Hardest. This action will give them maximum flexibility to use the guard against the virus without having to worry about costs or liability and freeing up state resources to protect the health and safety of the people in their state. The federal government has deployed hundreds of tons of supplies from our National Stocks pile to locations with the greatest need in order to assist in those areas. I approved the state of new yorks request for a major disaster declaration, something which Governor Cuomo has been asking for and which i agree. We had it done in very rapid fashion. We approved this on friday evening and were working very, very hard to get all of these things, not only signed up but completed and finished and win. The request from the state of washington for a major disaster declaration was approved just a little while ago. Went through the process and we moved it very quickly. The request from the state of california was just received. We will have it approved very quickly. Well be working, i told that to gavin newsom, we are working on getting that done very quickly. It will be done maybe tonight. We have large, large quantities of medical equipment and supplies on the way, based on all of this, to those states including respirators, surgical masks, gowns, face shields cover always with gloves in large quantities shipped to new york. In addition to large quantities of supplies i directed fema to supply the following, four large medical stations with 1000 beds for new york, eight large federal medical stations with 2,000 beds for california. And three large federal medical stations and four small federal medical stations with 1000 bed for the state of washington. The governors know. The supplies in route to california and new york will be delivered within the next 48 hours. In addition the Naval Hospital ship, the the u. N. S mercy, these two ships are incredible, one on the west coast, one on the east coast will be deployed to los angeles to have medical surge capacity. They have tremendous capacity. They are really something. I will say that if you, look at some of the things weve been doing and now those numbers have gone up, to be a little bit more exacting, weve done a president ial approval for request for major disaster declaration for the state of new york. Approval of title 32 National Guard activation for the state of new york. Were providing all of this at no cost to the governor. I spoke with Governor Cuomo. He is working hard. Were all working hard together. The relationship has really been amazing. But it also enables the governor to provide robust National Guard support to the state and the 25 were going to be waving that 25 cost. Were picking up, well be coordinating and there will be doing something with very special people. Mission assignment of the u. S. Army corps of engineers to provide support to buildout alternate care sites. Theyre doing various alternate care sites which have now been designated by new york. Four large federal medical stations of 1000 bed. These are very complex places actually with great equipment and great people. Strategic National Stockpile order and this is as of a number of days ago. So far delivered to new york, and this is the 19th. We had the n95 respirators, 186,416 delivered. Wed liferred we delivered 440 medical masks. Surgical gowns, 68,944 to new york. Coverrals, 352 gloves, 245,486. Also to new york in terms of whats been delivered just since then. The numbers are quite large. We have tremendous numbers about companies also making equipment. For the state of washington weve delivered 369,000 n95 respirators. 507,406 surgical masks. This is as of about three days ago. Face shields, 63,788 face shields. Surgical gowns, 107,850. Gloves, 240,376. And we have many, many things pending. Actually not pending, theyre being fabricated, theyre being made and theyre moving. Now for washington so, we have four small federal medical stations, 250 beds. And for washington, state of washington we have three large federal medical stations, 750 beds. You have as i said the approval of the title 32 National Guard. State of california again, to be very precise, were going to have the approval of the title 32 National Guard activation and were providing all of this again like in new york at no cost to the governor, meaning, the Governor Newsom and the state, no cost to the state. It enables the governor to provide robust National Guard support to the state. So theyre going to have control of the National Guard. Federal government sending, these are incredible people being sent. We have eight large federal medical stations with over 2,000 beds and thats going to california. Strategic National Stockpile order weve ordered likewise hundreds of thousands of different items. I wont go into the exact numbers but the numbers are very substantial. Were having tremendous additional numbers sent and whatever the states can get they should be getting. I say were sort of a backup for the states and, some of the states are doing really well and some dont do as well. But ones that dont do as well need more help but these are three states that really do need help because they are, they are hit very hard. And the out pouring from the private sector is also been extraordinary. Im pleased to report that honeywell, a Great Company Just Announced it will immediately expand the personal protective Equipment Manufacturing operations in rhode island to produce millions of additional n95 masks. Theyre very hard to get. Theyre quite complex, from the u. S. Governments strategic National Stockpile will be delivered immediately to the various states. This expansion is already underway and will provide a lot of jobs for that state, probably around 500. The masks will be distributed by the government for the use of the health, safety and emergency and it is for response workers, primarily for response workers. These are very highend. This expansion is in addition to honeywells action to more than double production of its existing personal protective Equipment Manufacturing plants. They make a lot of Different Things and theyre doubling and tripling their production. Theyre going roundtheclock. Today im also announcing the lawn. Of a new Public Private consortium organized by the white house, the department of energy and ibm to unleash the power of american super Computing Resources to fight the chinese virus. The following leaders from private industries, academia and government will be contributing and theyre going to be contributing a lot of Different Things but