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Trump to give Oval Office speech amid coronavirus crisis – live Trump says US to suspend travel from Europe in coronavirus speech – live
(32 minutes later)
Administration said to be weighing more aggressive response Restrictions will not apply to UK, president says
In his brief address, the president continued to signal that the pandemic is mainly a threat outside American borders, without fully acknowledging that the coronavirus is spreading within the US.
Trump said that the US is doing better than Europe. “The EU failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots,” he said. “As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe.”
But whereas European nations have rolled out widespread testing, it’s still unclear how many cases we’ve had in America.
The president also said he’ll take “emergency action” to provide relief to workers who are affected. He said he’s asking Congress for $50bn for small business loans. He called for “immediate” payroll tax cuts.
“We made a life-saving move with early action on China. Now we must take the same action with Europe,” Trump said, referring to earlier restrictions on travel between China and the US.
He also downplayed warnings of a potential recession: “This is not a financial crisis, this is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome as a nation and as a world,” he said.
The restrictions will not apply to the UK, he said. The travel restriction will start Friday, and last for 30 days amid virus outbreak.
Trump also encouraged older Americans to avoid travel if possible. Older people “must be very, very careful,” he said, calling on nursing homes to suspend “medically unnecessary visits.”
He reviewed other measures his administration is taking to address the pandemic.
“The vast majority of Americans, the risk is very, very low,” he said. But he said that older Americans should avoid travel, and endorsed social distancing and avoiding large gatherings. “Every community faces different risks,” he noted and encouraged Americans to listen to local officials.
“We are marshaling the full power of the federal government and the private sector,” Trump began. ‘We will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus”
The president is taking a somber tone and appears to be sticking to the teleprompter.
Nancy Pelosi took a call from Mike Pence and Anthony Fauci, ahead of the president’s address. Her chief of staff Drew Hammill said the spoke about “forthcoming emergency House legislation and Administration efforts to combat coronavirus”.Nancy Pelosi took a call from Mike Pence and Anthony Fauci, ahead of the president’s address. Her chief of staff Drew Hammill said the spoke about “forthcoming emergency House legislation and Administration efforts to combat coronavirus”.
As we await the president’s address on the coronavirus threat and his administrations proposed response, the Guardian’s Kenya Evelyn and Julian Borger report on where things stand:As we await the president’s address on the coronavirus threat and his administrations proposed response, the Guardian’s Kenya Evelyn and Julian Borger report on where things stand:
Chelsea Manning is recovering in the hospital after an attempted suicide, her attornies have said. Manning, a former intelligence analyst, was jailed for contempt after she declined to testify in the government’s long-running investigation into WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange.Chelsea Manning is recovering in the hospital after an attempted suicide, her attornies have said. Manning, a former intelligence analyst, was jailed for contempt after she declined to testify in the government’s long-running investigation into WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange.
Manning is still scheduled to appear in court on Friday, where a judge is expected to rule on whether to drop the contempt sanctions against her.Manning is still scheduled to appear in court on Friday, where a judge is expected to rule on whether to drop the contempt sanctions against her.
“In spite of those sanctions — which have so far included over a year of so-called ‘coercive’ incarceration and nearly half a million dollars in threatened fines — she remains unwavering in her refusal to participate in a secret grand jury process that she sees as highly susceptible to abuse,” her attorneys said in a statement. “Ms Manning has previously indicated that she will not betray her principles, even at risk of grave harm to herself.”“In spite of those sanctions — which have so far included over a year of so-called ‘coercive’ incarceration and nearly half a million dollars in threatened fines — she remains unwavering in her refusal to participate in a secret grand jury process that she sees as highly susceptible to abuse,” her attorneys said in a statement. “Ms Manning has previously indicated that she will not betray her principles, even at risk of grave harm to herself.”
