President Trump LIVE Briefings March 25, 2020 5PM ET

See the FULL BRIEFING (starts at 54 minutes)

Here are notes:

President Trump:

• America gaining ground
• Thank you people for answering call and following guidelines; making sacrifices required
• commit to social distancing - so important - do it right now
• the more lives we can save, the sooner we can get people back to work, school, back to normal
• large sections of country can go back sooner than other sections - they are looking at this as an alternative ("absolutely")
• approved Major Disaster Declarations for : New York, California, Washington, Iowa, Louisianna, Texas, Florida  - has great legal significance
• large grouping of people who soley communicates with officials  55:19
• NY is the hottest spot - tough weeks ahead of them
• NY Gov doing a good job (they just spoke last night and this morning); Gov thinks they are using appropriately the Defense Production Act (they are using it where needed, great point of leverage and negotiating tool)
• Tremendous spirit with respect to these companies - GM, FORD, 3M, others are involved working very hard to produce all different products (Trump doesn't need to use DPA much at all)
• gave away product as fast as they could
• also building hospitals - etc... ie. NY Convention Center, 4 hospitals and medical centers there
• working hard on helping NY - biggest problem by far - a lot of good capable people working on it with them and the state reps
• doing large testings throughout the country 
• President Moon - South Korea - they did a good job testing but USA is doing more in 8 days than they do in 8 weeks
• President of Japan - congrats on a wise choice - fantastic Olympics 2021 - absolute right decision to delay for a full year; congratulate the IOC and Prime Minister - Trump told him "I'll be there."
• protecting lives and livelihoods - Senate close to passing American Relief Bill - in addition to 2 bills already signed - includes paid sick leave at no cost to the employers, family things
• 2.2 Trillion legislative package bigger than anything passed in Congress (thinks); money goes to jobs and families
• FDR New Deal Days may have been bigger (this is bigger in terms of dollars)
• 350 billion in job retention loans for small businesses; loan forgiveness available for biz who keep paying their workers; keep them on the payroll
• 300 billion in direct cash payments - if American citizen earns less than 99K per year  =$3400 for the typical family of 4 (@1 hour)
• 250 billion in expanded unemployment benefits - 100% of his/her salary for up to 4 months - Independent Contractors and Self-Employed will be eligible
• 100+ billion to support doctors, nurses, hospitals
• 45 billion Disaster Relief Fund (more than doubling amount available to support his National Emergency & Disaster Declarations)
• 27 billion build-up Strategic National Stock Pile with critical supplies (masks, respirators, pharmaceuticals) - was depleted like the military (now we have a new military - planes, missiles, rockets... etc coming soon)
• Significant funding for vaccines development on top of the 8 billion already approved weeks ago
• over 500 billion  in support for hardest hit industries - ban on corporate stock buy backs - TRUMP insisted on - Both Republicans & Demos wanted that - use the $ for the companies, planes, whatever they need to help get over the "rough patch"
• Trump doesn't think it will be rough patch - when open - it will go like a rocket ship  - go good and quickly
• there will be tough new limits on executive compensation also - they need the money - they will have to make things work bc interested in the workers and jobs and the companies (fuels the workers)
• 16 billion - personal protective equipment - masks, respirators, thru Strategic Stock Pile
• asked HOUSE to pass Legislation - he will sign immediately without delay - it will be a great day for American people and companies
• hidden enemy = the virus
• earlier today spoke with Non-Profits - thanked them for unwaivering devotion to people; they have been fantastic - distributing food, supplies, helping vulnerable workers - great people he knows a lot of them
• update on critical supplies;
  FEMA shipping 9.4 million N95 respirators, 20 million surgical masks delivered quickly, 3.1 million face shield, 2.6 million surgical gowns, 14.6 million gloves, almost 6k ventilators going to areas of greatest need (just sent 4k to NY - governor was happy, mayor was too)
  (whole world trying to get these things we are in competition with other countries - today over 150 countries have this virus); nobody could have seen this coming, now we know - incredible how we've done
• we've done more tests than anybody by far
• someone called him to say our testing is amazing (South Korea?)
• It's hard not to be happy with the job we're doing.
• Everyday, heros stepping forward.
• People behind him are AMAZING PEOPLE, talented, work very hard - calls them friends
• 7 YO boy in Maryland used bday money to buy meals for Senior Citizens
• Nevada - college student recruited 90 friends to deliver groceries and supplies
• Minnesota - 100's medical students volunteered childcare for hospital workers
• These examples remind us we ALL have a part to play - this is a national and global battle
• Secretary of Treasury working very hard. 

