ORLANDO — President Trump blamed Monday’s collapse of the stock markets on falling oil costs and the information media, dismissing the widening con
ORLANDO — President Trump blamed Monday’s collapse of the stock markets on falling oil costs and the information media, dismissing the widening concern over coronavirus as he confronted one of the crucial rattling days of his presidency.
Mr. Trump, arriving in Orlando on Monday morning for a marketing campaign fund-raiser after spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago property, didn’t reply to reporters who shouted questions concerning the tumbling markets, however he made his views identified by way of his Twitter account.
“Saudi Arabia and Russia are arguing over the worth and movement of oil,” he wrote while Air Force One was landing in Orlando. “That, and the Faux Information, is the explanation for the market drop!”
He sought to forged the decline in oil costs in optimistic phrases. “Good for the buyer, gasoline costs coming down!” he wrote.
As for the coronavirus, he tried to reassure Individuals by as soon as once more emphasizing that it remained a comparatively low threat for many. “So final yr 37,000 Individuals died from the frequent Flu,” he wrote. “It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per yr. Nothing is shut down, life & the financial system go on. At this second there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Take into consideration that!”
Mr. Trump has been accused of underplaying the danger of the virus at the same time as his administration has imposed journey restrictions and struggled to broaden the distribution of testing kits. In personal, the president has complained that his personal well being secretary was being “alarmist,” however concern over the virus has begun to ripple by the financial system and society in exceptional methods, as organizations cancel conventions and journey, faculties and universities start to cancel in-person courses and airways and motels weigh important layoffs.
The affect on American life was evident even in Mr. Trump’s personal schedule. Along with the closed-door fund-raiser, he had initially been slated to deal with a well being care convention in Orlando on Monday but it surely was canceled due to concern of coronavirus.
The president’s temper appeared grim Monday morning as he left Palm Seaside, swiftly boarding Air Power One with out ready for information photographers to reach on the tarmac beneath the steps to take his image as he usually does. Arriving in Orlando, he made some extent of shaking arms with Gov. Ron DeSantis after which briefly shaking arms with a crowd of supporters who had gathered.