computer, primarily Computing Resources to help researchers discover new treatments and vaccines. They will be working along with nih and all of the people that are working on this but tremendous help from ibm, amazon, google, microsoft, mit, rensselear lear polytechnic institute, department of Energy National labor laboratories, National Science foundation, nasa, theyre all contributing to this effort and theyre fully in gear. This afternoon i also want to update you on the steps were taking to protect and serve our countrys 18 million veterans. These are great people. Our amazing veterans shown a return of loyalty to our nation and this is the time when theyre in need were going to show our loyalty to them. Were being very protective of our veterans. Were working on certain hospitals where we may be doing some work in louisiana in particular and some other states, veterans hospitals. Going to be very protective of our veterans. Some are of that very vulnerable age. Some of them obviously are not feeling well and, some of them are still suffering the wounds of worse from many years ago. Yesterday i signed vital legislation to insure that the g. I. Bill will cover Distance Learning during this emergency. I also spoke with many of our Veterans Service organizations or the vsos to describe our unprecedented action. In february the department of Veterans Affairs established 19 Emergency Operations centers throughout the country. One of the things that they have been trying to get done for many years, you all know this from following me over the last number of years but we got it done pretty quickly. They have been trying to get it done for many, many decades was choice, veterans choice and also veterans accountability. Now if, if it is crowded within if they cant get to a doctor, we have great doctors in the va, i have to say that we have fantastic doctors, as good as they come but it is hard to get to them because of what was bureaucracy but no longer bureaucracy. Weve done a lot of things in that case because of accountability. When people arent doing their jobs or if theyre bad or if they are sadistic or if they steal or anything bad happens, were now allowed to fire them for, i signed that a yearandahalf ago. For many years you werent able to do that. The va is working. I was just told by our great leader at the va, robert wilkie, he said for the first time, got the highest marks, highest poll numbers in the history of the Veterans Administration came out a week ago. That theyre happy. Look, one of the reasons that happened, highest in history, one of the reasons that happened is because veterans choice. They have to wait online. They see a private doctor and we pay the bill and they get better. They dont have to wait three weeks or two weeks or three days but they get better. A lot of times they waited so long they would, they would have a problem and it would end up being terminal because they couldnt get the kind of treatment they deserve. So highest poll numbers, highest approval numbers in the history of the va. I was just given that information yesterday. We restricted visitors access to 135 veteran Community Living centers which house nearly 8,000 veterans with chronic medical conditions. So that we limit their exposure to the virus. We want to totally take care of our veterans. And thats what were doing. The va has canceled most elective and medical, surgical procedures, delaying them until after this is gone. After weve won. We began providing lifesaving care to patients who had symptoms across the 171 Va Medical Centers nationwide. Thats a big deal. Under my administration the va has also been a leader in expanding telehealth. Telehealth is becoming a bigger and bigger factor in medicine. This month weve taken bold action to cut through the red tape and make telehealth available for millions more americans during this crisis. They can speak to a doctor from the safety of their home rather than risk becoming infected, or make it tremendously long trip, when frankly you will speak to a great doctor right from your home. It is happening, telehealth. Were very much at the forefront of that too. Were very proud of it. It also take as big burden off our system. We continue to accelerate the development of safe and effective vaccines. Were also aggressively investigating a number of antiviral therapies and treatments to determine their potential in reducing the severity and duration of the symptoms and you know how i feel because, how i feel is on tuesday theyre going to be starting it on tuesday morning, and were going to have some medications delivered. Were going to see if they work. They are certainly effective in other ways. They are safe from the standpoint theyre not killing people. Were not going to have that. So a lot of great things have been happening in that regard. I just want to finish. Then well ask a couple of people to say a few words that have been so much on the forefront of this incredible job weve all been given but i want to say that i know that this is a challenging time for all americans. Were enduring a Great National trial and we will prove that we can meet the moment. I want to assure the American People that were doing everything we can to confront, ultimately defeat this horrible and invisible enemy. Were at war in a true sense were at war, and were fighting an invisible enemy, think of that. For those of you feeling alone and isolated, i want you to know that were all joined together as one people. Eternally linked by our shared national spirit. We love our country. A spirit of courage and love and patriotism. No american is alone as long as we are united. And we are united. People are saying things now three weeks ago they didnt talk that way. Were very united. No force is equal to the strength of a really a unified america, united america. An america like we have it right now. For those worried and afraid please know as long as i am your president , you can feel confident that you have a leader who will always fight for you and i will not stop until we win. This will be a great victory. This is going to be a victory, and it is going to be a victory in my opinion will happen much sooner originally expected. It is now attacking the enemy is attacking, 144 countries at this moment, 144. Thats unthinkable. It has never been anything like this. And its vicious, it is vicious. Some people recover well and some people have a hard time. We all know that but we will be totally victorious. We will, then get our economy up to a level that it was. And in my