Last updated on: 6/8/2020 | Author: ProCon.org

Coronavirus: Timeline of Comments by Trump and Biden with Background and Context

Chart I below shows related events, background, and some pre-2020 government reports on the planning of and possibility of pandemics.

Chart II below tracks the timeline of major statements about COVID-19 (coronavirus) made by the two candidates in the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. We have included some events and the number of US coronavirus cases and deaths each day to add context.

We are no longer updating this page. The content was updated for the duration of the stay-at-home measures throughout the United States. As of June 1, 2020, 41 states and DC are repoening, 8 states are allowing regional reopening, and one state is reopening the week of June 8, according to the New York Times article, “See How All 50 States Are Reopening,” written by Sarah Mervosh, Jasmine C. Lee, Lazaro Gamlo, and Nadja Popovich (accessed June 2, 2020).

 I. Related Events Prior to the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic

A. DateB. Event
2005:
Nov. 1
President George W. Bush said in a speech at the National Institutes of Health, "Scientists and doctors cannot tell us where or when the next pandemic will strike or how severe it'll be, but most agree: At some point, we are likely to face another pandemic...

A pandemic is a lot like a forest fire: If caught early it might be extinguished with limited damage; if allowed to smolder undetected it can grow to an inferno that spreads quickly beyond our ability to control it...

It is vital that our nation discuss and address the threat of pandemic flu now… [I]f we wait for a pandemic to appear, it will be too late to prepare."

Source: CNN, "Transcript of Bush Speech on Pandemic Flu Strategy," cnn.com, Nov. 1, 2005
2009
"PREDICT, a project of USAID's Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) program, was initiated in 2009 to strengthen global capacity for detection and discovery of zoonotic viruses with pandemic potential… Now working with partners in 31 countries, PREDICT is continuing to build platforms for disease surveillance and for identifying and monitoring pathogens that can be shared between animals and people."

Source: US Agency for International Development, "Reducing Pandemic Risk, Promoting Global Health," usaid.gov (accessed Apr. 14, 2020)
2014:
Dec. 2
President Obama said in a speech at the National Institutes of Health, "There may and likely will come a time in which we have both an airborne disease that is deadly. And in order for us to deal with that effectively, we have to put in place an infrastructure -- not just here at home, but globally -- that allows us to see it quickly, isolate it quickly, respond to it quickly... So that if and when a new strain of flu, like the Spanish flu, crops up five years from now or a decade from now, we've made the investment and we're further along to be able to catch it."

Source: The White House, "Remarks by the President on Research for Potential Ebola Vaccines," obamawhitehouse.archives.gov, Dec. 2, 2014
2015:
Mar. 18
Referencing the 2014 Ebola outbreak, Bill Gates spoke about the lack of preparedness for the next epidemic, saying, "If anything kills over 10 million people in the next few decades, it's most likely to be a highly infectious virus rather than a war... But we've actually invested very little in a system to stop an epidemic. We're not ready for the next epidemic....

The failure to prepare could allow the next epidemic to be dramatically more devastating than Ebola… We need to do simulations, germ games, not war games, so that we see where the holes are... The World Bank estimates that if we have a worldwide flu epidemic, global wealth will go down by over three trillion dollars and we'd have millions and millions of deaths."

Source: Bill Gates, "We're Not Ready for the Next Epidemic," gatesnotes.com, Mar. 18, 2015
2016:
July 11
A memo addressed to then-National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice, written by Christopher Kirchhoff (Director for Strategic Planning at the National Security Council at the time), stated, "A strong scientific consensus exists that we will see more zoonotic pandemics and infectious disease outbreaks going forward…

The very dynamics of globalization and population growth will lead to more pandemics, which must appropriately be considered among the most serious threats to our homeland and to international security."

Source: Christopher Kirchhoff, "Memorandum for Ambassador Susan E. Rice," int.nyt.com, July 11, 2016
2017:
Jan. 23
Officials from the outgoing Obama administration met with incoming Trump officials to discuss challenges that would arise in the event of a pandemic. The tabletop exercise simulated a new respiratory influenza outbreak starting in China and arriving in the United States due to international travel.

Source: Nahal Toosi, Daniel Lippman, and Dan Diamond, "Before Trump's Inauguration, a Warning: 'The Worst Influenza Pandemic since 1918,'" politico.com, Mar. 16, 2020
Feb. 18 Bill Gates wrote in an Op/Ed, "[E]pidemiologists say a fast-moving airborne pathogen could kill more than 30 million people in less than a year. And they say there is a reasonable probability the world will experience such an outbreak in the next 10-15 years... I view the threat of deadly pandemics right up there with nuclear war and climate change. Innovation, cooperation, and careful planning can dramatically mitigate the risks presented by each of these threats."

Source: Bill Gates, "A New Kind of Terrorism Could Wipe out 30 Million People in Less Than a Year — and We Are Not Prepared," businessinsider.com, Feb. 18, 2017
2019:
Jan.
The PREDICT program run by USAID was "collapsed into hibernation" in January 2019 and officially "reached the end of its second 5-year funding cycle on Sep. 30, 2019." USAID enacted a 6-month extension on funding for the program, but partner organizations laid off scientists and analysts when field work stopped in September.

Sources:


Jan. 30, 2020 letter from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sen. Angus King, Jr. (I-ME)
Emily Baumgaertner and James Rainey, "Trump Administration Ended Pandemic Early-Warning Program to Detect Coronaviruses," latimes.com, Apr. 2, 2020
June 24
President Trump signed the
Pandemic and All- Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019 (PAHPAIA), which "reauthorizes, revises, and establishes several programs and entities relating to public-health emergency preparedness and response."
Aug. 13-16
Crimson Contagion 2019 Functional Exercise with federal, state, local, and tribal governments, hospitals, and private sector
found that "The U.S. lacks sufficient domestic manufacturing capacity and/or raw materials for almost all pandemic influenza medical countermeasures, including vaccines and therapeutics, the needles and syringes needed to administer them, and personal protective equipment, including masks, needles, and syringes."

The exercise was based on a hypothetical scenario of a new influenza virus starting in China and spreading around the world. Materials for the event predicted that a pandemic of high severity could result in 110 million illnesses, 7.7 million hospitalizations, and 586,000 deaths in the United States.

Source: David E. Sanger, Eric Lipton, Eileen Sullivan, and Michael Crowley, "Before Virus Outbreak, a Cascade of Warnings Went Unheeded," nytimes.com, Mar. 22, 2020
Sep. 15
The Council of Economic Advisers wrote in a report titled Mitigating the Impact of Pandemic Influenza through Vaccine Innovation that, "in a pandemic year, depending on the transmission efficiency and virulence of the particular pandemic virus, the economic damage would range from $413 billion to $3.79 trillion. Fatalities in the most serious scenario would exceed half a million people in the United States. Millions more would be sick, with between approximately 670,000 to 4.3 million requiring hospitalization."
Dec. 4
Robert Kadlec, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, testified before a congressional committeethat, "An influenza pandemic poses a significant threat to global public health and to the security of the United States."
Dec. 21
"A cluster of pneumonia cases with an unknown cause occurred in Wuhan starting on December 21, 2019."

Source: Wenjie Tan, Xiang Zhao, Xuejun Ma, et al., "Notes from the Field: A Novel Coronavirus Genome Identified in a Cluster of Pneumonia Cases — Wuhan, China 2019?2020," China CDC Weekly, Jan. 21, 2020
Dec. 30
"The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission issued an urgent notification to medical institutions under its jurisdiction, ordering efforts to appropriately treat patients with pneumonia of unknown cause."

Source: Xinhua, "China Publishes Timeline on COVID-19 Information Sharing, Int'l Cooperation," xinhuanet.com, Apr. 6, 2020
Dec. 31
Chinese health officials notified the World Health Organization about a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown cause in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.

Source: World Health Organization, "Pneumonia of Unknown Cause – China," who.int, Jan. 5, 2020
2020:
Jan. 6
"Wuhan health authorities on Monday said they continue seeking the cause but have so far ruled out influenza, avian influenza, adenovirus, and coronaviruses SARS and MERS."" Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said, "It's obviously a virus. My guess would be that it's a different kind of coronavirus."

Source: Eileen Drage O'Reilly, "China Hunts Cause of Mysterious Pneumonia Outbreak in Wuhan," axios.com, Jan. 6, 2020

The CDC issued a level 1 alert stating, "The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission issued an urgent notification to medical institutions under its jurisdiction, ordering efforts to appropriately treat patients with pneumonia of unknown cause... Person-to-person spread is occurring, although it’s unclear how easily the virus spreads between people."

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Novel Coronavirus in China," cdc.gov, Jan. 6, 2020
Jan. 7
The US Embassy in China put out a health alert about pneumonia of unknown cause in China, saying that the US CDC had "issued an Watch Level 1 Alert (be aware and practice usual precautions)" for travelers in Wuhan.

Source: US Embassy and Consulates in China, "Health Alert – Pneumonia of Unknown Cause in China," china.usembassy-china.org.cn, Jan. 7, 2020

Chinese scientists confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of the cluster of viral pneumonia of unknown cause being seen in Wuhan.

Source: The 2019-nCoV Outbreak Joint Field Epidemiology Investigation Team and Qun Li, "Notes from the Field: An Outbreak of NCIP (2019-nCoV) Infection in China — Wuhan, Hubei Province, 2019?2020," China CDC Weekly, Jan. 22, 2020
Jan. 9
WHO announced that Chinese authorities had identified a novel coronavirus in a person hospitalized in Wuhan. At this time, WHO advised against any travel or trade restrictions on China.