Manning objects to testifying because she sees the Wikileaks investigation as “an effort to frighten journalists and publishers, who serve a crucial public good” her lawyers noted.Manning objects to testifying because she sees the Wikileaks investigation as “an effort to frighten journalists and publishers, who serve a crucial public good” her lawyers noted.
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or emailjo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found atwww.befrienders.org.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or emailjo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found atwww.befrienders.org.
Joe Biden’s campaign expects to net about the same number of delegates from the six contests on Tuesday as the campaign collected from the more than dozen states on Super Tuesday. As a result, the campaign is arguing that it’s “nearly impossible” for Vermont senator Bernie Sanders to catch up to Biden’s delegate lead.Joe Biden’s campaign expects to net about the same number of delegates from the six contests on Tuesday as the campaign collected from the more than dozen states on Super Tuesday. As a result, the campaign is arguing that it’s “nearly impossible” for Vermont senator Bernie Sanders to catch up to Biden’s delegate lead.
That’s according to an internal campaign memo obtained by The Guardian. The memo comes a day after Biden trounced Sanders in the latest round of Democratic primary contests on Tuesday.That’s according to an internal campaign memo obtained by The Guardian. The memo comes a day after Biden trounced Sanders in the latest round of Democratic primary contests on Tuesday.
“Votes are still being counted, but it appears that we will net somewhere around 70-80 delegates from March 10 contests alone,” the memo reads. “For context, on a day we expected would be the toughest day for us in the March calendar, we netted approximately the same number of delegates that we netted on Super Tuesday. This brings our total projected delegate lead to approximately 160.”“Votes are still being counted, but it appears that we will net somewhere around 70-80 delegates from March 10 contests alone,” the memo reads. “For context, on a day we expected would be the toughest day for us in the March calendar, we netted approximately the same number of delegates that we netted on Super Tuesday. This brings our total projected delegate lead to approximately 160.”
Sanders’ path forward is precarious. He trails Biden by over 150 delegates. Biden beat Sanders in Michigan on Tuesday, the most delegate-rich state of the six and one that Sanders surprisingly won in 2016. Sanders in a press conference on Wednesday said he planned to still stay in the race but conceded the path is difficult for him. In a fundraising email to supporters, Sanders said: “we are winning — very clearly — the ideological debate, we are losing, right now, the electability debate.”Sanders’ path forward is precarious. He trails Biden by over 150 delegates. Biden beat Sanders in Michigan on Tuesday, the most delegate-rich state of the six and one that Sanders surprisingly won in 2016. Sanders in a press conference on Wednesday said he planned to still stay in the race but conceded the path is difficult for him. In a fundraising email to supporters, Sanders said: “we are winning — very clearly — the ideological debate, we are losing, right now, the electability debate.”
According to the memo, the Biden campaign sees the next few states as advantageous for the former vice president. “The states that vote next - Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia - have been some of our strongest, and we expect to significantly expand our delegate lead in those highly-supportive, delegate-rich states. Of 682 delegates awarded in those states, conservative estimates have us winning more than 400 delegates and netting more than 150 delegates.”According to the memo, the Biden campaign sees the next few states as advantageous for the former vice president. “The states that vote next - Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia - have been some of our strongest, and we expect to significantly expand our delegate lead in those highly-supportive, delegate-rich states. Of 682 delegates awarded in those states, conservative estimates have us winning more than 400 delegates and netting more than 150 delegates.”
The memo concludes: “Should our broad base of support remain - and we have seen no signs that would indicate otherwise - it will be nearly impossible for Sanders to recoup his current delegate disadvantage.”The memo concludes: “Should our broad base of support remain - and we have seen no signs that would indicate otherwise - it will be nearly impossible for Sanders to recoup his current delegate disadvantage.”
It’s unclear what, exactly, Donald Trump will say when he addresses the coronavirus threat tonight. But after seeking to downplay the severity of the situation for weeks, it seems something has shifted.It’s unclear what, exactly, Donald Trump will say when he addresses the coronavirus threat tonight. But after seeking to downplay the severity of the situation for weeks, it seems something has shifted.