Secretary of Treasury - Steve Mnuchin

• thank you to Mitch McConnell (leadership), Chuck Schumer (bi-partisan support on this bill), all Senators working tirelessly
• lived in LBJ room
• unprecedented response of Senate to protect American workers
• small biz retention loans - covers 50% of private payroll; immediately make loans to supply 8 weeks of salaries as long as they keep workers employed and overhead; will be forgiven at end of the period as long as meet the criteria; SBA loans but treasury will issue new regulations authorizing FDIC banks to make these - end of next week simple process for them to be made and dispersed SAME DAY
• for other companies - an economic program with tax incentives to retain workers
• enhanced unemployment insurance if employees don't fit in these two programs administered thru states
• economic impact payments - direct payments into accounts or checks in the mail - next 3 weeks
• 500 billion to use with federal reserve for programs - create an additional 4 trillion if needed to support American business and workers
• 100 billion to hospitals
• 150 billion to states with specific coronavirus expenses
• Thanks President for guidance and quick decisions on many issues. 
• Great bi-partisan work. Enormously helpful.  This is an unprecedented situation.

TRUMP:  day and night a lot of work

still need a vote

Q: how long will this bill keep economy afloat?

Trump: if we have to go back, we'll go back. not the American workers fault.

Steve: anticipated 3 months.

Trump: to keep strong companies going - in form of loan so a lot of this money will come back.

Q: don't rely on foreign companies for our survival

Trump: saying that for a long time. it costs us more - lose our independence. we will be making some changes.

Q: ban export of medical equipment?

Trump: not sure if need that but it's happening by itself. Other unions have specifications that don't let our equipment in. All playing games against us for years-  no pres done anything about it. European Union - we can't sell ours to them bc their specifications yet we take theirs. This is all changing. Our allies took the biggest advantage of us financially and militarily. Look at NATO - abuse given to our country. They wouldn't pay. We were paying for everybody. Now, bc Trump, they paid a lot. 125-135 billion more paid. Secretary Sultanburg - his biggest fan - 400 billion paid additionally. Trade - make it almost impossible for USA to have a fair deal. Trump is just waiting - we have all the advantages and will be easy when he decides to do it - but this is not the time.

Q: Unemployment Insurance may encourage workers to leave their jobs - Senator concerns.

Steve: Most state systems have technology 30 years or older - this was the only way to get money out quickly and in a fair way so they used 600.... they think it won't encourage workers to quit. 

#1 issue - how to make sure American workers keep getting paid - this is not their fault. Most efficient way to do it.

no comment if they are in agreement now.

our expectation is this bill passes tonight and gets to house tomorrow. 

Trump: Good question bc don't want to disincentive

Question: Iranian custody - person died

Trump: not looking good. he wasn't well for years in Iran. not looking promising. We've gotten two people back this week. But Robert Levingston - rough problems prior to his capture. Don't accept that he's dead. They have not told us he is dead but a lot of people thinking that is the case. Trump feels bad about it.

Question: Tweet about election success, Easter Timeline?

Trump: Certain people who would like it to do financially poorly to defeat me at the polls - there are people in the media that would like that happen - it is very clear there are people in the media that writes fake news - they would love to see me - "for whatever reason bc we've done one hell of a job...lucky you have this group for this problem or you wouldn't have a country left."

Question: CBN: 1:20 - April target date

A: 3 weeks direct payments out with deposit information

end of next week we want all the banks to originate loans same day

Q: world-wide ban on wild animal market - to prevent another pandemic

Trump: not sure if that subject will come up at the meeting; not top of his list; 

Q follow up: Subscribe to strategy to test more; how many deaths are acceptable

Trump: NONE - deaths acceptable

Testing by far more than anybody - best tests, most accurate

watched "his" statement - he disagrees with it.... we don't have to test the entire state; a lot of those states could go back right now

certain states don't have a problem - so why test 350 million people? ridiculous

we did more in 8 days more than South Korea did in 8 weeks and we are getting substantially better

Question: consider joining effort; borders

Trump: up to 164 miles of wall - big beautiful wall - very tough to come in; nobody gets through where the wall is built - though they go around; if they want to come in - come in legally, in with merit -not illegally

Question: Funding for Kennedy Arts Center Washington, DC 45 million

Trump: was 35 million, he took off 10, supports that - it has suffered greatly bc no one can go there, Democrat request - but you got to give them something - Democrats have treated us fairly - good back and forth - got it down to 25 - we agreed; Kennedy center does a great job 

Question: Senator Rubio - Rep McCall question integrity of WHO director - red flags in past with relationship to China - did WHO show favoritism? Should USA re-explore WHO relationship?