opinion beyond, that will be a pentup demand. There is a pentup demand. And a lot of, a lot of great things will happen. But im very proud of our country. Im very proud. Im very proud to be your president and it is just something thats, just, youre very special people. So thank you very much. And im going to ask if i might, combination of pete, why dont you start off, please. Thank you, mr. President. Just a little bit about what were doing in washington, california and new york. We understand that the states of washington, new york, and california are experiencing a steady increase in coronavirus cases. In ard to assist with additional needs, state of new york was approved for major disaster declaration this morning. Washington state was also approved today and california submitted their request. The president will consider it immediately. We have medical supplies to the states, respirators, surgical masks, gowns, face shields, gowns, with quantities already delivered to both washington, new york and california and we anticipate additional supplies to be delivered over the next 42 hours to all these states. Under President Trumps unprecedented National Emergency declaration, fema is assisting local, tribal, territory governments to reimburse measures taken at the direction or guidance of Public Health officials in response to this emergency. All 50 states, the district of columbia, five territories and two tribes are working directly with fema under the nationwide Emergency Declaration for covid19. With the assistance of the fema regional administrators throughout the country we are working to address the needs of state and local officials everywhere. States, tribal and territorial governments do not need to request separate Emergency Declarations under this nationwide declaration. The Emergency Declaration does not authorize direct Financial Assistance available to individuals Disaster Unemployment assistance or needs assistance at this time. Just a note on the u. S. , mercy, based on analysis for potential needs of hospital beds on the west coast the decision was made to the usns hospital ship mercy would have the greatest impact in california. The department of defense has been given direction to dispatch it to los angeles immediately. Has advised that mercy can get into position within a week or less of todays order. Even though there are more cases right now in washington, the projected needs for beds in california is five times more, more that of washington. The mercy will be used to take pressure off local hospitals, other medical needs and not for treating covid19 cases. And finally a little bit about the National Guard. The federal government continues to take aggressive action and proactive steps to address the covid19 threat as we attack the health and protect the health and safety of the American People. It remains our top priority. The National Guard is especially equipped to assist, federal, state, local agencies while serving the public n response to this unprecedented nationwide operation President Trump has approved washington, california and new york, National Guard units under title 32, excuse me, title 32 status for the covid19 response. The president s action provide nations governors continued command of their National Guard forces enabling states to use Additional Resources to meet the missions necessary in the covid19 response. The National Guard is a viable and responsive avenue to provide muchneeded asset that is state managed and federally supported. And i want to be clear, this total 32 activation does not federalize National Guard members. The National Guard is still under the authority of each governor. They will work in concert with the department of defense and weve had a lot of disinformation circling and i want to make sure it is understood this is not martial law. The department of defense by way of Mission Assignment will lead this task. We continue to respond to hundreds of requests from governors across the country in filling all their critical needs. Thank you, sir. Thank you, pete, very much. Peter navarro. Thank you, sir. Thank you, mr. President. Good evening. What i want to talk briefly about is the defense production act and to give you the overview here, using the full power of private enterprise and full force of the federal government my job at the white house is to make sure that tactically working with fema and hhs and the American People, particularly our Health Care Professionals get the gloves, masks, and all of the personal protective equipment they need and i can tell you, sir, since you signed the defense production act my job has gotten easier and let me explain why. The defense production act in this context has two primary functions. One is mobilization of the Industrial Base. In this case the Public Health Industrial Base and the other is allocation of resources both from the supply chain to the manufacturers and from the manufacturers to the endusers such as the Health Care Professionals. Now what were seeing on a purely voluntary basis based on the leadership of this administration, were seeing the greatest mobilization of the industrial basins world war ii and every day im working with organizations and companies, National Association of manufacturing, National Council of textile organizations and so on in terms of building up rapidly our capabilities to get what you need. Think about what mobilization means t can mean, for example, repurposing a factory. Perpernot rikard had three hurd, called me last week. Made a call to treasury, fda and hhs to clear the path. We got that done that day. They started their production that day, moving from alcoholic beverages to hand sanitizers. As we speak a truck is moving towards new york and will arrive there tuesday to share with the hospitals over 1000 gallons of sanitizer. So that would be, that would be a repurpose. A second example would be one that the president offered with honeywell. Again honeywell called the white house asking for help from the president. And what they said, is, we want to do this new factory in smithfield, rhode island. They called me on a friday morning and by that night we had a contract in to hhs. Hhs moved that quickly. I had honeywell moving that equipment to smithfield, rhode island. Well have the masks produced in 30 days on assembly line. Repurposeing, building up capabilities. The other portion is of course the allocation of resources. Now what i can tell you so far is that the defense production act, sir, has given my quiet leverage. When you