The WHO said, "Preliminary identification of a novel virus in a short period of time is a notable achievement and demonstrates China’s increased capacity to manage new outbreak… According to Chinese authorities, the virus in question can cause severe illness in some patients and does not transmit readily between people."

Source: World Health Organization, "WHO Statement Regarding Cluster of Pneumonia Cases in Wuhan, China," who.int, Jan. 9, 2020
Jan. 10
Chinese scientists posted the initial gene sequencing data for the novel coronavirus on Virological.org, which allowed global experts to conduct research.

Source: Lisa Schnirring, "China Releases Genetic Data on New Coronavirus, Now Deadly," cidrap.umn.edu, Jan. 11, 2020
Jan. 11
Chinese state media reported the first coronavirus death: "The man, the first victim of the outbreak that began in December, was a regular buyer at the seafood market and had been previously diagnosed with abdominal tumours and chronic liver disease, the health authority said. Treatments did not improve his symptoms after he was admitted to hospital and he died on the evening of 9 January when his heart failed."

Source: Reuters in Shanghai, "First Death from China Mystery Illness Outbreak," theguardian.com, Jan. 11, 2020
Jan. 13
Thailand reported the first confirmed case of coronavirus outside China.

Source: World Health Organization, "Novel Coronavirus – Thailand (ex-China)," who.int, Jan. 14, 2020
Jan. 14
WHO posted on Twitter, "Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China"

Source: World Health Organization, Twitter.com, Jan. 14, 2020

Maria Van Kerkhove, acting head of WHO's emerging diseases unit, said in a press briefing that there may have been limited human-to-human transmission among family members in the initial 41 patients in Wuhan, and noted the risk of a wider outbreak. Van Kerkhove also said, "it is very clear right now that we have no sustained human-to-human transmission."

Source: Stephanie Nebehay, "WHO Says New China Coronavirus Could Spread, Warns Hospitals Worldwide," reuters.com, Jan. 14, 2020
Jan. 17
The CDC and Homeland Security announced "enhanced health screenings to detect ill travelers traveling to the United States on direct or connecting flights from Wuhan, China" at the San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York JFK airports.

The CDC said, "Based on current information, the risk from 2019-nCoV to the American public is currently deemed to be low. Nevertheless, CDC is taking proactive preparedness precautions."

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Public Health Screening to Begin at 3 U.S. Airports for 2019 Novel Coronavirus ("2019-nCoV")," cdc.gov, Jan. 17, 2020
Jan. 18
According to the whistleblower complaint filed by Rick Bright, former chief of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency in the Health and Human Services Department, he sent an email to Robert Kadlec, the assistant secretary of health for preparedness and response. Bright asked Kadlec about convening the Disaster Leadership Group to coordinate government planning for the emerging COVID-19 outbreak.

The whistleblower complaint states that Dr. Kadlec replied that he was "[n]ot sure if that is a time sensitive urgency."

Source: CNN, "READ: Rick Bright's Full Whistleblower Complaint," cnn.com, May 5, 2020
Jan. 20
China announced that human-to-human transmission had been confirmed.

Source: Yanan Wang and Ken Moritsugu, "Human-to-Human Transmission Confirmed in China Coronavirus," apnews.com

WHO posted on Twitter, "It is now very clear from the latest information that there is at least some human-to-human transmission of #nCoV2019. Infections among health care workers strengthen the evidence for this."

Source: World Health Organization, Twitter.com, Jan. 20, 2020
Jan. 21 The CDC confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the United States, in Washington state: "The patient recently returned from Wuhan, China, where an outbreak of pneumonia caused by this novel coronavirus has been ongoing since December 2019. While originally thought to be spreading from animal-to-person, there are growing indications that limited person-to-person spread is happening. It's unclear how easily this virus is spreading between people."

Source: CDC, "First Travel-related Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Detected in United States," cdc.gov, Jan. 21, 2020

"A report by the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London suggested there could be more than 1,700 infections. However, Gabriel Leung, the dean of medicine at the University of Hong Kong, put the figure closer to 1,300."

Source: BBC News, "New China Virus: Warning against Cover-up as Number of Cases Jumps," bbc.com, Jan. 21, 2020

Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke to broadcaster Greg Kelly on Newsmax TV about the coronavirus.

Kelly: "Bottom line, we don’t need to worry about this one, right?"

Dr. Fauci: "Well, obviously you need to take it seriously and do the kinds of things that the CDC and the Department of Homeland Security are doing. But this is not a major threat for people in the United States. This is not something that the citizens of the United States right now should be worried about."

Source: Newsmax TV, "Greg Kelly Reports (1/21/20)," newsmaxtv.com, Jan. 21, 2020

II. Trump and Biden on Coronavirus

A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Jan. 22
1 / - [1] First identified comment on coronavirus by Donald Trump:

"We have it totally under control. It's one person coming in from China. We have it under control. It's going to be just fine."

Reporter Q: Do you trust that we're going to know everything we need to know from China?

"I do. I do. I have a great relationship with President Xi."

Source: CNBC, "CNBC Transcript: President Donald Trump Sits Down with CNBC’s Joe Kernen at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland," cnbc.com, Jan. 22, 2020
Jan. 24
2 / - First identified tweet about coronavirus by Donald Trump:

"China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Jan. 24, 2020
Jan. 27
5 / - Twitter:

"We are in very close communication with China concerning the virus. Very few cases reported in USA, but strongly on watch. We have offered China and President Xi any help that is necessary. Our experts are extraordinary!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Jan. 27, 2020
First identified comment about coronavirus by Joe Biden (Op/Ed in USA Today):

[President Trump is] "the worst possible person to lead our country through a global health challenge... The outbreak of a new coronavirus, which has already infected more than 2,700 people and killed over 80 in China, will get worse before it gets better. Cases have been confirmed in a dozen countries, with at least five in the United States. There will likely be more."

Source: Joe Biden, "Trump Is Worst Possible Leader to Deal with Coronavirus Outbreak," usatoday.com, Jan. 27, 2020
Jan. 29
5 / -President Trump formed a Coronavirus Task Force

Peter Navarro, Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, wrote in a memorandum addressed to President Trump:

"The lack of immune protection or an existing cure or vaccine would leave Americans defenseless in the case of a full-blown coronavirus outbreak on U.S. soil. This lack of protection elevates the risk of the coronavirus evolving into a full-blown pandemic, imperiling the lives of millions of Americans."

Source: Maggie Haberman, "Trade Adviser Warned White House in January of Risks of a Pandemic," nytimes.com, Apr. 6, 2020
Twitter:

"Just received a briefing on the Coronavirus in China from all of our GREAT agencies, who are also working closely with China. We will continue to monitor the ongoing developments. We have the best experts anywhere in the world, and they are on top of it 24/7!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Jan. 29, 2020

Remarks:

"I think our relationship [with China] has never been better. We're very much involved with them, right now, on the virus that's going around. We're working very closely. I spoke to President Xi. We're working very closely with China."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump at a Signing Ceremony for the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement," whitehouse.gov, Jan. 29, 2020

[Editor's Note: On Apr. 7, in response to a question about the Jan. 29 and Feb. 23 memos by Navarro, President Trump stated, "I haven't seen the memo" and said he first read about it on April 5 or 6. As of Apr. 10, 2020, ProCon.org was unable to find an official version of the document aside from images of the memo published by Axios and reported on by the New York Times.]

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing | April 7, 2020," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 7, 2020
Jan. 30
5 / -WHO declared a global public health emergencySpeech in Warren, Michigan:

"Now we're working very strongly with China on the coronavirus — that's a new thing that a lot of people are talking about. Hopefully it won't be as bad as some people think it could be. But we're working very closely with them and with a lot of other people and a lot of other countries. And we think we have it very well under control.

We have very little problem in this country at this moment — five. And those people are all recuperating successfully. But we're working very closely with China and other countries, and we think it's going to have a very good ending for it. So that I can assure you."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump at a USMCA Celebration with American Workers | Warren, MI," whitehouse.gov, Jan. 30, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Jan. 31
7 / - Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services, declared that the coronavirus presented a Public Health Emergency in the United StatesProclamation of travel ban on China effective Feb. 2:

"The entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the People's Republic of China, excluding the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States is hereby suspended."

Source: Donald Trump, "Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus," whitehouse.gov, Jan. 31, 2020
Campaign event in Iowa:

"We have, right now, a crisis with the coronavirus. This is no time for Donald Trump's record of hysteria and xenophobia - hysterical xenophobia - and fearmongering to lead the way instead of science."

Source: Trevor Hunnicutt, "Biden Slams Trump for Cutting Health Programs before Coronavirus Outbreak," reuters.com, Jan. 31, 2020
Feb. 1
8 / - First identified tweet about coronavirus by Joe Biden:

"We are in the midst of a crisis with the coronavirus. We need to lead the way with science — not Donald Trump's record of hysteria, xenophobia, and fear-mongering. He is the worst possible person to lead our country through a global health emergency."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Feb. 1, 2020
Feb. 2
9 / - Interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News:

Reporter Q: Movie theaters are closed. Hospitals are being built. I think we're now up to our eighth case in the United States. Um, how concerned are you?

"Well, we pretty much shut it down coming in from China. We have a tremendous relationship with China, which is a very positive thing. Getting along with China, getting along with Russia getting along with these countries."

Source: Factbase, "Interview: Sean Hannity Interviews Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago - Part 1 - February 2, 2020," factba.se, Feb. 2, 2020
Feb. 4
11 / -State of the Union Address:

"Protecting Americans' health also means fighting infectious diseases. We are coordinating with the Chinese government and working closely together on the coronavirus outbreak in China. My administration will take all necessary steps to safeguard our citizens from this threat."

