President Donald Trump "wants to have a message of hope" for the American people, but he'll be listening to his task force's medical team and other experts after his initial 15-day period of guidelines wrap up to make a determination about whether restrictions can be eased over coronavirus by Easter, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said Wednesday.
"I think he would love it if we were opened up for business yesterday," Grisham said on Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "After the 15 days, when we see the data come in, we'll see where we're at...he is hopeful."
Grisham has just come out of being in quarantine for two weeks after coming into contact with Brazilian officials who have COVID-19 and has tested negative herself, but told Fox News that it is not easy remaining in seclusion.
"It's tough and I imagine a lot of people want to try to get out there and get back to work, as long as they are social distancing, so we'll see what happens once the 15 days go past," said Grisham. "The president listens to his medical team…(they) will make recommendations and then he will ultimately make the final decision."
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House's task force, said Tuesday that "flexibility" would be needed on when to start reopening the country for business. Grisham also said Wednesday that Trump has been on the phone "constantly" with Treasury Secretary Steven Munchin as bargaining continued on the $2 trillion relief package.
"He's been pushing for Congress to do the right thing and get ready to help the American people, so we're really looking forward to this vote today so he can sign it into law," said Grisham.
She added that it was "disappointing" for Democrats to attempt to "sneak things" into the bill when there is an all-hands-on-deck effort to fight coronavirus, but she is glad a deal was reached.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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