President Donald Trump said in a Fox News town hall that he wants the country re-opened by Easter.
Speaking to Fox News’ Bill Hemmer on Wednesday, Trump said, “We’re opening up this incredible country because we have to do that. I’d love to have it open by Easter, okay, I would love to have it open by Easter, I will tell you that right now.”
The president continued, “I would love to have that, it’s such an important day for other reasons but I’ll make it an important day for this too. I would love to have the country opened up and just rearing to go by Easter.”
Hemmer seemed a bit surprised by Trump’s timeline, saying, “That would be a great American resurrection, two and a half weeks from now.”
Here’s that clip:
Trump on ending social distancing: “I would love to have it opened by Easter.” (That’s April 12)
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 24, 2020
“That would be a great American resurrection,” host Bill Hemmer replies. pic.twitter.com/G1AhP1biNI
Trump has been pushing for the country to re-open as Congress negotiates a massive bailout package and the stock market lumps along after the initial plummet following the escalation of the coronavirus.
In a Tuesday morning tweet, Trump wrote, “Our people want to return to work. They will practice Social Distancing and all else, and Seniors will be watched over protectively [and] lovingly. We can do two things together. THE CURE CANNOT BE WORSE (by far) THAN THE PROBLEM! Congress MUST ACT NOW. We will come back strong!”
Our people want to return to work. They will practice Social Distancing and all else, and Seniors will be watched over protectively & lovingly. We can do two things together. THE CURE CANNOT BE WORSE (by far) THAN THE PROBLEM! Congress MUST ACT NOW. We will come back strong!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2020
But while Trump is envisioning a short timeline, America is just starting to feel the brunt of the virus. On Tuesday, the United States recorded its 600 death from the coronavirus.
Some Republicans have disagreed with Trump’s push to re-open the country. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wy.) tweeted on Tuesday, “There will be no normally functioning economy if our hospitals are overwhelmed and thousands of Americans of all ages, including our doctors and nurses, lay dying because we have failed to do what’s necessary to stop the virus.”