have a strong leader you can take a light hand initially. So what weve seen with this outpouring of volunteers from private enterprise, were getting what we need without, without putting the heavy hand of government. Now, there will be possibly cases down the road and manufacturers have actually asked me and alerted me of this, where some places in the supply chain, they may have problems that the white house will have to break through, using the defense production act. We wont hesitate to do that. The last thing i will tell you is that i also get a lot of calls that are very disquieting. Brokers are offering millions of items, whether goggles, masks, whatever, you go through three different brokers, tracing to a warehouse in l. A. That allegedly got 10 Million Masks and they want to charge you seven times what they cost. That is price gouging. Message to the hoarders. If you got any large quantity of material that this country needs right now, get them to market or get them to us. Well pay you a fair price. But if you dont do that, well come for you and make sure that doesnt happen in this country. That would be a good use of the defense production act. I salute you, sir. You made my job easier around i appreciate that. Thank you, peter. Thank you, mr. President. Task force met this afternoon as we do every day. And let me begin today, simply saying thank you to the American People. Thank you for the way that people across the country, seven days into 15 days to slow the spread. The people in communities large and small across america are responding, are cooperating, are communicating, not just on behalf of their own health and health of their family but more importantly on behalf of the most vulnerable among us. So on behalf of your president , and our entire task force, just thank you to the American People. I also want to express our appreciation to the governors across the country. President today Just Announced action in new york, california, and Washington State as latest demonstration that this administration will do whatever it takes to support the leadership at the state and local level, as the American People confront the spread of the coronavirus. The legislative efforts that are underway being negotiated on capitol hill as we speak, the bipartisan spirit that is taking place there, it is reflected in all of our interactions with state leaders around the country, is a great credit to the nation but it should be a great encouragement to the American People that your government at the federal level, at the state level, working with courageous Health Care Providers all across america are coming together to meet this moment. And that is the way our system works. It is extremely important that the American People recognize that one of the things that makes america different is that we have a system of federalism and that the, by putting fema in the lead the president has emphasized that our response to the coronavirus is in anthem of fema, it is locally executed, state managed, and federally supported. We want the people on the ground, the decisionmakers to have what they need. We want states to be able to manage the unique circumstances in their states. Whether it be the legislation moving through congress or the efforts the president announced today, major disaster declarations, title 32 on the National Guard, resources flowing, hospital beds flowing. Well continue to make sure our states have what they need to meet this moment. Our task force continues to focus on the priorities the president s given us. They are testing, mitigation and supplies and on the subject of testing as is evident to people across the country, testing is more and more available every single day. Well detailing tomorrow from this podium the progress were making on tests. At this days reporting 254,000 americans have been tested and received results in coronavirus tests. With slightly more than, than 30,000 actually testing positive. There is a bit ofen couraging word in that for every american. Everyone tested now with the exception of Health Care Workers are people that have symptoms, that make them think they may have the coronavirus and, as our numbers come in consistently, because the 254,000 does not include all the local hospitals or all the local laps in our state, it is working out one in 10 americans who were tested thought they had coronavirus actually had it. Nine out of 10 did not. But well continue to roll out the testing to provide that resource to the American People and were working to make testing happen faster. We expect from word from the commercial labs we should be caught up on the backlog in testing by the middle of the week. And we are urging today on the president s ban that all labs would prioritize end patient testing. Let me say again to all of the commercial labs in the country you will receive guidance from hhs tomorrow, on behalf of the president and the White House Coronavirus task force, we are urging all commercial labs prioritize inpatient testing. We want people checked into a hospital, being treated for what they expect to be coronavirus to receive those tests more quickly. Also im pleased to report that yesterday the fda approved an emergency authorization on a new test that should be in production by the end of march. It actually would be a coronavirus test, the results which come back in 45 minutes. Were also working, the fda is working with manufacturers around the country to come up with faster, more innovative tests and as weve told our governors in several calls this week, governors and state Health Officials should simply contact fema for the latest information on testing solutions. Let me also say tomorrow, when we gather at this podium well be unveiling with dr. Bob redfield in the lead, new guidance for people that work in law enforcement, firstresponders, people that work in what we call Critical Infrastructure in the country. It was in early march that cdc issued guidance for people that were asymptomatic or did not have symptoms but it had been exposed to someone with coronavirus. We gave them guidance being able to return to work wearing a mask for 14 days and tomorrow, at this podium, cdc will unveil in cooperation with the department of Homeland Security new guidance which will make it possible for people that have been exposed to return to work more quickly with, by wearing a mask for a certain period of time. Let me also amplify a point on behalf of the president and on behalf of the state department about americans abroad. One of, one much the