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| Coronavirus US live: Trump threatens to close Congress over 'obstruction' | Coronavirus US live: Trump threatens to close Congress over 'obstruction' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President says lawmakers are blocking his ability to make appointments | President says lawmakers are blocking his ability to make appointments |
| With that, the presser is over. Stand by for more news shortly. | |
| Fact check: Trump says the United States “rarely if ever” won cases at the World Trade Organization before his administration. | |
| According to his own White House, the US “won 85.7% of the cases it has initiated before the WTO since 1995, compared with a global average of 84.4%.” | |
| Fact Check: Did the coronavirus originally escape from a laboratory in Wuhan, infecting a lab assistant, his girlfriend, and then finding its way to a wet market where it started the pandemic? | |
| Trump answered a long-winded question from a Fox News reporter on Wednesday suggesting as much. | |
| Rather than shutting down the widely-debunked theory, Trump said “I don’t want to say” and “We’ll see”. | |
| “I will tell you more and more we’re hearing that story”, Trump said. “We are doing a very thorough examination of how this horrible situation that happened”. | |
| Conspiracy theories have circulated since the origins of coronavirus that the virus originated in a lab, giving rise to theories it was engineered as a bioweapon. | |
| In fact, epidemiologists say there is no evidence the virus was created in a lab. A statement published in scientific journal the Lancet said the virus appears to have come from wildlife and another analysis of the virus by scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology suggests that the virus’s genome is 96% similar to a coronavirus found in bats. | |
| Fact check: Trump says “we have approved record numbers of federal judges.” | Fact check: Trump says “we have approved record numbers of federal judges.” |
| As of 1 April, the Senate has confirmed 193 Article III judges nominated by Trump. The record is held by Ronald Reagan with 383, followed by Bill Clinton (378) then Barack Obama (329). | As of 1 April, the Senate has confirmed 193 Article III judges nominated by Trump. The record is held by Ronald Reagan with 383, followed by Bill Clinton (378) then Barack Obama (329). |
| Trump does rank second in terms of judges confirmed at this point in his presidency behind only Jimmy Carter (212). | Trump does rank second in terms of judges confirmed at this point in his presidency behind only Jimmy Carter (212). |
| Fact check: Trump once again says “we’ve done more testing now than any country in the world by far”. | Fact check: Trump once again says “we’ve done more testing now than any country in the world by far”. |
| Over all, the US had administered almost three million coronavirus tests by Easter, April 12,, according to the Covid Tracking Project. But compared to some other nations with high testing rates, including South Korea and Germany, we have tested a much smaller proportion of our population. | Over all, the US had administered almost three million coronavirus tests by Easter, April 12,, according to the Covid Tracking Project. But compared to some other nations with high testing rates, including South Korea and Germany, we have tested a much smaller proportion of our population. |
| From a very slow start, the US, with a population of 329 million, had ramped up to a testing rate of one in every 138 people as of the first week of April. | From a very slow start, the US, with a population of 329 million, had ramped up to a testing rate of one in every 138 people as of the first week of April. |
| In comparison, South Korea, has administered 486,003 tests overall, according to the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With a population of 51.5m, the country has tested about 1 in every 102 people. Germany has done even better, testing every 1 in 63 people. | In comparison, South Korea, has administered 486,003 tests overall, according to the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With a population of 51.5m, the country has tested about 1 in every 102 people. Germany has done even better, testing every 1 in 63 people. |
| The UK, however, is behind, having tested only 1 in 230 people. | The UK, however, is behind, having tested only 1 in 230 people. |
| Fact check: Trump says, “We have the best tests in the world”. | Fact check: Trump says, “We have the best tests in the world”. |
| In fact, some of the initial coronavirus tests sent out to states were seriously flawed. Part of the problem came from the CDC shunning the World Health Organization (WHO) template for tests, and insisted on developing a more complicated version that correctly identified Covid-19, but also flagged other viruses – resulting in false positives. | In fact, some of the initial coronavirus tests sent out to states were seriously flawed. Part of the problem came from the CDC shunning the World Health Organization (WHO) template for tests, and insisted on developing a more complicated version that correctly identified Covid-19, but also flagged other viruses – resulting in false positives. |
