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Remarks by Trump, Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing, 04-21-2020
REMARKS
Remarks by President Trump and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing
HEALTHCARE
Issued on: April 21, 2020
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
5:46 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much everyone. We had a very big day today. I want to start by saying that our love and prayers of every American continue to be with our fellow citizens who have lost a cherished friend or a family member to the virus.
{snip}
So, Steve, please come up. Say a few words. Steve? Yeah.
SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you for all your work with us to get this passed. Id especially like to thank Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer and the entire Senate for passing this. Id also like to thank Kevin McCarthy and Nancy Pelosi, who have been working with us around the clock as well, and our Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, who was also very instrumental in this.
Let me just comment. Weve had tremendous support for the PPP. This gives us another $310 billion for the PPP. We look forward to the House passing this tomorrow and being up and running quickly after that.
This also gives us $50 billion for disaster loans, EIDL loans. That will allow the SBA to make $300 billion of disaster loans, all for small businesses. It also allows us, as the President said, more money to hospitals and an unprecedented amount of money for testing. And again, I think we understand hospitals not only the hospitals that have been impacted by coronavirus, but more importantly, many hospitals that have been shut down, and making sure that the doctors and nurses get money.
Now, let me make just one more comment on the program. We have over a million companies that have received this with less than 10 workers. So there is very broad participation in really small business. I will comment there have been some big businesses that have taken these loans. I was pleased to see that Shake Shack returned the money. We will be putting out some FAQs. There is a certification that people are making.
And I asked people just make sure: The intent of this was for business that needed the money. Well put out an FAQ. But again, the intent of this money was not for big public companies that have access to capital.
THE PRESIDENT: And not for Harvard, you might say, Steve.
Q So, Mr. Secretary, are you going to request that those other companies because obviously Shake Shack was not alone in being a big company that got money in this. Are you going to be asking
THE PRESIDENT: Im going to request.
Q Youre going to ask them
THE PRESIDENT: Im going to request.
Q to return that money?
THE PRESIDENT: Yep.
SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Yeah, I would
THE PRESIDENT: Harvard is going to pay back the money. And they shouldnt be taking it. So, Harvard is going to. You have a number of them. Im not going to mention any other names. But when I saw Harvard, they have a one of the largest endowments anywhere in the country, maybe in the world, I guess. And theyre going to pay back that money.
SECRETARY MNUCHIN: And I just I just want to clarify
THE PRESIDENT: They shouldnt have taken it.
{snip}
SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Thank you, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Steve. See you later.
That was a nice question, actually. Its a good question, too.
So the noble fight against the invisible enemy has inflicted a steep toll on the American workforce. As we all know, millions of Americans sacrificed their jobs in order to battle the virus and save the lives of our fellow citizens. We have a solemn duty to ensure these unemployed Americans regain their jobs and their livelihoods.
Therefore, in order to protect American workers, I will be issuing a temporary suspension of immigration into the United States; you heard about that last night. By pausing immigration, well help put unemployed Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens. So important. It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad. We must first take care of the American worker take care of the American worker.
This pause will be in effect for 60 days, after which the need for any extension or modification will be evaluated by myself and a group of people, based on economic conditions at the time. This order will only apply to individuals seeking a permanent residency. In other words, those receiving green cards a big factor it will not apply to those entering on a temporary basis.
{snip}
Q Mr. President, if I can
THE PRESIDENT: Bret, do you have a question?
Q Well, I think you wanted to follow up on the hydroxychloroquine and the
Q Yeah, the hydroxychloroquine. Im wondering if youre concerned this VA study showed that actually more people died that used the drug than didnt. And Im wondering if Governor Cuomo brought you back any results on
THE PRESIDENT: No, we didnt discuss it, and I dont know of the report. Obviously, there have been some very good reports and perhaps this one is not a good report. But well be looking at it. Well have a comment on it as soon
Q And a panel of experts at the NIH is actually now recommending against the use of hydroxychloroquine in combination with Z-Pak, which is something youve
THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Well, well take a look at that.
Q been recommending.
THE PRESIDENT: Im always willing to take a look.
{snip}
Q As you know, a lot of farmers rely on seasonal migrant workers that come in on the H-2A.
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, thats not going to be affected. The farmers will not be
Q Are you going to (inaudible) carve-out
THE PRESIDENT: Thats an important point.
Q for the seasonal H-2A workers?