reasons why the United States is in a different position today than portions of europe are and china and elsewhere is because the president suspended all travel from china. He suspended travel from europe and the uk and ireland but the state department is working around the clock to assist americans who may find themselves overseas. Theyre able to come home. There is no barrier to americans coming back to american soil. Theyre screened when they come home through a series of airports but were aware that with flights being canceled some americans have found themselves unable to find a way home. And as the president said, weve been working very diligently through the state department to make it possible. There are commercial flights have been chartered. Were working with the military with backup on flights. At this point the state department has brought more than 3,000 americans back home but speaking to the secretary of state today, he want the me to share a website and a phone number for any american that might be looking on from overseas. You can call the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at 1888407 4747. Or you can go online at step. State. Gov. This will allow our embassies and consulates gather Important Information about your situation and work to facilitate to bring you home. Let me say finally, as i began, let me close. As the chairman or leader of this White House Coronavirus task force we are seven days into 15 days and the American People are responding. Because as we speak about supplies, as we speak about testing, the most important thing every american can do is heed the guidance in the direction from your state and local officials particularly in areas where we have widespread coronavirus infections. For every american putting into practice these measures that the president alluded to at the very beginning of his remarks is a way that we can, we can do this, america. That we can, we can lessen the magnitude of the coronavirus in our country. With the cooperation, compassion, generosity and prayers of the American People. We can slow the spread. We can protect the most vulnerable and we can heal our land. So lets do it, america. Thank you, mike, very much. Thank you. Thank you very much, mike. So, just a couple of Little Things and well take some questions. Maybe you will have some, maybe you wont. That would be a shock. You would shock the american public. But i have to say on the testing, the new, if this works out and we think might, the new test will be very simple one, much easier than the existing test which is quite complex and not, not a lot of fun to take and this would be a gamechanger. But remember we inherited a broken, obsolete system t was good for small number of people but not good for the millions of people were talking about. We made this into a system that no matter where you go in the world that is where theyre going, thats what they want to do, that is how theyre going to be doing it should Something Like this happen again. So our people have done a fantastic job, really a fantastic job and i hope the news that works out. Well know fairly soon, i think, doctor, well know about that fairly soon. Hopefully it will check out or test out and we certainly are looking forward to that. That would be a very simple test by comparison. Wont be unpleasant at all. One other thing, the ships, so we have the mercy and thats in, going to california as you know. That is on the west coast now. And you have a sister ship that is essentially a twin, theyre incredible. I mean theyre incredible ships. Ive seen it. Ive seen one of them and they are unbelievable what they can do and the capacity. Many operating rooms. Theyre wartime ships. Theyre met for war, many, many operating rooms, stainless steel. These rooms are as good as anywhere in the nation. I spoke with Governor Cuomo today, had great conversations, a number of conversations today. We is working very hard. We are going to be bringing that ship, that is called the comfort. You have the mercy and the comfort. The comfort is on the east coast and that ship will be coming over the next three weeks, three or four weeks. It is being, it was the middle of maintenance. We are moving the maintenance very quickly and supplying the ship simultaneously. Actually big supplies going into those ships, big, and that ship will be coming up here over the next few weeks. And well probably be putting it in new york harbor and were making arrangements for that also as to where it is going to be docked. So you have the mercy and you have the comfort. They will be coming up. The mercy will start very quickly. It will be arriving in los angeles pretty soon. So we look forward to that. Question . Abc. Reporter thank you. First of all senator paul testing positive. When is the last time you had in person contact with him. Gee, think it was quite a while ago. It has been a long time. Reporter on top of senator paul, four senators are in isolation, the rules say in order to vote who are they please . Who are they . Reporter romney, senator lee, gardner and senator rick scott. Two of them rick is coming out. Reporter with the critical stimulus package. Romney is in isolation . Thats too bad. Go ahead. Reporter sarcasm there . None whatsoever. Reporter you think consider should consider changing the rules to allow them to vote remotely i was think about it today. That you have a lot of house members and senators. I spoke last night with a very, very good man who happens to be in the house as you know and he is just started and he tested positive. So you could have a large number of people in there from congress. Could you have between house and senate you could have a large number. I think it is something, at least i fully understand why you should be there. I think it may be constitutional reason why you should but we could be in a position where i would certainly be in favor of it where they could vote from a certain out seed location. I would be in favor of it. I was thinking about it today. We could be in this, look with whats going on. Nobody ever seen anything like this. You could have a lot of people in there from, from congress. And it was, maybe there is a reason constitutionally and there may be but i would be totally in favor of it on a temporary basis. Reporter negotiations still have a ways to go on the stimulus package are you concerned about the timing at all . We have an interesting thing. We all want to get to the same place but we have different i want to, i wrote this down a little while ago. We want to