Source: Donald Trump, "Remarks by President Trump in State of the Union Address," whitehouse.gov, Feb. 4, 2020
Feb. 6
11 / - First coronavirus death in the US [2]
Feb. 7
11 / -US sent 17.8 tons of donated medical supplies to ChinaPress gathering:

Reporter Q: Are you concerned that China is covering up the full extent of coronavirus?

"No. China is working very hard. Late last night, I had a very good talk with President Xi, and we talked about — mostly about the coronavirus. They're working really hard, and I think they are doing a very professional job.

They're in touch with World — the World — World Organization. CDC also. We're working together. But World Health is working with them. CDC is working with them. I had a great conversation last night with President Xi. It's a tough situation. I think they're doing a very good job."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure," whitehouse.gov, Feb. 7, 2020

Twitter:

"Just had a long and very good conversation by phone with President Xi of China. He is strong, sharp and powerfully focused on leading the counterattack on the Coronavirus. He feels they are doing very well, even building hospitals in a matter of only days. Nothing is easy, but...

....he will be successful, especially as the weather starts to warm & the virus hopefully becomes weaker, and then gone. Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation. We are working closely with China to help!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Feb. 7, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Feb. 10
11 / - Speech at White House Business Session with the nation's governors:

"Now, the virus that we're talking about having to do — you know, a lot of people think that goes away in April with the heat — as the heat comes in. Typically, that will go away in April. We're in great shape though. We have 12 cases — 11 cases, and many of them are in good shape now."

Source: Donald Trump, "Remarks by President Trump at the White House Business Session with Our Nation’s Governors," whitehouse.gov, Feb. 10, 2020

Interview on Fox Business:

Trish Regan: "President Xi, I know you spoke to him recently about coronavirus… What's your sense of their transparency right now, whether they're being more accommodating in terms of telling us what's going on and how it affects our economy?"

President Trump: "Well, I think China is very, you know, professionally run in the sense that they have everything under control. I really believe they are going to have it under control fairly soon. You know in April, supposedly, it dies with the hotter weather. And that's a beautiful date to look forward to. But China I can tell you is working very hard. We're working with them. You know, we just sent some of our best people over there, World Health Organization and a lot of them are composed of our people. They're fantastic. And they're now in China, and we're helping them out. We're in very good shape. We have 11 cases and most of them are getting better very rapidly. I think they'll all be better."

Source: Factbase, "Interview: Trish Regan of Fox Business Interviews Donald Trump in Manchester, NH - February 10, 2020," factba.se, Feb. 10, 2020
Feb. 13
13 / - Radio interview:

"[W]e're working on it very closely. I spoke to President Xi two days ago. They're working on it very professionally. It's a problem, we think and we hope, based on all signs that the problem goes away in April because -- which is not too far down the road, because heat kills this virus…

We're sending a lot of people and CDC has been great but it is -- it's a problem in China. Has not been spreading very much. In our country, we only have, basically, 12 cases and most of those people are recovering and some cases fully recovered. So it's actually less."

Geraldo Rivera: "Did the Chinese tell the truth about this?”

President Trump: "Well, you never know. I think they want to put the best face on it. So you know, I mean, if somebody -- if you were running it, you'd probably -- you wouldn't want to run out to the world and go crazy and start saying whatever it is because you don't want to create a panic. But, no, I think they've handled it professionally and I think they're extremely capable."

Source: Factbase, "Interview: Geraldo Rivera Interviews Donald Trump on Geraldo in Cleveland - February 13, 2020," factba.se, Feb. 13, 2020
Feb. 18
- / - Remarks before departing on Air Force One:

Reporter Q: Some people don't seem to trust the data coming out of China. Are you worried about that?

"Look, I know this: President Xi loves the people of China, he loves his country, and he's doing a very good job with a very, very tough situation."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump Before Air Force One Departure | Joint Base Andrews, MD," whitehouse.gov, Feb. 18, 2020
Feb. 23
15 / -Second memo from President Trump's trade advisor, Peter Navarro:

"There is an increasing probability of a full-blown COVID-19 pandemic that could infect as many as 100 million Americans, with a loss of life of as many as 1-2 million souls"

Source: Jonathan Swan and Margaret Talev, "Navarro Memos Warning of Mass Coronavirus Death Circulated in January," axios.com, Apr. 7, 2020
[Editor's Note: On Apr. 7, in response to a question about the Jan. 29 and Feb. 23 memos by Navarro, President Trump stated, "I haven't seen the memo" and said he first read about it on April 5 or 6. As of Apr. 8, 2020, ProCon.org was unable to find an official version of the document aside from images of the memo published by Axios and reported on by the New York Times.]

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing | April 7, 2020," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 7, 2020
Feb. 24
15 / - Twitter:

"The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. We are in contact with everyone and all relevant countries. CDC & World Health have been working hard and very smart. Stock Market starting to look very good to me!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Feb. 24, 2020
Feb. 25
15 / - Twitter:

"CDC and my Administration are doing a GREAT job of handling Coronavirus, including the very early closing of our borders to certain areas of the world... So far, by the way, we have not had one death. Let's keep it that way!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Feb. 25, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Feb. 26
15 / -Mike Pence appointed head of White House Coronavirus Task ForcePress conference:

Asked about previously proposed budget cuts to CDC, NIH, and WHO:

"Some of the people we cut, they haven't been used for many, many years. And if — if we have a need, we can get them very quickly."

On whether Americans can make summer travel plans:

"[W]hen you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that's a pretty good job we've done."

On the nature of coronavirus:

"It’s a little like the regular flu that we have flu shots for. And we’ll essentially have a flu shot for this in a fairly quick manner… This is a flu. This is like a flu."

On whether there is enough testing:

"[W]e're testing everybody that we need to test. And we're finding very little problem."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Conference" whitehouse.gov, Feb. 27, 2020
Feb. 27
16 / - Meeting with African American Leaders:

"It's going to disappear. One day — it's like a miracle — it will disappear."

Source: Donald Trump, "Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with African American Leaders," whitehouse.gov, Feb. 28, 2020
Feb. 28
16 / - Rally in South Carolina:

"The Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus. You know that, right?...

They tried the impeachment hoax. That was on a perfect conversation and this is their new hoax."

Source: Lauren Egan, "Trump Calls Coronavirus Democrats' 'New Hoax,'" thehill.com, Feb. 28, 2020
CNN Interview:

"No one takes the president's word for these things. He, at a minimum, exaggerates everything. And the idea that he's going to stand there and say, ‘everything is fine, don't worry,' who's going to believe that? Let the experts speak like we did in our administration."

Source: Marina Pitofsky, "Biden Says 'No One' Takes Trump's Word on Coronavirus," thehill.com, Feb. 28, 2020
Feb. 29
24 / 1 [1]First confirmed coronavirus death in US (originally reported) [
3]
Remarks before departing on Air Force One:

"[O]ur relationship with China is very good. Maybe it's closer because of what's happened here, because it was — you know, in a certain way, this can bring the world closer, if you want to know. It can really do that."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Conference," whitehouse.gov, Feb. 29, 2020
Mar. 1
30 / 1 Interview with Jake Tapper on CNN's State of the Union:

"We knew that this was coming. Back as far as January. They didn't even begin to prepare the testing kits...

Donald Trump said just several days ago this was a Democratic hoax. What in God's name is he talking about? Has he no shame?"

Source: Devan Cole, "Biden Slams Trump Administration's Response to Coronavirus Outbreak," cnn.com, Mar. 1, 2020

Interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week:

"They have eliminated the office we set up -- we set up in the president's office to deal with pandemic diseases."

Source: ABC News, "'This Week' Transcript 3-1-20:? Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Alex Azar," abcnews.go.com, Mar. 1, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Mar. 2
53 / 6 Meeting with pharmaceutical companies:

"[W]e're working very hard to expedite the longer process of developing a vaccine."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Meeting with Pharmaceutical Companies," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 2, 2020

Rally in North Carolina:

"We had a great meeting today with a lot of the great [pharmaceutical] companies and they're going to have vaccines. I think relatively soon and they're going to have something that makes you better and that's going to actually take place, we think, even sooner."

Source: Factbase, "Speech: Donald Trump Holds a Political Rally in Charlotte, North Carolina - March 2, 2020," factba.se, Mar. 2, 2020
Mar. 3
78 / 9 Briefing at the National Institutes of Health Vaccine Research Center:

"We made an early decision based on a little bit of luck, I suspect, but that was the original decision on China itself. And China, in all fairness to them, they never blamed us. It was, you know, a tough decision for them, but they fully understood. They were very reasonable about it. But that was a hard decision to make. But I guess we would have had a lot more people with difficulty if we didn’t make that decision very early on."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump in a Roundtable Briefing on Coronavirus | Bethesda, MD," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 3, 2020
Mar. 4
98 / 11 Interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News:

"I think the 3.4 percent [global death rate] is really a false number... So, if we have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work -- some of them go to work, but they get better...But again, they don't know about the easy cases, because the easy cases don't go to the hospital...It's not that severe."

Source: Factbase, "Interview: Sean Hannity Interviews Donald Trump Via Telephone - March 4, 2020," factba.se, Mar. 4, 2020
Mar. 5
164 / 12 Twitter:

"I NEVER said people that are feeling sick should go to work. This is just more Fake News and disinformation put out by the Democrats, in particular MSDNC. Comcast covers the CoronaVirus situation horribly, only looking to do harm to the incredible & successful effort being made!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Mar. 5, 2020
Mar. 6
164 / 15 Bill signing:

"What a problem. Came out of nowhere, but we're taking care of it...