THE PRESIDENT: The farmers will not be affected. Yeah, thats a very important point. I mean, its a great point, actually. Im Im glad you brought it up. No, the farmers will not be affected.
Q Your EO will have a carve-out for those workers (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, theyve had cases where they where they stopped everybody from coming in, and all the farmers went out of business. They were literally out of business. You remember that, Bret. It was not so long ago. But they its easy you know, its easier to stop everything cold than it is to plan it so that the farmers have the people that have been working on those farms for many years. And and thats what were doing.
No, the farmers will not be affected by this at all. If anything, were going to make it easier, and were doing a process thatll make it better for those workers to come in, to go to the farm where theyve been for a long time.
{snip}
Q The flight ban is still in place. How confident are you that the Chinese are not going to use invoke the natural disaster clause to just wait before getting into their
THE PRESIDENT: Well, were going to see. Look, theres nobody ever been tougher on China than me. And that means for 20 years. You go back 20 years. I probably got elected, at least partially, on the fact that Ive been very tough. I said China has been ripping us off for years. Id go into Michigan, Id go into Pennsylvania, and make speeches unrelated to being a politician. Id be invited. Id be speaking to people which I like to do because I love the people, I love the people of this country. And Id make speeches nobody Id say, How did you let this happen with China?
I even asked the leaders of China, How how did this ever happen where our country loses tens of billions of dollars a year? And I dont mean just tens. Take a look: $200 billion, $300 billion, $400 billion, $500 billion a year. How did they ever let a thing like this happen?
Now, if you look at this last year, the deficit went way down. And Im talking about even before; now its much different. But a lot of things are happening. Great things were happening, except, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, came the invisible enemy. And we think we know where it came from, and well be talking about that probably a lot. But came the invisible enemy. Theres been nobody tougher than me on China.
Q So you have no guarantee that they are going to go ahead with this phase one?
THE PRESIDENT: No, no. But if that happens, well do a termination and well do what I can do better than anybody.
Yeah, please.
Q Mr. President, on China: Have U.S. intelligence analysts told you that they think that the virus escaped from a Chinese research lab, that it was infected someone?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I cant tell you that. Have U.S. intelligence agents told me I mean, what kind of a question is that?
Q Do you feel do feel confident about it, that that happened?
THE PRESIDENT: I cant I cant. You want me to tell you oh, let me tell you what they told me. Look, they told me plenty. They told me plenty.
Bret?
Q I wanted to follow up on you said about the small business program, Harvard is going to pay the money back. How confident are you that you can claw back money from places like Harvard?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, Im going to have to look. I dont like when Harvard that has, I think, a $40 billion endowment or some incredible amount of money that Harvard gets this money. Harvard should pay that money back. I want Harvard to pay the money back. Okay? And if they wont do that, then we wont do something else. They have to pay it back. I dont like it. I dont like it.
This is meant for workers. This isnt meant for one of the richest institutions, not only far beyond schools in the world. They got to pay it back. I want them to pay it back.
Yeah.
Q Mr. President, your Florida clubs have had to furlough workers
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. Thats true.
Q Have you thought about, you know, asking your family members to maybe keep some of those workers on the payroll to help sending them to the federal coffer? Weve seen companies other companies do that.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I you know, yeah. In Doral, youre not allowed to have the golf courses open. You cant have the clubs open. You cant have anything. Its a its a big hotel and resort. And I think theres probably 700, 750 people. So you cant have anything open. And you say, What are we going to do? Have full payroll and have the whole place with You know, theres no income coming in.
First of all, everyones home and theyre supposed to be. Second of all, in Florida, you cant use golf courses. That one, Im not sure I agree with. You know, you have parks and golf courses where you have open space. But thats what it is.
So I have others also. Then I have others in different states. I have a lot of different properties. But again, my children run them, and I love my children and I wish them well. I look forward to comparing my numbers to my childrens numbers. I think Ill do better.
Q You havent thought about asking them to keep these
THE PRESIDENT: You understand that. Its called closed property, its like, you know, you have to close them up and then hopefully when things get better, well just open it up. But you cant have, you know, many hundreds of employees standing around doing nothing. Theres no customer. Youre not allowed to have a customer.
So, in some places, its very strict. New Jersey is strict. New York is strict. And you have to do what you have to do. And its too bad. I feel so badly when I see that. I think that its a tough policy, but I go by whatever the policy thats a state policy, in the case of Florida.
{snip}
THE PRESIDENT: We want to have you back soon. Thank you very much.
Thank you, everybody.