| Other countries – after their first coronavirus case – swiftly asked private companies to develop their own tests. South Korea, which recorded its first case on the same day as the US, did so within a week. The US only allowed laboratories and hospitals to conduct their own tests on February 29, almost six weeks after the first case was confirmed. | Other countries – after their first coronavirus case – swiftly asked private companies to develop their own tests. South Korea, which recorded its first case on the same day as the US, did so within a week. The US only allowed laboratories and hospitals to conduct their own tests on February 29, almost six weeks after the first case was confirmed. |
| Vice president Mike Pence said some areas of the country need to “continue with strong mitigation efforts” while others will be given “guidance for greater flexibility.” | Vice president Mike Pence said some areas of the country need to “continue with strong mitigation efforts” while others will be given “guidance for greater flexibility.” |
| These decisions are, in fact, largely up to governors. In general Trump’s insistence that governors grovel to him personally in order to obtain life-saving equipment, and his claims to fiat power over the states in contradiction of the US Constitution, has rattled the federalist compact, experts say. | These decisions are, in fact, largely up to governors. In general Trump’s insistence that governors grovel to him personally in order to obtain life-saving equipment, and his claims to fiat power over the states in contradiction of the US Constitution, has rattled the federalist compact, experts say. |
| “These governors are more like provincial chiefs under this system, and if we want to restore federalism in this country we will have to make some very dramatic changes after this is over,” David Super, a professor at Georgetown Law school, told the Guardian. “If we don’t, federalism is dead.” | “These governors are more like provincial chiefs under this system, and if we want to restore federalism in this country we will have to make some very dramatic changes after this is over,” David Super, a professor at Georgetown Law school, told the Guardian. “If we don’t, federalism is dead.” |
| Fact check: Trump says he will execute constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress so he can make recess appointments to fill vacancies. | Fact check: Trump says he will execute constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress so he can make recess appointments to fill vacancies. |
| “If the House will not agree to that adjournment, I will exercise my constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress,” Trump said. | “If the House will not agree to that adjournment, I will exercise my constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress,” Trump said. |
| No president has ever used that authority. | No president has ever used that authority. |
| The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in NLRB v. Noel Canning that the president cannot use his or her authority under the Recess Appointment Clause of the Constitution to appoint public officials unless the Senate is in recess and not able to transact Senate business. | The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in NLRB v. Noel Canning that the president cannot use his or her authority under the Recess Appointment Clause of the Constitution to appoint public officials unless the Senate is in recess and not able to transact Senate business. |
| The Senate is in recess until May 4. | The Senate is in recess until May 4. |
| When asked more details about this plan, Trump said the following: | When asked more details about this plan, Trump said the following: |
| Sonny Perdue, the secretary of agriculture, is speaking about the effects of coronavirus on the food system. | Sonny Perdue, the secretary of agriculture, is speaking about the effects of coronavirus on the food system. |
| “For Americans who be may be worried about access to good food because of this I want to assure you that American food supply is strong, resilient and safe”, he said. | “For Americans who be may be worried about access to good food because of this I want to assure you that American food supply is strong, resilient and safe”, he said. |
| As my colleague Susie Cagle recently reported, effects on the supply chain from the pandemic have left mountains of foods being wasted as grocery store aisles remain bare in many places. | As my colleague Susie Cagle recently reported, effects on the supply chain from the pandemic have left mountains of foods being wasted as grocery store aisles remain bare in many places. |
| Perdue said the administration is working to address the issue. | Perdue said the administration is working to address the issue. |
| “It has taken us a few days to relocate the misalignment”, he said. “But that does not mean that we don’t have enough food in this country to feed the American people”. | “It has taken us a few days to relocate the misalignment”, he said. “But that does not mean that we don’t have enough food in this country to feed the American people”. |
| White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx is speaking now. | White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx is speaking now. |
| She echoed what Trump said, that numbers are declining over the last five to six days. | She echoed what Trump said, that numbers are declining over the last five to six days. |