And in terms of deaths, I don't know what the count is today. Is it 11? Eleven people? And in terms of cases, it's very, very few. When you look at other countries, it's a very tiny fraction because we've been very strong at the borders."


Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump at Signing of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020," whitehouse.com, Mar. 6, 2020

Comments after a tour of CDC facilities:

"They have the tests. And the tests are beautiful. Anybody that needs a test gets a test...

I like the numbers [of reported US coronavirus cases] being where they are. I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship [the Grand Princess cruise ship docked in San Francisco with 21 confirmed coronavirus cases on board at the time]."

Source: Donald Trump, "Remarks by President Trump after Tour of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Atlanta, GA," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 7, 2020
Mar. 9
647 / 26 Twitter:

"So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Mar. 9, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Mar. 10
937 / 30 Meeting with Republican senators:

"And we're prepared, and we're doing a great job with it. And it will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away...

The consumer has never been in a better position than they are right now."

Source: Donald Trump, "Remarks by President Trump after Meeting with Republican Senators," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 10, 2020
First major event canceled by the Biden campaign because of coronavirus concerns.

The Biden campaign replaced a large rally in Cleveland with a 200-person gathering in Philadelphia on Super Tuesday II.

Source: Dominic Patten, "Despite Coronavirus Concerns, Joe Biden Sets Philly Event Tonight; Axed Cleveland Rally On Super Tuesday II," deadline.com, Mar. 10, 2020
Mar. 11
1,215 / 38WHO declares outbreak is a pandemicNational address:

"My fellow Americans: Tonight, I want to speak with you about our nation's unprecedented response to the coronavirus outbreak that started in China and is now spreading throughout the world.

Today, the World Health Organization officially announced that this is a global pandemic...

To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days... These restrictions will also not apply to the United Kingdom...

Additionally, last week, I signed into law an $8.3 billion funding bill to help CDC and other government agencies fight the virus and support vaccines, treatments, and distribution of medical supplies."

Source: Donald Trump, "Remarks by President Trump in Address to the Nation," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 11, 2020
Mar. 12
1,629 / 41 Joe Biden released his COVID-19 response plan on his website, covering (in part):

-Public health and economic response;
-Calls for free testing, treatment, and eventual vaccine for all regardless of insurance;
-Increased hospital capacity.

Source: Joe Biden, "The Biden Plan to Combat Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Prepare for Future Global Health Threats," joebiden.com, Mar. 12, 2020

Speech live-streamed from Wilmington, Delaware, to explain his response plan:

"I lay out the immediate steps we have to take to deliver one decisive public health response to curb the spread of the disease and to provide treatment to those who need it, and a decisive economic response that delivers real relief to American workers, families, and small businesses."

Source: Rev, "Joe Biden Speech Transcript on Coronavirus: March 12, 2020," rev.com, Mar. 12, 2020
Mar. 13
1,896 / 48 Declaration of National Emergency:

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America... do hereby find and proclaim that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a national emergency, beginning March 1, 2020."

Source: Donald Trump, "Proclamation on Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 13, 2020

[Editor's Note: While President Trump issued the declaration of National Emergency on Mar. 13, he noted that it applied retroactively 12 days to Mar. 1.]

Press Conference:

"Q: Dr. Fauci said earlier this week that the lag in testing was, in fact, 'a failing.' Do you take responsibility for that?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, no, I don't take responsibility at all, because we were given a — a set of circumstances and we were given rules, regulations, and specifications from a different time. It wasn't meant for this kind of an event with the kind of numbers that we're talking about. And what we've done is redesigned it very quickly with the help of the people behind me. And we're now in very, very strong shape."

Reporter Q: Are you happy from the Chinese response? What correctly really told you — what really happened those days?

"[A]s far as President Xi — likewise, he's a friend of mine. I believe that we are dealing in good faith. And we just worked to, as you know, and as I just said — we just worked an incredible [trade] deal."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 13, 2020
Mar. 15
3,487 / 73 Press conference:

"This is a very contagious virus. It's incredible. But it's something that we have tremendous control over.

I think, very important, the young people and people of good health, and groups of people, just are not strongly affected."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 15, 2020
Joe Biden's comments related to the coronavirus during the Democratic debate in Washington, DC, included his thoughts on the issues below:

-Wants to get test kits from WHO and have at least 10 drive-through testing spots per state.
-Have DOD and FEMA set up hospitals and tents
-Says present system cannot handle surge that's coming.
-Warns of impending financial crisis.
-"I would call out the military."

Source: Rev, "March Democratic Debate Transcript: Joe Biden & Bernie Sanders," rev.com, Mar. 16, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Mar. 16
4,226 / 95 Press conference:

"[W]e're announcing new guidelines for every American to follow over the next 15 days as we combat the virus... [M]y administration is recommending that all Americans, including the young and healthy, work to engage in schooling from home when possible. Avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 people. Avoid discretionary travel. And avoid eating and drinking at bars, restaurants, and public food courts."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 16, 2020

Twitter:

"The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Mar. 16, 2020
Twitter:

"In the wake of the coronavirus, we need a major bailout package that delivers real relief to the American people — not more handouts for giant corporations."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Mar. 16, 2020
Mar. 17
7,038 / 121 Press conference:

"Our guidance yesterday urges Americans to take action for 15 days to help stem the outbreak... We'll see what happens after that... our country can be rolling again pretty quickly...

I've always known this is a — this is a real — this is a pandemic. I've felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 17, 2020
Online speech on Democratic primary night for Florida, Illinois, and Arizona:

"The coronavirus doesn't care if you're a Democrat or Republican. It will not discriminate based on national origin, race, gender, or your zip code. It will touch people in positions of power, as well as the most vulnerable people in our society."

Source: Rev, "Joe Biden Speech Transcript on Primary Night: Coronavirus, Economy, Primaries," rev.com, Mar. 17, 2020
Mar. 18
10,442 / 171Closed US-Canada border to non-essential travel Twitter:

"I only signed the Defense Production Act to combat the Chinese Virus should we need to invoke it in a worst case scenario in the future."

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Mar. 18, 2020

Press conference:

"We’ll be invoking the Defense Production Act, just in case we need it."

Reporter Q: Do you consider America to be on a wartime footing, in terms of fighting this virus?

"I do. I view it as a, in a sense, a wartime president. I mean, that's what we're fighting."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 18, 2020
Statement:

"Much has been made of changes in the President's tone in recent days. But with our health care system at risk, a virus spreading, our economy on the brink — and so many lives at stake — it's time to be less interested in the President’s words and more focused on his actions — or inaction.

First, he must institute a transparent reporting process regarding testing...

Second, President Trump must take action to expand the number of beds and facilities ready to accept sick patients...

Third, President Trump must surge medical personnel to the places that need it most and make sure these personnel and first responders are equipped to more safely do their jobs."

Source: Joe Biden, "Statement from Vice President Joe Biden on Immediate Actions the Trump Administration Must Take to Address the Public Health Crisis," medium.com, Mar. 18, 2020
Mar. 19
15,219 / 239 Press conference:

"I don't view it as an act of God; I would view it as is something that just surprised the whole world. And if people would have known about it... It could have been stopped right where it came from — China...

So we slashed red tape to develop vaccines and therapies as fast as it can possibly be done — long before anybody else was even thinking about doing this.

Nobody knew there’d be a pandemic or an epidemic of this proportion. Nobody has ever seen anything like this before."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 19, 2020
Mar. 20
18,747 / 309White House announcement of measures including Tax Day moved to July 15, closing of US-Mexico border to non-essential travel, and waiving interest on student loans. Call with reporters:

"He's [Trump] all over the map. In a crisis we need leadership that's straightforward, clear and reliable... Stop saying false things that will make you sound like a hero."

Source: Eric Bradner and Sarah Mucha, "Biden to Trump on Coronavirus: 'Stop Saying False Things That Will Make You Sound like a Hero'," cnn.com, Mar. 20, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Mar. 21
24,583 / 374 Press conference:

"Last night, I [approved] a major disaster declaration for the State of New York. I worked very closely with Governor Cuomo. And is the first time in our nation's history that a President has used the Stafford Act to declare a major disaster in response to a public health crisis...

The Department of Education will not enforce standardized testing — which is another big deal — requirements for students in elementary through high school for the current school year."

Reporter Q: Since this story keeps popping up, when did you first learn that this was going to be a problem?

"[W]hen I learned, I started doing the closings... I wish they could have told us earlier about what was going on inside. We didn’t know about it until it started coming out publicly...

China has worked very hard. China has lost thousands and thousands of people... No, they weren't transparent. They were transparent at that time, but when we saw what happened, they could have been transparent much earlier than they were."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 21, 2020
Mar. 22
33,404 / 509 Press conference:

"I'm of the opinion we have to do great during this 14 days, during the 15-day period. We'll know at the end of 14 days, pretty much. We're going to have a pretty good idea how we're doing.

I think you have to shut it down and you have to see. But, you know, there'll be a point at which we say, ‘We're back in business. Let's go.'"

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 22, 2020

Twitter:

"WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Mar. 22, 2020

[The above is written in capital letters to preserve the formatting from the tweet as posted by President Trump.]
Mar. 23
44,183 / 689 Twitter:

"It is very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States, and all around the world. They are amazing people, and the spreading of the Virus....

....is NOT their fault in any way, shape, or form. They are working closely with us to get rid of it. WE WILL PREVAIL TOGETHER!

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Mar. 23, 2020
Speech on YouTube:

"Our intelligence officials were warning of coronavirus threat in January. Just based on public information that I had, I warned the threat was getting worse way back on January the 27th...

As of late yesterday, we're told that the president still has not activated the authority under the Defense Production Act, which I and others call for him to invoke immediately and act on, to direct American manufacturers to make essential supplies."

