Trump taps VP Pence as coronavirus task force chief
Trump: Our hearts break for victims and their loved ones
President Trump offers his condolences to the victims and their families after a deadly shooting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
President Donald Trump Wednesday named Vice President Mike Pence to head the administration's coronavirus task force while holding a press conference at the White House.
Continue Reading Below
Pence said of his new responsibilities, “My role will be to continue to bring together the best options for action." Part of those responsibilities will be working with Congress according to Trump.
The president re-iterated that the number one "priority is the health and safety of the American people" Trump said, "We are ready to adapt and we’re ready to do whatever we have to, as the disease spreads if it spreads."
TRUMP FIRES BACK AGAINST CORONAVIRUS CRITICISMS BY DEMOCRATS
Trump also spoke of how much funding his administration is seeking and confirmed he is asking for $2.5 billion, but added, "We think that’s a lot, but the Democrats, and I guess, Senator Schumer, want us to have much more than that….if they want to give more we’ll do more." Chuck Schumer, the senate minority leader, has said the figure is too low and has floated an $8 billion plan.
Since the first reports of the virus broke in December of 2019 from China’s Wuhan, Hubei Province, the virus has spread to 42 new locations, infecting more than 80,000 people and killing nearly 3,000.
Despite concerns that China was not being transparent at the outset of the virus, Trump said he has spoken to President Xi and is confident the Middle Kingdom is working to solve the crisis.
"I had a talk with him very recently and he is working so hard on this problem, he is working so hard," said Trump "It is a significant group of very talented people that are working on (the problem) and they’re calling up Dr. Fauci and they are calling up our people, we’re dealing with them." Most importantly, Trump said Xi "wants it to go away from China and go away fast and he wants to get back to business as usual."