END
6:56 P.M. EDT
Remarks by President Trump and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing
HEALTHCARE
Issued on: April 21, 2020
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
5:46 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much everyone. We had a very big day today. I want to start by saying that our love and prayers of every American continue to be with our fellow citizens who have lost a cherished friend or a family member to the virus.
{snip}
So, Steve, please come up. Say a few words. Steve? Yeah.
SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you for all your work with us to get this passed. Id especially like to thank Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer and the entire Senate for passing this. Id also like to thank Kevin McCarthy and Nancy Pelosi, who have been working with us around the clock as well, and our Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, who was also very instrumental in this.
Let me just comment. Weve had tremendous support for the PPP. This gives us another $310 billion for the PPP. We look forward to the House passing this tomorrow and being up and running quickly after that.
This also gives us $50 billion for disaster loans, EIDL loans. That will allow the SBA to make $300 billion of disaster loans, all for small businesses. It also allows us, as the President said, more money to hospitals and an unprecedented amount of money for testing. And again, I think we understand hospitals not only the hospitals that have been impacted by coronavirus, but more importantly, many hospitals that have been shut down, and making sure that the doctors and nurses get money.
Now, let me make just one more comment on the program. We have over a million companies that have received this with less than 10 workers. So there is very broad participation in really small business. I will comment there have been some big businesses that have taken these loans. I was pleased to see that Shake Shack returned the money. We will be putting out some FAQs. There is a certification that people are making.
And I asked people just make sure: The intent of this was for business that needed the money. Well put out an FAQ. But again, the intent of this money was not for big public companies that have access to capital.
THE PRESIDENT: And not for Harvard, you might say, Steve.
Q So, Mr. Secretary, are you going to request that those other companies because obviously Shake Shack was not alone in being a big company that got money in this. Are you going to be asking
THE PRESIDENT: Im going to request.
Q Youre going to ask them
THE PRESIDENT: Im going to request.
Q to return that money?
THE PRESIDENT: Yep.
SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Yeah, I would
THE PRESIDENT: Harvard is going to pay back the money. And they shouldnt be taking it. So, Harvard is going to. You have a number of them. Im not going to mention any other names. But when I saw Harvard, they have a one of the largest endowments anywhere in the country, maybe in the world, I guess. And theyre going to pay back that money.
SECRETARY MNUCHIN: And I just I just want to clarify
THE PRESIDENT: They shouldnt have taken it.
{snip}
SECRETARY MNUCHIN: Thank you, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Steve. See you later.
That was a nice question, actually. Its a good question, too.
So the noble fight against the invisible enemy has inflicted a steep toll on the American workforce. As we all know, millions of Americans sacrificed their jobs in order to battle the virus and save the lives of our fellow citizens. We have a solemn duty to ensure these unemployed Americans regain their jobs and their livelihoods.
Therefore, in order to protect American workers, I will be issuing a temporary suspension of immigration into the United States; you heard about that last night. By pausing immigration, well help put unemployed Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens. So important. It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad. We must first take care of the American worker take care of the American worker.
This pause will be in effect for 60 days, after which the need for any extension or modification will be evaluated by myself and a group of people, based on economic conditions at the time. This order will only apply to individuals seeking a permanent residency. In other words, those receiving green cards a big factor it will not apply to those entering on a temporary basis.
{snip}
Q Mr. President, if I can
THE PRESIDENT: Bret, do you have a question?
Q Well, I think you wanted to follow up on the hydroxychloroquine and the
Q Yeah, the hydroxychloroquine. Im wondering if youre concerned this VA study showed that actually more people died that used the drug than didnt. And Im wondering if Governor Cuomo brought you back any results on
THE PRESIDENT: No, we didnt discuss it, and I dont know of the report. Obviously, there have been some very good reports and perhaps this one is not a good report. But well be looking at it. Well have a comment on it as soon
Q And a panel of experts at the NIH is actually now recommending against the use of hydroxychloroquine in combination with Z-Pak, which is something youve
THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Well, well take a look at that.
Q been recommending.
THE PRESIDENT: Im always willing to take a look.
{snip}
Q As you know, a lot of farmers rely on seasonal migrant workers that come in on the H-2A.
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, thats not going to be affected. The farmers will not be
Q Are you going to (inaudible) carve-out
THE PRESIDENT: Thats an important point.
Q for the seasonal H-2A workers?
THE PRESIDENT: The farmers will not be affected. Yeah, thats a very important point. I mean, its a great point, actually. Im Im glad you brought it up. No, the farmers will not be affected.