Source: Rev, "Joe Biden YouTube Speech Transcript on Coronavirus – March 23," rev.com, Mar. 23, 2020
Mar. 24
54,453 / 957 Virtual town hall with Coronavirus Task Force on Fox News:

"[W]e lose thousands and thousands of people a year to the flu. We don't turn the country off, I mean every year... We lose much more than that to automobile accidents. We didn't call up the automobile companies, say, 'Stop making cars. We don't want any cars anymore.'' We have to get back to work...

I would love to have it [the country] open by Easter. I will tell you that right now. I would love to have that. It's such an important day for other reasons, but I'll make it an important day for this too. I would love to have the country opened up and they're just raring to go by Easter...

But our country has to get back to work, otherwise it's going to be very hard to start it up again."

Source: Rev, "Donald Trump Coronavirus Town Hall Transcript March 24: Trump Wants to Restart the Economy by Easter," rev.com, Mar. 24, 2020
Interview on The View:

Sara Haines: "Are you at all concerned, as Trump said, that we cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself?”

Biden: "We have to take care of the cure [sic]. That will make the problem worse no matter what. We know what has to be done. We know, you're tired of hearing the phrase, you've got to flatten that curve, where it's going up like this, people get it, and then it comes down. We've got to flatten that curve. And we've got to make sure that once, in fact, we have this under control, it doesn’t come back. So what we should be focusing on is getting all the help necessary in terms of testing, in terms of access to the gear that our first responders, our doctors, our nurses need in treating people."

Source: The View, Twitter.com, Mar. 24, 2020

Twitter:

"Let me be very clear: No one is expendable. No matter your age, race, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

No life is worth losing to add one more point to the Dow."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Mar. 24, 2020
Mar. 25
68,440 / 1,260 Press Conference:

"I have now approved major disaster declarations for New York, California, Washington, Iowa, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida. That has great significance, as you know, and legal significance...

We’re testing more than anybody right now. There’s nobody even close. And our tests are the best tests. They’re the most accurate tests...

We have some big problems, but it's confined to certain areas, high-density areas. So why would we test the entire nation — 350 [million] people? With that being said, I'm going to say it again: We tested far more than anybody else."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 25, 2020
The Biden Emergency Action Plan to Save the Economy:

"In recent days, there's been talk that we have to choose between public health and our economy. That's not just a false choice. It's a dangerous one.

It would be catastrophic to reopen everything without a plan, and then have a spike in cases and shut it all back down. That would just mean more loss of life and economic pain.

To reopen, public health experts say we need real testing capacity, the ability to trace contacts if someone tests positive, and the ability to surge equipment and supplies to any new hotspots."

Source: Joe Biden, "The Biden Emergency Action Plan to Save the Economy," joebiden.com, Mar. 25, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Mar. 26
85,356 / 1,614 Interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News:

"I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than they're going to be. I don't believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You know, you're going to major hospitals sometimes, they'll have two ventilators."

Source: Fox News, "EXCLUSIVE: Trump Goes One-on-One with Hannity to Discuss Coronavirus Response," youtube.com, Mar. 26, 2020

Press conference:

"[W]e inherited a broken situation, but I don't totally blame the people that were before me and this administration. Nobody would have ever thought a thing like this could have happened.

But the Production Act — Defense Production Act — is a wonderful thing, but I just haven't had to use it. They know it's activated. They know I can use it. Maybe that frightens them a little bit. You know, it's got tremendous power. But I haven't had to."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.com, Mar. 26, 2020
Twitter:

"If I were President, here's what I would do right now:

- Use all available authorities to turn the tide on this epidemic
- Launch a task force to ensure money rapidly gets to people who need it
- Bring leaders of Congress together to build the next deal"

Source: Joe Biden, twitter.com, Mar. 26, 2020
Mar. 27
103,321 / 2,110US surpasses 100,000 coronavirus casesStatement regarding the Defense Production Act:

"Today, I signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use any and all authority available under the Defense Production Act to require General Motors to accept, perform, and prioritize Federal contracts for ventilators."

Source: President Trump, "Statement from the President Regarding the Defense Production Act,” whitehouse.gov, Mar. 27, 2020

Press conference:

"Q: What more, specifically, do you want the governor of Washington and the governor of Michigan to be doing?

THE PRESIDENT: All I want them to do — very simple — I want them to be appreciative. I don't want them to say things that aren't true. I want them to be appreciative. We've done a great job. And I'm not talking about me. I'm talking about Mike Pence, the task force; I'm talking about FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers...

You know what I say? If they don't treat you right, I don't call. He's [Vice President Mike Pence] a different type of person. He'll call quietly anyway."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 28, 2020

Remarks while signing the CARES Act:

"Last night, I spoke to President Xi. We talked about the experience that they had in China and all of the things that have taken place. And we learned a lot. They've had a very tough experience, and they're doing well and he's doing well. President Xi is doing very well. But we learned a lot and we have great communication together. We're going to be sent great data from China."

Source: Donald Trump, "Remarks by President Trump at Signing of H.R.748, The CARES Act" whitehouse.gov, Mar. 27, 2020
CNN Joe Biden Town Hall:

On re-opening the country by Easter:

"[I]t's more likely to be sometime after the 31st of May into June... [I]t's a false choice to make, saying that either open the economy or everything goes to hell, or, in fact, you take care of the medical side."

On President Trump's pandemic response:

"[The Obama] administration spent a lot of time working with the incoming Trump administration, laying out exactly what could happen with a future pandemic, and that they were likely, not unlikely to occur…

We set up an office within the White House directly to stay focused on this, in the president -- in the White House and -- to deal with pandemics.

And the first thing this president did, maybe not the first but very first, he eliminated the office, took it out of the White House...

I just don't think he has taken this seriously from the outset."

Anderson Cooper: "He says that governors should be appreciative. Is that how government is supposed to work?"

Biden: "I thought the federal government's supposed to do their job, the federal government, dealing with a federal, national problem."

Source: CNN, "CNN Joe Biden Town Hall. Aired 8-9p ET," cnn.com, Mar. 27, 2020

Twitter:

"In response to the economic impact of COVID-19, we need to provide immediate relief to those who are drowning in student debt.

Every American should have a minimum of $10,000 of student loan debt forgiven."

"The coronavirus is not Donald Trump's fault, but his inept response is.

He ignored the warnings for months, downplayed the threat it posed, and failed to take the action needed to combat the outbreak.

It's one of the greatest failures of presidential leadership in our history."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Mar. 27, 2020
Mar. 28
122,653 / 2,754 Twitter:

"I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing 'hot spots', New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut."

"On the recommendation of the White House CoronaVirus Task Force, and upon consultation with the [Governors] of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, I have asked the @CDCgov to issue a strong Travel Advisory, to be administered by the Governors, in consultation with the.... ....Federal Government. A quarantine will not be necessary."

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Mar. 28, 2020
Twitter:

"Let me be clear: No one should have to pay for coronavirus testing or treatment."

"The Administration promised millions of tests by mid-March. But it's not happening fast enough. Where are the tests, Mr. President?"

Source: Joe Biden, twitter.com, Mar. 28, 2020
Mar. 29
140,904 / 3,251 Press conference:

On equipment for hospitals:

"As you know, every level of government — state, local, and federal — is working nonstop to obtain more personal protective equipment for frontline workers...

Where are the masks going? Are they going out the back door? How do you go from 10,000 [masks used in normal conditions] to 300,000 [masks needed during the pandemic]?...

I don't think it's hoarding; I think it's maybe worse than hoarding. But check it out."

On a potential timeline:

"The peak, the highest point of death rates — remember this — is likely to hit in two weeks. Nothing would be worse than declaring victory before the victory is won. That would be the greatest loss of all...Therefore, we will be extending our guidelines to April 30th to slow the spread... We can expect that, by June 1st, we will be well on our way to recovery. We think, by June 1st, a lot of great things will be happening."

On estimated deaths from coronavirus:

"[A ]lot of people have been asking, 'Well, what would have happened if we did nothing? Did nothing — we just rode it out.'...

Think of the number: 2.2 — potentially 2.2 million people [dying of coronavirus] if we did nothing. If we didn't do the distancing, if we didn't do all of the things that we're doing…

And so, if we can hold that down, as we're saying, to 100,000 [deaths] — that's a horrible number — maybe even less, but to 100,000; so we have between 100- and 200,000 — we all, together, have done a very good job."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 30, 2020
Twitter:

"I am issuing this challenge to the President: in the next 48 hours, direct the production and distribution of respirator masks, gloves, protective face shields and gowns to fill every supply request made by a governor to the federal government.

Lives are at stake."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Mar. 29, 2020
Mar. 30
163,539 / 4,066 Call with state governors:

Montana Governor Steve Bullock: "Literally we are one day away, if we don't get test kits from the CDC, that we wouldn't be able to do testing in Montana."

President Trump: "I haven't heard about testing in weeks. We've tested more now than any nation in the world. We've got these great tests and we're coming out with another one tomorrow where it's almost instantaneous testing. But I haven't heard about testing being a problem."

Source: Jonathan Martin, Maggie Haberman, and Mike Baker, "Trump Suggests Lack of Testing Is No Longer a Problem. Governors Disagree.," nytimes.com, Mar. 30, 2020

Press Conference:

"Challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days, and this is a very vital 30 days...

People should be staying at home...

[T]he economy is number two on my list. First, I want to save a lot of lives. We're going to get the economy back. I think the economy is going to come back very fast."

On testing:

"Q: Mr. President, you said several times that the United States has ramped up testing, but the United States is still not testing per capita as many people as other countries like South Korea...