protect the worker very much. So do they, so do the democrats. We also want to protect the worker through their companies. We dont want to necessarily were going to help the worker anyway, ideally they can go back to one of their Great Companies. You have Great Companies in financial trouble now and we need money to help those companies so they get back into, where they should be health, you know. Most of these companies four weeks ago were having the best year they have ever had. Last year was the best year, almost all of them, other than boeing which is incredibly had problems, big percentage much gdp. But we have to be able to work with boeing. Boeing is, was a Great Company and will be a Great Company again i think shortly. So we have to work with the companies and they dont want to go do that and it is crazy, they dont want to go do that. I dont want stock buybacks. I dont know where the problem is there, i know that is one of the things theyre talking about. I dont want stock buybacks. I dont want to give a bailout to a company and somebody go out to use that money to buy back stock in the company, raise a price and get a bonus, okay . I may be republican but i dont like that. I want them to use the money for the workers. I want them to use the money for the company to, help the company in Airline Business to take care of their planes and all of the things they have to do, including buying new planes but i dont want to have any stock buybacks. The democrats are with me. I dont know what the problem is on that one because i cant imagine that is too tough. We want to, we want to be able to take care of our people, youre going to have things coming up. Some of the elements theyre talking about, theyre down to literally 95 of the things they wouldnt agree and you think the republicans wouldnt agree it, unemployment as an example is one of the things they talk about and unemployment insurance. I think were very close on that but you know right now theyre not. Right now theyre not there but i think that the democrats want to get there and i can tell you for a fact the republicans want to get there. I dont think anybody actually has a choice. It is a bold package. It is a big package. We do have money for one of the things as we do have, money for saving Small Businesses. I dont imagine the democrats, because we have a lot of money set aside for Small Businesses. We also have a lot of money set aside for big businesses, big powerful companies powerful four weeks ago. Today theyre overextended. Look at the cruise line. That is a tremendous business, big business, very important to florida and, its unthinkable a month ago. Just unthinkable. They were setting all sorts of records. Theyre building new ships. We cant let the cruise lines go out of business. That would be massive numbers of jobs for our country and, actually for the world but for our country its a massive business and it doesnt take much to keep them going. So we have, we have to provide for that. But i think both democrats and the republicans are agreed we have to take care of our workers and were going to be doing that in numerous ways in concluding a substantial cash payment. Yeah, please. Reporter when it comes to the defense production act we know governments across the country all day today were pleading with you to utilize the dpa. Depends which governors youre talking about. Reporter for that allocation piece ups you mentioned with mr. Navarro. Why not using it now. We are using it now. The fact i signed it it is in effect. Were a country not based on nationalizing our business. Call a person in venezuela ask them how nationalization of their businesses work out. Not too well. The concept of nationalizing our businesses is not a good concept but ill tell you why, as peter said we may have to use it someplace along the chain but were getting calls, here is the beauty of it, if we go out and we want lets say masks. We dont know who to call on masks but hanes, who makes things of cotton, various elements, lots of things, its a Great Company, they called us and they said were going to make millions of masks. We got a call today from 3m. There is a big article today, the head of 3m, theyre going to make tremendous products and theyre more or less in that business and if theyre not like for instance, General Motors spoke to us, spoke to us about doing ventilators. The beauty is theyre calling us. If you go the national route, nationalization route were going to tell the company to make a ventilator, they dont even know what a ventilator is. In the case of one company they used to make them years ago, they know how to make them. It is very complex piece of equipment frankly. So what were doing is, i think peter said it maybe better than anybody is going to say it, we have the threat of doing it if we need it. We may have to use it somewhere alearning the supply chain in a minor way but we have millions of masks being done, we have respirators, we have ventilators, we have a lot of things happening now, just the threat of using it but using it actually is a big deal. When this was announced its, sent tremors through our Business Community and through our country because basically, what you are doing . Youre talking about youre going to nationalize a industry or take away companies, you will Tell Companies what to do. The truth is, most people, nobody would know where to start. There are companies out there you wouldnt think of that have called us, that say, we can do ventilators. We used to do them years ago. And they can do them in large quantities. Other companies, if i call companies, say you build ventilators, they dont even know what a ventilator is. So it is really working out very well. One of the reasons i read the numbers to you, because weve given a vast numbers of just about everything. Weve taken it out of our supply, out of our supply and were restocking our supply. But were really backing up governors. The governors have to do their things. You have a lot of governors they have done a fantastic job. You have some that havent. Usually ones that complain have the problems but weve had a great relationship as an example with Governor Cuomo, with Governor Newsom. We had a great relationship with the state of washington. Those are three hotbeds. Those are three hotbeds. Now were also dealing with other states. As the admiral said yesterday, were dealing with all of the states actually, in one form or another. Some are very affected in a very minor way where you have two people or three people. I dont even mean