Q Your EO will have a carve-out for those workers (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, theyve had cases where they where they stopped everybody from coming in, and all the farmers went out of business. They were literally out of business. You remember that, Bret. It was not so long ago. But they its easy you know, its easier to stop everything cold than it is to plan it so that the farmers have the people that have been working on those farms for many years. And and thats what were doing.
No, the farmers will not be affected by this at all. If anything, were going to make it easier, and were doing a process thatll make it better for those workers to come in, to go to the farm where theyve been for a long time.
{snip}
Q The flight ban is still in place. How confident are you that the Chinese are not going to use invoke the natural disaster clause to just wait before getting into their
THE PRESIDENT: Well, were going to see. Look, theres nobody ever been tougher on China than me. And that means for 20 years. You go back 20 years. I probably got elected, at least partially, on the fact that Ive been very tough. I said China has been ripping us off for years. Id go into Michigan, Id go into Pennsylvania, and make speeches unrelated to being a politician. Id be invited. Id be speaking to people which I like to do because I love the people, I love the people of this country. And Id make speeches nobody Id say, How did you let this happen with China?
I even asked the leaders of China, How how did this ever happen where our country loses tens of billions of dollars a year? And I dont mean just tens. Take a look: $200 billion, $300 billion, $400 billion, $500 billion a year. How did they ever let a thing like this happen?
Now, if you look at this last year, the deficit went way down. And Im talking about even before; now its much different. But a lot of things are happening. Great things were happening, except, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, came the invisible enemy. And we think we know where it came from, and well be talking about that probably a lot. But came the invisible enemy. Theres been nobody tougher than me on China.
Q So you have no guarantee that they are going to go ahead with this phase one?
THE PRESIDENT: No, no. But if that happens, well do a termination and well do what I can do better than anybody.
Yeah, please.
Q Mr. President, on China: Have U.S. intelligence analysts told you that they think that the virus escaped from a Chinese research lab, that it was infected someone?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I cant tell you that. Have U.S. intelligence agents told me I mean, what kind of a question is that?
Q Do you feel do feel confident about it, that that happened?
THE PRESIDENT: I cant I cant. You want me to tell you oh, let me tell you what they told me. Look, they told me plenty. They told me plenty.
Bret?
Q I wanted to follow up on you said about the small business program, Harvard is going to pay the money back. How confident are you that you can claw back money from places like Harvard?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, Im going to have to look. I dont like when Harvard that has, I think, a $40 billion endowment or some incredible amount of money that Harvard gets this money. Harvard should pay that money back. I want Harvard to pay the money back. Okay? And if they wont do that, then we wont do something else. They have to pay it back. I dont like it. I dont like it.
This is meant for workers. This isnt meant for one of the richest institutions, not only far beyond schools in the world. They got to pay it back. I want them to pay it back.
Yeah.
Q Mr. President, your Florida clubs have had to furlough workers
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. Thats true.
Q Have you thought about, you know, asking your family members to maybe keep some of those workers on the payroll to help sending them to the federal coffer? Weve seen companies other companies do that.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I you know, yeah. In Doral, youre not allowed to have the golf courses open. You cant have the clubs open. You cant have anything. Its a its a big hotel and resort. And I think theres probably 700, 750 people. So you cant have anything open. And you say, What are we going to do? Have full payroll and have the whole place with You know, theres no income coming in.
First of all, everyones home and theyre supposed to be. Second of all, in Florida, you cant use golf courses. That one, Im not sure I agree with. You know, you have parks and golf courses where you have open space. But thats what it is.
So I have others also. Then I have others in different states. I have a lot of different properties. But again, my children run them, and I love my children and I wish them well. I look forward to comparing my numbers to my childrens numbers. I think Ill do better.
Q You havent thought about asking them to keep these
THE PRESIDENT: You understand that. Its called closed property, its like, you know, you have to close them up and then hopefully when things get better, well just open it up. But you cant have, you know, many hundreds of employees standing around doing nothing. Theres no customer. Youre not allowed to have a customer.
So, in some places, its very strict. New Jersey is strict. New York is strict. And you have to do what you have to do. And its too bad. I feel so badly when I see that. I think that its a tough policy, but I go by whatever the policy thats a state policy, in the case of Florida.
{snip}
THE PRESIDENT: We want to have you back soon. Thank you very much.
Thank you, everybody.
END
6:56 P.M. EDT
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