THE PRESIDENT: Look — look — per capita. We have areas of country that's very tight. I know South Korea better than anybody. It's a — very tight. Do you know how many people are in Seoul? Do you know how big the city of Seoul is?... Thirty-eight million people all tightly wound together.

We have vast farmlands. We have vast areas where they don't have much of a problem. In some cases, they have no problem whatsoever. We have done more tests... I didn't talk about per capita."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in a Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Mar. 30, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Mar. 31
186,101 / 5,151 Press Conference:

"We're at war with a deadly virus... this is going to be a very painful, very, very painful two weeks...

The question is what would have happened if we did nothing? Because there was a group that said let's just ride it out... 2.2 million people would've died if we did nothing. We just carried on our life. Now I don't think that would've been possible because you would have had people dying all over the place. This would not have been a normal life. How many people have even seen anybody die? You would have seen people dying on airplanes. You would've been seeing people dying in hotel lobbies. You would have seen death all over...

I think the one thing nobody really knew about this virus was how contagious it was. It's so incredibly contagious. And nobody knew that."

On whether impeachment process was a distraction:

"Q: [Mitch McConnell] said that impeachment diverted the attention of the government... Did it divert your attention or your team's attention or the Vice President's attention?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I don't like to think I did. I think I handled it very well, but I guess it probably did. I mean, I got impeached. I think, you know, I certainly devoted a little time to thinking about it, right? So, but think of it: It was a hoax. It was a total hoax."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 1, 2020
Twitter:

"We're in the middle of a global pandemic, and the Trump Administration is preventing people from getting health care.

I can't believe this needs to be said, but President Trump needs to reopen Obamacare enrollment, and he needs to do it now. Lives are at stake."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Mar. 31, 2020
Apr. 1
213,144 / 6,394 Press Conference:

On China:

"Q: [D]id China underreport both the number of cases and the death toll from the coronavirus?...

THE PRESIDENT: We really don't know. I mean, yeah — look, how do we know whether if they underreported or reported however they report?

But we had a great call the other night. We're working together on a lot of different things, including trade."

On comparing coronavirus to the flu:

"Q: [Yesterday] you said, 'This is no flu...' over the past month, you've compared it to the flu sometimes, saying, 'Treat it like the flu...'

So what changed your thinking on that or your language on that?

THE PRESIDENT: I think the severity. I think also in looking at the way the contagion — it is so contagious. Nobody has ever seen anything like this, where large groups of people, all of a sudden, just by being in the presence of somebody, have it. The flu has never been like that."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 1, 2020
Twitter:

"It's now April, and:

- States still don't have enough tests
- Hospitals still don't have enough ventilators
- Health care workers still don't have enough masks

Donald Trump needs to use all available authorities immediately to solve these shortages."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 1, 2020
Apr. 2
239,279 / 7,576More than 1,000,000 global coronavirus cases recordedPress conference:

"I want to remind small-business owners across America that the Paycheck Protection Program is launching tomorrow. Nearly $350 billion in loans will be available to small businesses, including sole proprietors...

By the way, the states should have been building their stockpile. We have almost 10,000 in our stockpile. And we've been building it, and we've been supplying it. But the states should be building.

We're a backup. We're not an ordering clerk."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 3, 2020
Virtual news briefing:

"This is a war against this virus. There's a number of specific suggestions that I know from in the past worked and some I think would work. And I'm prepared to offer them to the president. I understand if he doesn't want to take my advice but it won't be, 'I told you so, Mr. President.' It won't be if he decided to do what I suggested, I go back and say, 'Well, I told the president to do that.'"

Source: Rev, "Joe Biden Virtual News Briefing on Coronavirus – April 2," rev.com, Apr. 2, 2020
Apr. 3
277,205 / 8,839CDC issues recommendation to wear cloth face coverings in public
Press conference:

On masks:

"The CDC is recommending that Americans wear a basic cloth or a fabric mask that can be either purchased online or simply made at home... [I]t’s going to be, really, a voluntary thing. You can do it. You don't have to do it. I'm choosing not to do it, but some people may want to do it, and that's okay..."

On uninsured Americans:

"We're also taking action to ensure the cost of no barrier to any American seeking testing or treatment of the coronavirus... Today I can so proudly announce that hospitals and healthcare providers treating uninsured coronavirus patients will be reimbursed by the federal government using funds from the economic relief package Congress passed last month."

On the issue of vote-by-mail in the Nov. election:

"I think a lot of people cheat with mail-in voting. I think people should vote with ID — voter ID. I think voter ID is very important. And the reason they don't want voter ID is because they intend to cheat... No, it shouldn't be mailed in. You should vote at the booth."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 3, 2020
Statement to The Daily Beast:

"During this outbreak, when health care coverage is more important than ever, Donald Trump is refusing to give those who have been uninsured access to the best resource we have: the Affordable Care Act's marketplaces...

This is no time to put pettiness and ideology above helping those who are in the greatest need."

Source: Scott Bixby, Sam Brodey, Hunter Woodall, Asawin Suebsaeng, "Biden Tells Trump: Stop the 'Pettiness' and Reopen Obamacare," dailybeast.com, Apr. 3, 2020
Apr. 4
304,826 / 10,384 Press conference:

"[M]itigation does work. But again, we're not going to destroy our country. We have to get back. Because, you know, at a certain point, you'll lose more people this way — through all of the problems caused — than you will with what we're doing right now...

But I've said it from the beginning: The cure cannot be worse than the problem itself... So at a certain point, some hard decisions are going to have to be made."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 5, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Apr. 5
330,891 / 11,793 Press conference:

"I really believe that the American people are doing a better job than anybody would have thought even possible, and that's one of the reasons we can even be talking about the kind of number [of deaths from coronavirus] that we hopefully will be talking about, which is at the minimum level instead of the maximum or beyond...

I see light at the end of the tunnel. I think indications are some of the numbers coming out today."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 6, 2020
Interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week:

"The virus is not his [President Trump's] fault, but the response is his responsibility...

We should create a bank Defense Production Act. We have got to get those small business loans out...

We have got to save jobs. We've got to save people's businesses. And they have to exponentially ramp up testing. We have been talking about 4 million tests are going to be available. Look where is all this -- where is it? What's being done?

You've got to open up enrollment for Obamacare. A lot of people don't have insurance. This president is trying to take away Obamacare across the board, which will leave people naked to this problem that we're facing. And we have to finally get some data how this Coronavirus is really hurting African-Americans and minority communities."

Source: ABC News, "'This Week' Transcript 4-5-20: Joe Biden, Secretary Mark Esper," abcnews.go.com, Apr. 5, 2020
Apr. 6
374,329 / 13,298US surpasses 10,000 coronavirus deathsTwitter:

"LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Apr. 6, 2020

Press Conference:

On his phone call with Joe Biden:

"I also spoke, just a few minutes ago, with former Vice President Biden, who called. And we had a really wonderful, warm conversation. It was a very nice conversation... And he gave me his point of view, and I fully understood that. And we just had a very friendly conversation. It lasted probably 15 minutes, and it was really good... I appreciate his calling."

On the letter written by Navy Captain Brett Crozier about a coronavirus outbreak on his ship, the U.S.S. Teddy Roosevelt:

"Look, the letters shouldn't have been sent, and certainly they shouldn't have been leaked. This is a military operation...

It's a mistake that shouldn't have been made, because it's unfair to the families of the people on the ship because they get nervous. And it shows weakness."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 7, 2020
Twitter:

"For months, I called on President Trump to step up and take the action necessary to combat COVID-19.

But week after week, he downplayed the threat it posed, misled the American people, and failed to act."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 6, 2020
Apr. 7
395,011 / 15,526 Twitter:

"The W.H.O. really blew it. For some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China centric. We will be giving that a good look. Fortunately I rejected their advice on keeping our borders open to China early on. Why did they give us such a faulty recommendation?"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Apr. 7, 2020
Speech to AFL-CIO Union Members:

"Trump likes to say he’s a wartime president. Well, he needs [to] step up and act like it. I’ve offered him a 10 point plan. I call it the Make Work Checklist. It’s what the Trump administration needs to do to make sure that that $2 trillion in the Cares Act that Congress passed actually gets relief into the hands of as many American workers as possible as quickly as possible. Secondly, making sure that unemployment checks get out on time and in full. Third, pushing banks to get those government-backed small business loans out the door to every eligible small business so they can keep the workers on the payroll. Policing the way large corporations use their funds that they received to pay workers and their benefits."

Source: Rev, "Transcript: Joe Biden Speech to AFL-CIO Union Members on Coronavirus," rev.com, Apr. 5, 2020
Apr. 8
427,460 / 17,691 Press Conference:

"[I]t would be nice to be able to open with a big bang and open up our country — or certainly most of our country. And I think we're going to do that soon. If you look at what's happening, I would say we're ahead of schedule.

Now, you hate to say it too loudly because, all of the sudden, things don’t happen. But I think we will be sooner rather than later...

Q: So you wouldn't do that until the health experts tell you it's safe to do it?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, I would — I rely very heavily on them. Yeah."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 8, 2020
Virtual Town Hall:

"Early data shows countries and counties in this country have major black populations and Hispanic populations, the coronavirus infection rates in the black communities are three times as high as they are in white majority residents’ communities. Death rates, nearly six times higher. That’s unconscionable and never should happen…

This virus is shedding light on the structural racism that still exists and plagues our laws, our institutions, and our culture."

Source: Rev, "Joe Biden Virtual Town Hall Transcript April 8,” rev.com, Apr. 9, 2020
Apr. 9
459,165 / 19,802 Press Conference:

"Through the FDA's Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program, 19 therapies and treatments are now being tested and 26 more are in the active planning for clinical trial...