The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman reports one potential reason why:The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman reports one potential reason why:
We’ll see the extent to which Trump will continue to play down the outbreak, and introduce plans to mitigate the spread of the disease and its impact.We’ll see the extent to which Trump will continue to play down the outbreak, and introduce plans to mitigate the spread of the disease and its impact.
Sanders now faces a dramatic choice about the future of his candidacy: to continue leading a grinding, uphill battle or to bow to pressure to drop out for the sake of party unity as it faces up to Donald Trump in the November election.Sanders now faces a dramatic choice about the future of his candidacy: to continue leading a grinding, uphill battle or to bow to pressure to drop out for the sake of party unity as it faces up to Donald Trump in the November election.
“Prematurely writing him off is about the worst thing that we could do,” Congressman Ro Khanna, one of Sanders’ national co-chairs, said. Sanders “represents the least fortunate, the most vulnerable, and, in certain cases, the most angry about the economic system”.“Prematurely writing him off is about the worst thing that we could do,” Congressman Ro Khanna, one of Sanders’ national co-chairs, said. Sanders “represents the least fortunate, the most vulnerable, and, in certain cases, the most angry about the economic system”.
“We need him to continue to express their voice, their needs and their concerns,” he said.“We need him to continue to express their voice, their needs and their concerns,” he said.
Donald Trump is scheduled to depart tomorrow for Las Vegas, where he will speak at a Republican Jewish Coalition event. UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is still on the agenda as well, despite concerns over coronavirus.Donald Trump is scheduled to depart tomorrow for Las Vegas, where he will speak at a Republican Jewish Coalition event. UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is still on the agenda as well, despite concerns over coronavirus.
The Trump campaign has held off on announcing any more rallies, but the president has otherwise tried a business-as-usual approach. Even as Joe Biden moved to virtual campaign events, Trump’s 2020 team announce a “Catholics for Trump” event in Milwaukee next week.The Trump campaign has held off on announcing any more rallies, but the president has otherwise tried a business-as-usual approach. Even as Joe Biden moved to virtual campaign events, Trump’s 2020 team announce a “Catholics for Trump” event in Milwaukee next week.
Trump said he hasn’t been tested for a coronavirus infection. In Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, there have been five confirmed cases.Trump said he hasn’t been tested for a coronavirus infection. In Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, there have been five confirmed cases.
Two Americans and a British soldier are reported to have been killed and 11 others injured, by a rocket attack on a coalition base in Iraq, according to US defense officials.
Within hours airstrikes were reported on an area of the Iraqi-Syrian border used as a base by an Iran-backed militia, raising fears of a fresh round of US-Iranian escalation that brought both countries close to war in January.
Camp Taji, just north of Baghdad, was hit by between 15 and 30 Katyusha rockets on Wednesday evening. The French Press Agency said that three dead were a US soldier, a US contractor and a British soldier.
The administration celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the enforcement of a policy that makes asylum seekers wait in Mexico for US court hearings. The “Remain in Mexico” policy will be upheld while a lawsuit challenging it continues.
In a statement, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said, “Today’s order from the Supreme Court is a major victory for the Trump Administration.”
“The Court has prevented dangerous chaos at the southern border, avoided a significant escalation in public health threats, and mitigated damage to foreign relations,” she continued. “Open borders do not serve the American public, and we will always strongly enforce the laws at our borders and airports.”
The Trump administration has pushed border enforcement as a means of protecting Americans from the spread of coronavirus, despite evidence that chaos and fear at the border could hinder efforts to contain the diseases.
The House approved a resolution to limit Donald Trump’s ability to order direct military action against Iran without authorization from Congress. The Senate has also passed the bill, but it’s expected to be vetoed by Trump.
Lawmakers introduced the bill after Trump ordered a strike to kill Iranian general Qasem Suleimani, bringing the US to the brink of war, without consulting Consulting congress.