| Still, she said Americans should hold off on any social gatherings for the foreseeable future. | Still, she said Americans should hold off on any social gatherings for the foreseeable future. |
| “To all of you out there that would like to join together and just have that dinner party for 20, don’t do it yet”, she said. “Continue to follow the presidential guidelines. | “To all of you out there that would like to join together and just have that dinner party for 20, don’t do it yet”, she said. “Continue to follow the presidential guidelines. |
| Trump repeated that tomorrow he will be speaking with governors regarding when states can be reopened. | Trump repeated that tomorrow he will be speaking with governors regarding when states can be reopened. |
| “We’ll be opening up some states much sooner than others,” he said. “And we think some of the states can actually open up before the deadline of May 1.” | “We’ll be opening up some states much sooner than others,” he said. “And we think some of the states can actually open up before the deadline of May 1.” |
| Fact check: WHO | Fact check: WHO |
| Trump again disparaged the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday. | Trump again disparaged the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday. |
| “I have a feeling they knew exactly what was going on”, he said. “The US government has put a hold on funding to the World Health Organization pending a review of the organization’s cover up and mismanagement of the coronavirus outbreak”. | “I have a feeling they knew exactly what was going on”, he said. “The US government has put a hold on funding to the World Health Organization pending a review of the organization’s cover up and mismanagement of the coronavirus outbreak”. |
| He has previously accused the organization of initially “minimizing the threat” of coronavirus and getting everything “wrong”. | He has previously accused the organization of initially “minimizing the threat” of coronavirus and getting everything “wrong”. |
| The WHO has been criticized for a 14 January tweet, which Trump has referenced, that noted that a preliminary investigation by Chinese officials found no evidence of human-to-human transmission. | The WHO has been criticized for a 14 January tweet, which Trump has referenced, that noted that a preliminary investigation by Chinese officials found no evidence of human-to-human transmission. |
| However, by 30 January, the organization declared coronavirus a “public health emergency”, and went on to declare a pandemic on 11 March after numerous countries - including the US and UK - failed to follow its advice. WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke of “alarming levels of inaction” from many countries. | However, by 30 January, the organization declared coronavirus a “public health emergency”, and went on to declare a pandemic on 11 March after numerous countries - including the US and UK - failed to follow its advice. WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke of “alarming levels of inaction” from many countries. |
| The WHO “has been drained of power and resources”, said Richard Horton, editor of the influential medical journal the Lancet. “Its coordinating authority and capacity are weak. Its ability to direct an international response to a life-threatening epidemic is non-existent.” | The WHO “has been drained of power and resources”, said Richard Horton, editor of the influential medical journal the Lancet. “Its coordinating authority and capacity are weak. Its ability to direct an international response to a life-threatening epidemic is non-existent.” |
| The Trump administration and the president himself repeatedly played down the crisis - specifically downplaying the threat to the US, inaccurately compared it to the flu and told his supporters that growing worries about the coronavirus was a “hoax”. | The Trump administration and the president himself repeatedly played down the crisis - specifically downplaying the threat to the US, inaccurately compared it to the flu and told his supporters that growing worries about the coronavirus was a “hoax”. |
| Trump threatened to close both chambers of Congress for “obstructing” his ability to appoint judges and other positions. | Trump threatened to close both chambers of Congress for “obstructing” his ability to appoint judges and other positions. |
| Can he do that? Here’s the fact check | Can he do that? Here’s the fact check |
| He claimed he has confirmed close to 250 judges through the Senate, but said there are 129 positions stuck in Congress that could be working on coronavirus solutions. | He claimed he has confirmed close to 250 judges through the Senate, but said there are 129 positions stuck in Congress that could be working on coronavirus solutions. |
| Fact check: | Fact check: |
| He specifically called out the stalling of his appointee to the Broadcasting Board of Governors, saying Voice of America’s coverage was “disgusting”. | He specifically called out the stalling of his appointee to the Broadcasting Board of Governors, saying Voice of America’s coverage was “disgusting”. |
| “The things they say are disgusting toward our country,” he said. | “The things they say are disgusting toward our country,” he said. |