I'm reporting today that we passed 2 million tests completed in the United States, first time — most anywhere in the country. It's a milestone for our country...

To provide further economic relief, the Federal Reserve announced this morning that it'll provide up to $2.3 trillion in support to businesses, states, and local governments...

Previously, we waived student loan payments for six months. So, student loan payments have been waived for six months, and we'll discuss it after that."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing,” whitehouse.gov, Apr. 9, 2020
Twitter:

"I can't believe I have to say this, but we should be expanding the number of testing sites and surging the number of tests — not reducing them. Testing is key to finding a way out of this crisis."

"Let me be clear: No one should have to pay for their coronavirus treatment."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 9, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Apr. 10
492,416 / 22,038 Press Conference:

"Hard to believe that if you had 60,000 [coronavirus deaths] — you could never be happy, but that's a lot fewer than we were originally told and thinking. So they said between 100- and 220,000 lives on the minimum side, and then up to 2.2 million lives if we didn't do anything. But it showed a just tremendous resolve by the people of this country."

Reporter Q: [S]tarting to open up the economy again on May 1st, doesn’t that lead to more deaths?

"Staying at home leads to death also. And it's very traumatic for this country. But staying at home — if you look at numbers — that leads to a different kind of death, perhaps, but it leads to death also. So it's a very big decision. As I say, it's the biggest decision I'll ever make."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 10, 2020

Twitter:

"The Invisible Enemy will soon be in full retreat!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Apr. 10, 2020
Statement:

"Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we've heard increasing reports of Asian Americans in communities across our country being targeted with messages of hate... These disgusting and racist acts must stop...

Trump's attempts to deflect responsibility away from his own failures in addressing this pandemic by calling the coronavirus the 'Chinese Virus' during the White House press briefings stoked feelings of hatred and anger toward AAPIs [Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders].

The casual racism and regular xenophobia that we have seen from Trump and this Administration is a national scourge."

Source: Joe Biden, "Statement by Vice President Joe Biden on Incidents of Racism Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders," medium.com, Apr. 10, 2020
Apr. 11
525,704 / 24,062US surpassed 500,000 coronavirus cases and 20,000 coronavirus deathsInterview with Judge Jeanine on Fox News:

"I think the stimulus coupled with this pent-up demand and everybody wanting to get out and go back to work, I think we’re going to have just a tremendous surge. I think it’s going to be like a rocket ship."

Source: Factbase, "Interview: Jeanine Pirro with Donald Trump on Justice with Judge Jeanine on Fox - April 11, 2020," factba.se, Apr. 11, 2020
Twitter:

"We are in the middle of a global pandemic — and people need access to health care now more than ever. Donald Trump should reopen Obamacare enrollment immediately."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 11, 2020
Apr. 12
554,849 / 25,789Easter SundayTwitter:

"For the first time in history there is a fully signed Presidential Disaster Declaration for all 50 States. We are winning, and will win, the war on the Invisible Enemy!"

"Governors, get your states testing programs & apparatus perfected. Be ready, big things are happening. No excuses! The Federal Government is there to help. We are testing more than any country in the World. Also, gear up with Face Masks!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Apr. 12, 2020
Biden Plan to Safely Reopen America:

"What is the plan to safely reopen America?

So far, the Trump administration hasn't supplied an answer...

First, we have to get the number of new cases of the disease down significantly. That means social distancing has to continue and the people on the front lines have to get the supplies and equipment they need. President Trump needs to use his full powers under the Defense Production Act to fight the disease with every tool at our disposal. He needs to get the federal response organized and stop making excuses...

Second, there needs to be widespread, easily available and prompt testing — and a contact tracing strategy that protects privacy...

Third, we have to make sure that our hospitals and health care system are ready for flare-ups of the disease that may occur when economic activity expands again...

The [Trump] administration's failure to plan, to prepare, to honestly assess and communicate the threat to the nation led to catastrophic results. We cannot repeat those mistakes."

Source: Joe Biden, "Joe Biden: My Plan to Safely Reopen America," nytimes.com, Apr 12, 2020
Apr. 13
579,005 / 27,515 Press conference:

Reporter Q: There’s a debate over what authority you have to order the country reopened. What authority do you have?

"[W]hen somebody is the President of the United States, the authority is total, and that’s the way it's got to be...

The federal government has absolute power. It has the power. As to whether or not I'll use that power, we'll see... But I have the absolute right to do if I want to. I may not want to."

Reporter Q: What is the status of the funding for the World Health Organization?

"We're going to be talking about that very soon. I'm getting a full report. I'm not happy with the World Health Organization. I'm not happy with the World Trade Organization either. We've been ripped off by everybody."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 14, 2020

Twitter:

"For the purpose of creating conflict and confusion, some in the Fake News Media are saying that it is the Governors decision to open up the states, not that of the President of the United States & the Federal Government. Let it be fully understood that this is incorrect....

....It is the decision of the President, and for many good reasons. With that being said, the Administration and I are working closely with the Governors, and this will continue. A decision by me, in conjunction with the Governors and input from others, will be made shortly!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Apr. 13, 2020
Twitter:

"Our U.S. Postal Service workers are at the front lines of this crisis. Millions of people are relying on them for things like medicine and other essentials.

And the President is trying to let them fail. Congress should do everything it can to prevent this."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 13, 2020
Apr. 14
605,390 / 30,081 Press conference:

On cutting funding for the World Health Organization:

"Today I'm instructing my administration to halt funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus...

The WHO pushed China's misinformation about the virus, saying it was not communicable and there was no need for travel bans...

The WHO’s reliance on China's disclosures likely caused a 20-fold increase in cases worldwide, and it may be much more than that."

On ending stay-at-home measures:

"The plans to reopen the country are close to being finalized, and we will soon be sharing details and new guidelines with everybody... And I will then be authorizing each individual governor, of each individual state, to implement a reopening and a very powerful reopening plan of their state at a time and in a manner as most appropriate...

[T]here are numerous states that are in great shape right now. They're viewing the rest of the country like we don't even believe this is happening... We're going to let them open sooner than the date... But it's going to be very, very soon — sooner than the end of the month."

Source: Donald Trump, "Remarks by President Trump in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 14, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Apr. 15
632,548 / 32,712More than 2,000,000 global coronavirus cases recordedPress conference:

"The battle continues, but the data suggests that nationwide we have passed the peak on new cases... You already know we'll be opening up states — some states much sooner than others. And we think some of the states can actually open up before the deadline of May 1st."

Reporter Q: Why do we have 20 percent of the world's deaths from the coronavirus when we're only 4 percent of the world's population?

"Well, you don't know what you have. Do you think you're getting honest numbers from some of these countries? Do you really believe those numbers in this vast country called China — and that they have a certain number of cases and a certain number of deaths — does anybody really believe that?

Here's the story: We report everything. We're reporting the cases, and our reporting is good. We're reporting every death. In fact, I see, this morning, where New York added 3,000 deaths because they died. And they're now saying — rather than, 'It was a heart attack' — they're saying, 'It was a heart attack caused by this.' So they're adding."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 15, 2020
Twitter:

"COVID-19 is amplifying so many inequities in our society. We have to ensure support gets to those who need it immediately, and then do the necessary work to rip out the structural racism that creates these inequalities."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 15, 2020
Apr. 16
661,712 / 34,905The White House released a document titled "Guidelines for Opening Up America Again," offering proposed steps for state and local officials to follow "a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts."
Press conference:

"A prolonged lockdown combined with a forced economic depression would inflict an immense and wide-ranging toll on public health. This includes a sharp rise in drug abuse, alcohol abuse, suicide, heart disease, and many other dimensions of physical and mental wellbeing...

Therefore, my administration is issuing new federal guidelines that will allow governors to take a phased and deliberate approach to reopening their individual states…

I think 29 states are in that ballgame, not open — not for opening, but I think they'll be able to open relatively soon."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 16, 2020
Interview on CNN:

Anderson Cooper: "Looking at the President's new plan for reopening the country in phases... what do you think of what you heard today from the White House?"

Joe Biden: "Well I - I wouldn't call it a plan. I think what he's done, he's kind of punted...

[T]his ain't going to be over till we have a vaccine, and we're not going to be able to really make significant changes in the three phases the President's talking about or any phases until we're able to test much more broadly... If you don't fix the health side, the economy is never going to get right."

Source: CNN, "Chris Cuomo on His Wife's Battle against Coronavirus; Joe Biden on the U.S. Battle Against Coronavirus; Mark Zuckerberg on How Facebook Is Battling Misinformation about Coronavirus. Aired 9-10p ET,” cnn.com, Apr. 16, 2020

Plan to address unemployment:

"This dire economic dislocation stems from the need to protect public health through strong social distancing measures. But let's not forget: these measures are required to the extent they are because we didn't prepare early enough... This pain is a product of poor decision making by Donald Trump...

So today, as we see these chilling numbers of job losses — each one a mother or father, a neighbor or friend, a proud, hardworking American — I am calling for a bigger and bolder approach to keeping people on the job in times of crisis. That idea is called 'short-time compensation' or 'work-sharing.' I call it Employment Insurance."

Source: Joe Biden, "Joe Biden Announces New Plan to Scale Up Employment Insurance by Reforming Short-Time Compensation Program," medium.com, Apr. 16, 2020
Apr. 17
690,714 / 37,448 Press conference:

We've got to open up our country. We're going to open it up in quadrants. We're going to open it up in states. Some of the states should get together and they should work on their own borders and everything, because you don't want to have people pouring through the border of a state that isn’t infected and you have people coming perhaps outside...

I think the schools are going to be open soon."

Reporter Q: The investigation into whether the virus escaped from this lab in Wuhan, how active is that?

"Well, we're looking at that... It seems to make sense. They talk about a certain kind of bat, but that bat wasn't in that area... That bat wasn't sold at that wet zone... That bat is 40 miles away. So a lot of strange things are happening, but there is a lot of investigation going on and we're going to find out.

All I can say is, wherever it came from — it came from China — in whatever form, 184 countries now are suffering because of it. And it's too bad, isn't it? And it could have been solved very easily."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 17, 2020

Twitter:

"Cuomo ridiculously wanted '40 thousand Ventilators'. We gave him a small fraction of that number, and it was plenty. State should have had them in stockpile!"

"China has just announced a doubling in the number of their deaths from the Invisible Enemy. It is far higher than that and far higher than the U.S., not even close!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Apr. 17, 2020
Twitter:

"We're in the middle of a global pandemic. No one feeling ill should have to choose between earning a paycheck or staying home to recover. We need to provide paid sick leave to everyone who needs it immediately."

"The uncomfortable truth is that Donald Trump left America exposed and vulnerable to this pandemic. He ignored the warnings of health experts and intelligence agencies and put his trust in China's leaders instead. Now, we're all paying the price."

"Donald Trump is not responsible for COVID-19, but he is responsible for our slow, uncoordinated response.

Experts say that if we had acted two weeks earlier, more lives could have been saved."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 17, 2020
Apr. 18
720,630 / 39,331 Press conference:

"While we mourn the tragic loss of life — and you can't mourn it any stronger than we're mourning it — the United States has produced dramatically better health outcomes than any other country, with the possible exception of Germany...

[W]hen the fake news gets out there and they start talking about the United States is number one [in coronavirus deaths] — but we're not number one; China is number one, just so you understand. China is number one by a lot. It's not even close. They're way ahead of us in terms of death. It's not even close. You know it. I know it. And they know it. But you don't want to report it. Why? You'll have to explain that. Someday I'll explain it."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 18, 2020
Twitter:

"Donald Trump may not like it, but it's his responsibility to step up and lead our nation's testing strategy. Mass testing is key to reopening the economy and returning to some semblance of normalcy."

"Donald Trump left our country unprepared and unprotected for the worst public health and economic crisis in our lifetime — and now we're paying the price."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 18, 2020
Apr. 19
746,625 / 40,901 Press conference:

"We also are going to be using, and we're preparing to use, the Defense Production Act to increase swab production in one U.S. facility by over 20 million additional swabs per month.

We've had a little difficulty with one, so we're going to call in — as we have in the past, as you know — we're calling in the Defense Production Act, and we'll be getting the swabs, very easily...

You must remember that the governors wanted to have total control over the opening of their states, but now they want to have us, the federal government, do the testing. And again, testing is local. You can’t have it both ways."

On the estimated total US death count:

"[I]t looks like we’ll be at about a 60,000 mark, which is 40,000 less than the lowest number thought of. So this isn't a case where people would say, 'Oh, we would have had that number. It’s similar to a flu.' It's not the same thing as the flu at all."

Reporter Q: If there were groups of people planning to protest tomorrow against the government shutdown, what would be your advice?

"I don't have any advice. People feel that way. You're allowed to protest... Some governors have gone too far. Some of the things that happened are maybe not so appropriate. And I think, in the end, it's not going to matter because we're starting to open up our states...

As far as protesters — you know, I see protesters for all sorts of things. And I'm with everybody. I'm with everybody."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 20, 2020

Twitter:

"Just like I was right on Ventilators (our Country is now the 'King of Ventilators', other countries are calling asking for help-we will!), I am right on testing. Governors must be able to step up and get the job done. We will be with you ALL THE WAY!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Apr. 19, 2020
Twitter:

"At a time when studies are linking air pollution with COVID-19 mortality rates for the most vulnerable in our society, the Trump Administration is rolling back environmental protections — allowing more poison into our air."

"No President can promise to prevent future outbreaks. But I can promise you that when I'm President, we will prepare better, respond better, and recover better. We'll listen to the experts and heed their advice. And I will always tell you the truth."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 19, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Apr. 20
776,093 / 42,853 Press conference:

"This pandemic has reaffirmed the importance of keeping vital supply chains at home. We cannot outsource our independence. We cannot be reliant on foreign nations. I've been saying this for a long time. If we've learned one thing it's: Let's do it here, let's build it here, let's make it here. We've got the greatest country in the world. We've got to start bringing our supply chains back."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 20, 2020

Twitter:

"States, not the Federal Government, should be doing the Testing - But we will work with the Governors and get it done. This is easy compared to the fast production of thousands of complex Ventilators!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Apr. 20, 2020
Apr. 21
802,583 / 45,536 Press conference:

"We're opening up America again. Twenty states representing 40 percent of the U.S. population have announced that they are making plans and preparations to safely restart their economies in the very near future... My administration has worked aggressively with Congress to negotiate this critical 482-billion-dollar funding package. We reached a deal that includes $382 billion in crucial small-business support to keep workers on the payroll; $75 billion to aid hospitals, which really need the aid, and very badly — I'm very proud of that; and $25 billion to support coronavirus testing efforts."

On his decision to halt immigration into the United States:

"We have a solemn duty to ensure these unemployed Americans regain their jobs and their livelihoods. Therefore, in order to protect American workers, I will be issuing a temporary suspension of immigration into the United States... It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad. We must first take care of the American worker — take care of the American worker.

This pause will be in effect for 60 days… This order will only apply to individuals seeking a permanent residency. In other words, those receiving green cards — a big factor — it will not apply to those entering on a temporary basis."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 21, 2020
Proposal to help small businesses:

"For weeks, I have been warning Trump that the funds 'should be available to every single eligible small business, regardless of how small they are, where they are located, or how well-connected their owner is.'

Trump and his team let banks slam doors in the face of small business owners trying to save their workers and their businesses...

African-American small business owners — who currently rely far more on friends and family than big banks, have been shut-out of the PPP [Paycheck Protection Program] in numbers that are disgraceful. Again, by Trump's design...

Let's not pretend the program is working for everyone. It's not. In addition to adding resources, let's fix it."

Source: Joe Biden, "Joe Biden Calls on Trump Administration to Ensure that Relief Funds Get to Deserving Small Businesses," medium.com, Apr. 21, 2020

Twitter:

"I know COVID-19 is causing many people to feel anxious about what the future holds or lonely during this time of social distancing — and that's okay, just know that you're not alone."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 21, 2020
Apr. 22
828,441 / 47,894President Trump signed an Executive Order suspending immigration into the US, with some exceptions, for the next 60 days.Press conference:

On reports that the Director of the CDC said that a second wave of the coronavirus could be worse:

"He was misquoted. Totally misquoted. He said they [coronavirus and the flu] could come together... And his whole purpose in making the statement was to get a flu shot, so that next fall we don't have such a big season of flu — and we possibly won't.

[W]e may have a big flu season. But that's different. Flu is very different from corona... And, Doctor, wouldn't you say there's a good chance that COVID will not come back? And if it does come back, it's in a very small, confined area that we put out... It may not come back at all...

And if it comes back, though, it won't be coming back in the form that it was. It will be coming back in smaller doses that we can contain... But, in my opinion, from everything I've seen, it can never be like anything that we've witnessed right now."

Reporter Q: Is the food supply secure?

"Yeah, totally secure. It's in great shape."

On the Georgia governor's Executive Order allowing businesses such as gyms and salons to reopen starting Apr. 24:

"I told the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, that I disagree strongly with his decision to open certain facilities which are in violation of the phase one guidelines for the incredible people of Georgia... But, at the same time, he must do what he thinks is right. I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I disagree with him on what he's doing."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 22, 2020
Earth Day statement:

"This year, Earth Day comes amid global crises: the difficult, immediate, and undeniable reality of pandemic disease, and the existential threat of climate change — which we are already experiencing and which threatens equally deadly results in the near future if we fail to act. COVID-19 and the climate emergency both underscore the fragility of life on this planet, the connections that bind us to our fellow humans, and the responsibility we all have to meet these global threats with urgent action, ambitious plans, and every tool at our disposal."

Source: Joe Biden, "Statement by Vice President Joe Biden on Earth Day," medium.com, Apr. 22, 2020

Twitter:

"Workers, like grocery store cashiers, are on the front lines of this crisis risking their lives every day to combat COVID-19 and keep this country running."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 22, 2020
Apr. 23
865,585 / 50,234 Press conference:

President Trump: "So I asked Bill [Bryan, acting undersecretary for the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate] a question... So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it's ultraviolet or just very powerful light — and I think you said that that hasn't been checked, but you're going to test it. And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way, and I think you said you’re going to test that too. It sounds interesting."

Acting Under Secretary Bryan: "We'll get to the right folks who could."

President Trump: "Right. And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that." [...]

Reporter: "But I — just, can I ask about — the President mentioned the idea of cleaners, like bleach and isopropyl alcohol you mentioned. There's no scenario that that could be injected into a person, is there?" [...]

President Trump: "It wouldn't be through injection. We're talking about through almost a cleaning, sterilization of an area. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't work. But it certainly has a big effect if it's on a stationary object."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing,” whitehouse.gov, Apr. 23, 2020
Statement on unemployment filings:

"Congress gave President Trump the tools to keep people on payroll in the CARES Act, but he hasn't fully used them...

I would be doing everything in my power to expand short-time compensation programs for workers. I like to call it 'employment insurance.' So for example, if a company has to make cutbacks, instead of laying people off, its employees would remain employed but working reduced hours. The federal government would cover the difference for the duration of the crisis. Those workers stay on the job and their lost wages are replaced. