Trump news: President says he tested negative after taking new test 'out of curiosity' and rails against 'witch-hunts'
US unemployment figures have again shattered records, with 6.6 million Americans filing for benefits as the coronavirus pandemic brings society to a grinding halt and threatens economic collapse.
Nancy Pelosi has asked the president to extend period people can sign up for the Affordable Care Act after his administration declined to re-open enrolment this week.
Donald Trump attempted to pivot away from the deadly outbreak in his latest press briefing on Wednesday — a day on which the country’s death toll hit 5,000 from 216,000 cases — threatening Iran, questioning China’s figures and attacking Fox News reporter John Roberts for asking him about a “false story”.
The latest horror stories from the US include the tragic death of a six-week-old infant in Connecticut, New York’s death toll doubling in 72 hours and the state of Michigan surpassing California’s case numbers, reporting 2,000 fresh instances in just one day.
On Thursday, the president claimed that hospitals and states that are clamouring for critically needed supplies have "insatiable appetites" and are "never satisfied."
He said "we're not a backup, we're not an ordering clerk" and complained about states' emergency requests for hospital beds and equipment, while states and hospital systems have been left to compete against one another for equipment.
During another disjointed press briefing on Thursday, the president said: "Who ever heard of a governor calling up the federal government and saying, 'sir, we need a hospital?'"
The White House also suggested that new federal guidelines will urge Americans to wear masks and face coverings.
Moments after chastising Congress for demanding oversight for the distribution of a multi-trillion dollar relief package and business bailout — saying "now is not the time for politics" — the president sent a catty letter to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, writing: "No wonder AOC and others are thinking about running against you in the primary. If they did, they would likely win."
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