Bernie Sanders has received the endorsement of the progressive Jewish group IfNotNow.
“As a movement of young Jews fighting for freedom and dignity for all, we are proud to be the first Jewish organization to endorse Senator Bernie Sanders for President,” said Dani Moscovitch, the group’s co-founder. “We are inspired and moved to action by Bernie and the #NotMeUs movement, which deeply embodies the Jewish call to pursue justice and repair our broken world.”
The endorsement isn’t too surprising. IfNotNow is a 35,000-member group advocating for the end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sanders, the only Jewish candidate in the race, has been an outspoken critic of the Israeli government, calling its policies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip “racist”.
According to a poll by Tufts University Tisch College, Biden won a majority of young voters’ support in Mississippi, as he cemented his frontrunner status yesterday.
The key factor here appears to be race. According to the Tufts analyists:
During a press conference earlier today Bernie Sanders emphasized that while he’s behind in the delegate count, he’s consistently won over young voters. That still appears to be broadly true: but at least according to this poll, up close, the picture is a bit more complex.
Hi there, it’s Maanvi Singh taking over from the West Coast.
Donald Trump is expected to announce an executive order that insists on the use of American made medical supplies in response to the coronavirus outbreak, according to the AP. The administration is considering more aggressive measures and funding in response to concerns that its initial reaction to the pandemic was insufficient, the AP reports, citing an anonymous source. The Guardian has not independently verified the news.
Trump will be delivering a statement on the coronavirus outbreak tonight at 9pm ET.
That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
Bernie Sanders said he would continue in the Democratic presidential primary, despite a string of disappointing losses last night. The Vermont senator said he looked forward to discussing his policy difference with Joe Biden during Sunday’s debate.
Trump said he would deliver a statement on coronavirus tonight, after the WHO declared the outbreak of the illness to be a pandemic. The president will address the nation at 9 pm ET.
The Dow entered bear-market territory for the first time since the financial crisis, dropping more than 1,400 points amid intensifying fears about the spread of coronavirus.
Campaign schedules are being altered in response to coronavirus. Biden and Sanders canceled their rallies yesterday in Clevleand, and Biden announced today that two upcoming events in Illinois and Florida would be made into virtual events.
The Supreme Court decided the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy could stay in place as legal challenges to the rule played out. A lower court had recently blocked the policy, an order that was set to go into effect tomorrow.
Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Ever since the race narrowed to Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, activists hoping for diversity on the ticket have set their sights on the second-in-line.
And the Veepstakes are in full swing.
On Tuesday, She the People, a group focused on increasing political power among women of color, released the findings of a survey they conducted with members about their top choices for vice president.
At the top of the list: Stacey Abrams and Kamala Harris.
Women of color are the party’s most loyal constituency and the remaining candidates – both white men – are facing mounting pressure to select a woman and/or a person of color as a running mate.
The She the People poll included several elected officials and politicians – all women of color. Among them were: Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, Val Demings and Tammy Duckworth.
Earlier on Wednesday, a group of influential Democratic leaders sent a letter to the Democratic National Committee demanding that the next nominee commit to choosing a woman to be his vice president and to filling at least half of the administration’s cabinet positions with women.
Trump said he would deliver his statement on the coronavirus pandemic at 9 pm ET.
The president had initially told reporters the statement would be delivered “probably at 8 o’clock.”
Trump ignored questions on what he intended to say tonight, but he noted the address would include both economic and health announcements.
Joe Biden has announced more campaign schedule changes due to coronavirus, after already canceling two events because of the pandemic.
The presidential candidate announced a Friday event in Illinois and a Monday event in Florida would both become virrtual events in order to limit any potential spread of coronavirus.
Biden’s team announced earlier today that it had created a public health advisory committee to help make decisions about campaign logisitics as the number of US coronavirus cases rises.
Biden is also scheduled to deliver remarks on the coronavirus pandemic tomorrow in his home state of Delaware.