Trump: very unfair, very much sided with China.... at same time there are people they like and know, good people and professionals; he has heard for years it is very biased toward China.

Dr. F - Tedrose is outstanding. WHO has had problems. Under his leadership, they have done very well. @1:30 

Trump: we are the ones who kept China out of here - not thousands are not dying - no one wanted him to make that call.. but he did it

Question: G20 meeting tomorrow - what expect?

Trump: 20 nations + us conference call in the morning; he likes every one of them

Question: what to expect next week when 15 day period ends

Trump: he will be speaking to the team and everyone - nothing rash or hasty - country was built to get back to work. Big sections of our country are little effected - others are heavily affected. Hopes to have a recommendation by or before Easter. 

Our country wants to get back to work. People want to practice social distancing - not handshakes, no hugs, wash their hands more... it's time... people want to get back to work. 

Some areas qualify now - others possibly won't. 

Store owners with store sitting there - business closed. The longer we stay out - the harder it is to bring this incredible... most successful years ever... stocks yesterday and today they were up.

We spend more time on small companies than we did on the big companies. Fuels our country. 

Vice-President will stay and take questions.

@1:33 President Leaves

Vice President - Mike Pence

• We are 10 days into the 15 days.
• Absolutely essential you listen to state and local authorities for guidance. 
• Implement President's Guidelines TODAY.
• We can significantly impact the rate of growth of this epidemic in our country.
• We can save lives.
• Thank you for your cooperation and embracing the principles to slow the spread.
• Conference calls today; equipment manufacturers stepping forward to develop medical equipment.
• FEMA reports hundreds of companies have stepped forward to be involved in supply chain - vetting 70 of those companies to repurpose their supplies
• Thank you to all teachers - many home teaching children plus their own kids = truly heroes
• Dept of Education and State Dept of Education are grateful to you. 
• Dept of Education website; ed.gov/coronavirus Helpful Website
• Secretary Devoss and .... speak this Friday for K-12 recommendations for distance learning. opening new avenues.
• Secretary Purdue also will be there to talk about school lunch program. 
• Non-Profit - thank for their work ; Red Cross, Salvation Army, Feeding America 
• still working every day - urge every American to continue to be generous to help the non-profits
• working with Governors today; NY, CA, WA, NJ, MI and others
• continued to be impressed and inspired - they are making tough choices leading their states
• FEMA assembled a team to provide technical assistance with NY - arriving very soon. resources will be flowing to NY, WA, CA
• FEMA team is at the table with CA team - working to meet their needs
• States most impacted - we are with you - working around the clock to make sure you have what you need
• Not including local labs and hospitals we are at 432K tests completed
• pleased to see drive-thru and community sites across country
• remind hospitals and labs - the moment President signs the bill - absolutely essential they provide the results to us 
• bc of Trumps partnership - adding 10's of thousands of tests weekly
• @ FEMA last night -saw room full of people leaving no stone unturned to find medical supplies - masks, gloves, ventilators, gowns
• CDC developing guidance - publishing tomorrow - for best way to use our natural resources at PARKS - waived entrance fees; help people get outdoors but use their guidance
• nothing more important for the American people to do than to heed your state and local guidance... put into practice the 15 days to slow the spread
• don't inadvertently spread it - the risk of serious illness to average American remains low - most will have mild to flu-like symptoms and will recover - people with immunodeficiencies and seniors... (it is worse)
• coronavirus.gov  get details.  Everyone do all you can do. Prevent the spread and Heal our Land.

Dr. Burke 

•  watching the testing results
• 2 things going on: system to look at flu-like illnesses still up and running in county and state; these systems are in every state and local government helps them see flu survelleince - work closely with the CDC - look for changes; there are enough test kits to constantly watch; still have counties with 0-1 cases; but still participate using it  cdc.gov > Survelleince    see the curves with them
• 4 counties the majority of current and new cases
  NYC
  Westchester NY
  Suffox
  Nassau County
  Few in New Jersey
  where 56% of the cases and new cases are
• important to look at # of new cases per day.
• close to working through the testing backlog so you can interpret number of cases per day. NYC new cases has been constant over the last 3 days.
• EVERYONE IN NYC and New York Metro area to continue every one of the 15 days guidance at same time following the governor and mayors piece. 
• Residents who left that area and went to secondary homes - carefully monitor temps and self-isolate.
• Important to her - bc her grandmother brought home flu to her mother who succumbed to the 1918 flu. She never forgot she was the child who innocently brought that flu home. She lived with that for 88 years. 
• You have a role to protect everyone. When you are protecting yourself, you are protecting others.  We all have a role in preventing this. 
• Each person in every place - can work with us to ensure we prevent the spread of this virus to others.

Dr. Fauci @1:49

Scientist, Physician, Public Health Person

WHO - other countries like China were hit prior to us; something we will face - our Chinese colleagues are concerned bc they went through the cycle - but as they are relaxing the travel constraints - they are getting imported cases...warned us - how we will release the constraints on input ... we don't want to import cases in

When you look at the curves - multiple different countries have gone through various outbreak phases - you can learn where you are in your outbreak - so China went from (example) 500- 1000- 1500- 2000.. then when cases flatten out - the inflection goes down - you at least know you are on the way to where you want to go  - not a victory yet

Seasonal Cyclic thing - he thinks it might. In southern Africa and other southern hemisphere countries - cases appearing as they go into their winter season - so we need to be prepared to get a second cycle; emphasizes to develop a vaccine and get it ready plus trials of drugs to have a menu of safe and effective drugs.

Knows we will put this down now but we also need to be prepared for a second cycle. 

VP Mike Pence

Q: ventilators clarity

A: this has been a central focus; making progress in a variety of ways; 1. national stockpile - just delivered 4k to NYC, .... more than 150k ventilators in broad healthcare system across the country; anesthesiologists; determined their devices can be converted with a single vent to a ventilator; believe 10s of 1000s of these now that FDA gave guidance; produced helpful video to explain the conversion of these; also working with GM and other countries to immediately speed up production; vetting their capabilities; working with FEMA speeding up production and working with national supply to manufacture, backfill, and meet that need; extraordinary team; Admiral doing an incredible job; contracting and arranging transportation

Dr Burke:

• thank Dr. Mary Peterson and the whole team of anesthesiologists for immediate work 
• every city working with their state and local officials; they have the ventilators and the people (no longer doing elective surgeries frees up them as resources)
• Collecting data in county by county 
• The epidemic is not equal everywhere
• places spared and places with a lot more
• looking where has it been, where is it going, who has resources from where it has been... looking at all those pieces to innovatively move equipment around based on the need... look at what is needed - not just numbers.
• the only way it would happen - all people using all resources - would be if constant moving through multiple cycles and if we were doing nothing - we are just dealing with Cycle A right now - the here and now.
• numbers being put out there are very frightening to people
• Carefully detail hospital by hospital, county by county, what needs are ....

Question: sowing cloth masks and donating to hospitals ; is it good idea?

A:  Significant inflow of masks coming in; you do what you can; but Dr F does not see it as a necessity given what's going on right now. 

Question: Gov of KY his state in line to buy equipment but FEMA bought it under him; Federal Govt is buying up the supply chain

A: VP spoke to Gov Michigan  - put FEMA on the case - they want to have full coordination with the states and hospital requests they are making; they are looking into it. This FEMA team is leaning into this effort - searching the world for critical supplies. (see the stats above for masks, etc.) - they will be shipping every single day. They want to partner with every governor and make sure the left-hand knows what the right hand is doing in acquiring resources.

Question: timeline - masks for everyone who needs one

A:  VP: They identified significant resources that can be used; they are getting them to the areas where they are needed; want our healthcare workers to have protective equipment to do their job safely. Spoke with Gov Indiana and Michigan - grateful the way governors are calling businesses to go back to warehouses and identity N95 masks and bc President's change they can now be used in hospitals. Calling on every business in America to look in storehouses to identify these masks.

Call FEMA, STATE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, or load up on a flatbed and drive over to the local hospital. 

they will detail the progress making on masks.

Dr. Burke: FDA new guidance; people can do self-testing in the drive-thru. Give them materials to do it in their car. They put back in the biohazard bag. Frees up all the PPE back to the clinics and hospitals. 

FDA worked tirelessly to get that out there to spare gowns and supplies.

Move to the new applicators to let every N95 be put into the hospitals that need it.

VP:

See you tomorrow. 

We'll get through this. With the cooperation and prayers of the American people.

Slow the spread.

Protect the vulnerable.

Heal our land.

 * * * * * * *

If these notes are helpful to you, please share them with others. Help stop the spread of misinformation by sending people straight to what our leadership is telling us.

 Also - use these notes to keep up with the ever-changing requests they are giving the American people. We all can do our part. 

If you can help take notes on any of the Briefings I am missing, please contact me.  There is a lot of information we need to document to help people over the next few months know what resources have been put in place to help them.

~Rachelle :)