deaths, i mean literally cases and thats different than new york where you have, you know, tremendous, where everybody, i lived there for a long time. Everybody is extremely close, tight and, you have a lot of cases in new york. You have a lot of cases in new york and were helping Governor Cuomo. Were helping Governor Newsom. They have been, frankly they have been total gentlemen. They want to get it done. We want to get it done but doing it the way were doing it is much better. It is really much better. Reporter asking about the supply chain. Not about allocation, not about manufacturing. So the companies it all comes youre right. We coordinate with the states and we are coordinating with the states. For the most part the coordination has been good. Look, three days ago i had a phone call with all the governors. I actually allowed the press to stay. They werent supposed to stay. One person in the media said that is surprising. That is a little rimsky doing that because we had democrats and we had republicans. Theyre politicians and they always have something to say. I took a lot of calls. We really didnt get one nasty or bad response. They were thanking us for the job we did. I had the press saying, i dont think so, i was the press standing there watching. They were not supposed to be there. Governors were very complimentary. Very, very complimentary. I watched last few days Governor Cuomo. I watched gavin newsom in california. I watched both of them. They have been very complimentary. Those are really the hotbeds. So we want to keep that going. Im very proud of this country and im frankly very proud of a lot of the politicians that normally were fighting with. We have different views on things, a little different view but were going to get to the same place. We have different views but were going to get to the same place. Yeah, please. Reporter i wanted to ask if youre considering an executive order to free elderly nonviolent criminals from federal prisons . We have been asked about that. And were going to take a look at it. It is a bit of a problem, but when we talk about totally nonviolent, were talking about totally nonviolent prisoners, we are actually looking at that, yes. Reporter also ask your administration eliminated a key position in china july, medical epidemiologist embedded in chinas Disease Control agency t was months before the first cases were spotted in wuhan. The question is, basically why the post was eliminated and i could ask anybody. Would you like to take that one, bob . But you know this, is just like all of the other stuff you, not you, that the press was asking. All of which turned out to be, we actually gave cdc more money, not less money. They said we defunded. Turned out it was more money. Everyone of those things that was said were 100 wrong. This sounds like another one of them but anyway, go ahead. Yeah. As you know cdc has offices all around the world right now to do our function, to detect and prevent and respond to outbreaks where they occur. The china office is actually being augmented as we speak. As weve been embedded there for over 30 years. There was a reason they call it the chinese cdc because we had that productive partnership. I wish, again, our relationship with china is very good relationship. I wish they told us three months sooner this was a problem. We didnt know about it. They knew about it and they should have told us. We could have saved a lot of lives throughout the world. You look what is happening in italy, spain a lot of other countries we could have saved a love the lives around the world. Kelly . Reporter mr. President , diagnosis for senator paul, people being selfquarantined what concern do you have about the direct threat to the function of the senate, the ability to get important package that people are waiting for passed and should americans be expecting you to extend the 15 days given the climate of how this is spreading at this time . I hope we wont have to. It is possible. Well have to see how that works. As far as the senate is concerned, we are looking at some, some of the folks feeling very good. Some are quarantined, but theyre negative. They may be they may, may be totally fine, okay . Others are positive. We just finding this now for the first time. I mean over the last two days we found that. Do you see it as a threat to the aid package that americans are waiting for . No, i dont see any threats at all. Honestly i dont see any threats at all. It will all work out. It is a question, a very good question i thought that we are considering, i dont know if you can do it constitutionally, but we are considering letting people vote, senators, congressman and women, vote from a separate, from a separate location, from a outside, namely a hospital or a home, depending on where they are. We are looking at that. It is a little trickier question most people would believe but we are looking at that very strongly. Reporter kelly was kind of alluding to it, while weve been up there, they were not able to get 60 votes to move the package forward from cleat ture. I was interested in your reaction. What is Mitch Mcconnell telling you and secretary mnuchin. Were dealing with them all the time, everybody wants to get there well see what happens. I think you will get there. To me it is not very complicated. We have to help the worker. We have to save the companies. Because as soon as were finished with this war, not a battle, it is a war, as soon as were finished with this war our country will bounce back like weve never seen before but we have to get it to that position. We have to make sure those companies are whole. That they havent been disband. If you do that, it will take much longer. So in a way it is being pennywise if you dont. We want to help the worker. We want to help the companies that the workers come from because if those companies go out of business, that includes Small Businesses. We have a tremendous amount of Small Business working there, you know that. Once they go out and they dont come back, thats much longer period of building. Reporter mentioned off the top, sir, i apologize, there was an woman, american being tortured, what was going on there . Bad things were happening to her in a certain country and where, were really under, the feeling that we should keep it somewhat private until shes already been freed. I have to tell you, general milley and the, his people are unbelievable. They were not playing games. General milley does not play games. Very interesting guy. They got her out. They got her out after of