided to push back against the president’s claim, which has been contradicted by constiutional experts.
Cuomo noted many other aspects of the Constitution can be debated based on varying interpretations. “This is not one of those things that is ambiguous,” Cuomo said of the power granted to state governments.Cuomo noted many other aspects of the Constitution can be debated based on varying interpretations. “This is not one of those things that is ambiguous,” Cuomo said of the power granted to state governments.
The governor warned Trump’s false claim strikes at the “very concept of democracy.”The governor warned Trump’s false claim strikes at the “very concept of democracy.”
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said Trump’s tweets this morning, including one that referenced the film Mutiny on the Bounty, show the president is “unhappy” with some Democratic governors.New York governor Andrew Cuomo said Trump’s tweets this morning, including one that referenced the film Mutiny on the Bounty, show the president is “unhappy” with some Democratic governors.
“The president is clearly spoiling for a fight on this issue,” Cuomo said of Trump’s efforts to quickly reopen the US economy.“The president is clearly spoiling for a fight on this issue,” Cuomo said of Trump’s efforts to quickly reopen the US economy.
But Cuomo said he would not get bogged down in partisan bickering in the middle of a pandemic. “The president will have no fight with me,” Cuomo said. “I will not engage it.”But Cuomo said he would not get bogged down in partisan bickering in the middle of a pandemic. “The president will have no fight with me,” Cuomo said. “I will not engage it.”
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said Trump does not have “total” authority to reopen the economy, as the persident claimed during his briefing yesterday.
“That is not an accurate statement, in my opinion,” Cuomo said of Trump’s claim, which has been contradicted by constitutional experts.
Cuomo pointed out that the Constitution lays out a system of federalism, balancing power between the federal and state governments.
“We don’t have a king in this country,” Cuomo said. “We didn’t want a king, so we have a Constitution.”
Cuomo said earlier today that he would not be pressured to reopen New York’s economy if he did not think it was safe.
Despite some encouraging signs that New York has reached the apex of its coronavirus crisis, governor Andrew Cuomo announced that 778 New Yorkers died of the virus yesterday.
The state’s total death toll has reached 10,834, far higher than that of any other US state.
Cuomo said the death toll, while devastating, is a “lagging indicator” of how the virus is spreading through the state. The rate of hosptializations is more reflective of new cases.
“We changed the curve,” Cuomo said of New Yorkers’ social distancing practices. “We are changing the curve every day.”
New York saw a small decrease in its coronavirus hospitalizations yesterday, governor Andrew Cuomo announced at his daily briefing.
The governor said the state recorded a “small tick down” in hospitalizations, but the number was basically flat.
Cuomo said the change in hospitalizations was “statistically irrelevant, but better than being up.”
“We think we are at the apex,” Cuomo said, while noting that 1,600 new people came in to New York hospitals yesterday. The decrease is attributed to people recovering from coronavirus and being discharged.
Trump’s reelection campaign dismissed Barack Obama’s anticipated endorsement of Joe Biden, which is expected to come later today.
“Barack Obama spent much of the last five years urging Joe Biden not to run for president out of fear that he would embarrass himself,” Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a statement. “Biden is a bad candidate who will embarrass himself and his party. President Trump will destroy him.”
The New York Times reported in August that Obama had been initially skeptical of Biden’s plans to run, but the former president quickly came around to the idea and even offered some advice before Biden’s campaign launch last year:
Trump compared the current tension between him and some Democratic governors to the movie “Mutiny on the Bounty” in a new tweet.
“Tell the Democrat Governors that ‘Mutiny On The Bounty’ was one of my all time favorite movies. A good old fashioned mutiny every now and then is an exciting and invigorating thing to watch, especially when the mutineers need so much from the Captain,” Trump wrote. “Too easy!”
Trump’s movie reference seems odd, considering the film focuses on a cruel captain who is eventually ousted from command after torturing his crew and causing several deaths.
On Capitol Hill, congresswoman Jennifer Wexton presided over the House’s pro forma session today wearing a hot pink suit that matched her face mask.
The Virginia Democrat’s outfit (and matching protective gear) added a joyful pop of color to this truly surreal era in Washington and across the country.
Joe Biden pushed back against Trump’s claim that he has “total” authority to decide when the US economy will reopen, which is contradicted by the Constitution.
“I am not running for office to be King of America. I respect the Constitution,” Biden said in a tweet, going on to applaud the job many states’ governors are doing to respond to the current crisis.
Many commentators have said that Trump’s claim of having the ability to reopen the economy flies in the face of federalism and the specific powers granted to governors in times of public health emergencies.
Even some Republican lawmakers, including senator Marco Rubio, have specifically said since Trump’s press conference yesterday that decisions about when and how to reopen the economy should be left to the governors.
Trump mocked Andrew Cuomo after the New York governor said he would not be forced to unsafely reopen the state’s economy.
“Cuomo’s been calling daily, even hourly, begging for everything, most of which should have been the state’s responsibility, such as new hospitals, beds, ventilators, etc,” Trump wrote in a tweet. “I got it all done for him, and everyone else, and now he seems to want Independence! That won’t happen!”
In reality, Cuomo has repeatedly asked for more coordination with the Trump administration to address the crisis, and his team has complained that the federal government was “absent” in the early response to the virus.
Trump’s tweet came shortly after Cuomo said in a CNN interview that he would not be pressured to reopen New York’s economy if he thought it would lead to a surge of infections.
“If he ordered me to reopen in a way that would endanger the public health of the people of my state, I wouldn’t do it,” Cuomo said.
That comment was in response to the president saying yesterday that he has “total” authority to reopen the economy, which constitutional experts have contradicted.
Barack Obama intends to endorse Joe Biden in a video statement to be released later today, the Guardian has confirmed with a source close to the former president.
The endorsement will clear the way for Obama, who remains incredibly popular among Democrats, to potentially act as a surrogate for Biden on the campaign trail.
In 2016, while he was still in office, Obama stumped for Hillary Clinton across several battleground states, drawing massive crowds. But the historic campaigning by a sitting president was ultimately not enough to secure a victory for Clinton.
An endorsement from Barack Obama would cap Joe Biden’s stunning comeback in the Democratic presidential primary after the former vice president stumbled in the early contests.
Biden came in fourth in the Iowa caucuses and fifth in the New Hampshire primary before capturing second place in the Nevada caucuses.
By that point, Bernie Sanders had become the undisputed frontrunner in the race, and many Democrats were preparing for a likely Sanders nomination.
But Biden’s landslide victory in South Carolina, followed by a series of Super Tuesday wins a few days later, gave him the delegate lead and the momentum to capture the nomination.