a certain country where she was abused accosted, whatever the maximum word is other than death that happened. We got her out, she is okay. She is back with her parents. Reporter ask you one other question. Previous crisis like tsunami, katrina, past president s called predecessors i need you to step in do Something Like that. Do you have any interest reaching out to president bush, obama, clinton, carter . Were, considering this or not. I have the best people in the world. I think were doing an extraordinarily job. Say look at h1n1, look at that whole, that was a disaster. That was a tough period of time for our country. You look at some other things that werent horn delled very well, whether katrina or something else. Look, i respect everybody but, i feel i have an incredible team. I think were doing an incredible job. When you look at the job were doing, and all you have to do is look at the approval numbers on the job were doing. I think were doing an incredible job. So i dont want to disturb them, bother them. I dont think im going to learn much. I guess you could say there is probably Natural Inclination not to call. If i felt that, if i called i would learn something and that would save one life, it would save one life, okay, i would make the call in two minutes but i dont see that happening. Please. Reporter can i ask but the comments couple much your former aides said today. Gary cohn said time to start discussing need for a date economy can turn back on, steve bannon is saying drop the hammer on virus, take the pain up front. We have to shut it all down. Tension between the Economic Team were suffering and virus itself and im of the opinion we have to do great during this 14 days, during the 15day period. Well know at the end of 14 day. Pretty much, well have a idea how were doing. You have to shut it down and you have to see. We have a point we say were back in business, lets go. They are not mutually exclusive. I sue both of them today. They sort of intermesh. Reporter more after shutdown. He is calling for, faster a just a brutal shutdown and then open up maybe a little bit faster. So you know, there is that fine line. Look, we did a big shutdown when we wouldnt allow people from china could have been very seriously infected that were, when we cut that off very early. We cut europe off very early as you know. That was also very early. Reporter when do you open industries back up . I cant tell you that. I have to say, were going to have good results. I think the American People have been amazing. I think our stimulus package will get done. Till was tremendous package. Were really not, they may have not gotten those votes. Theyre close to getting a deal done. I would be surprised if they didnt. If they dont, frankly the American People would be very upset with the democrats, because the republicans are ready to approve a deal. The only reason the deal couldnt get done is pure politics. Reporter mr. President , despite the differences with new york city mayor bill de blasio he says the city will run out of basic hospital supplies by april. How do you prevent new york city from becoming the next italy . He should have, the Hospital Systems in various places, some have been stocked, ready to go nothing for this. This is beyond anything that anybody thought possible. I think you can say this. Nobody can really say, oh, gee, this will happen. This is a very unique and hopefully will be unique for you know, many, many centuries, you know, for a long time, hopefully we dont see this again. But again the systems are supposed to be ready, willing and able. Theyre supposed to be ready to go. We are helping them a lot and i have great love for new york city and i have great love nor new york state and were going to help them a lot. Were sending our ships up there were sending more than this ship. We may be using if we need, well use some cruise ships you have been reading about. Well use them also, theyre very immediate, very quick, they can be there very quickly. We have good docking systems in the places were talking about so we may be some of the cruise liners that were talking about. No, i think bill de blasio is working very hard. I think he is trying very hard. It is a tough situation for him and every mayor. Because nobody has ever seen the scale. You know when you hear, you have given millions of masks and you have given hundreds of thousands of masks in a certain short period of time. Then you hear they need many, many more, you know, one of things i have started with respect to masks is the sterilization process. Some are, you know, are, it works very well. Others are not really set up that way, you throw them out. But we have a sterilization process that is working very hard. Speaking of that, hand sanitizers, you know when you asked the question on the companies and whats going on, we have many companies, companies that made whiskey, that made alcohol, they have now gone very quickly into the hand sanitizers and all of, youve been reading about three or four big companies. Were doing incredibly well on that. There was no way, if you took the existing companies that Something Like that could happen. But it happens almost, they will call Peter Navarro or call somebody. In one case they called me. We can do this, we can do that. Weve had a lot of those calls where Companies Want to, there is company in new hampshire, a Great Company want to make ventilators. I never thought for them to make ventilators. They make metal equipment. Things out of metal. They will make a great product. Peter, youre seeing a lot of that . Yes, sir. Please please. Reporter bill contemplated by senate has a fund hundreds of billions of dollars for the Treasury Department to use to bail out states, locality toss as well as specific industries and cruises hotels. Will you commit none of that money will go towards your personal every time i do, i committed publicly i wouldnt take the 450,000dollar salary. That is lot of money. Whether youre rich or not. Jon fox news will continue coverage of coronavirus from the white house, for fox stations leaving us. Stay tuned [ ] [ ] lou david good evening, im david asman in for lou dobbs. Louis in selfconsider lou is in selfquarantine. One of his team members tested positive. Out of an abundance of caution, he and his team are taking the necessary precautions. President trump is leading the charge in the nations fight against the covid19 virus. His message is one of american unity, one of american optimism. E
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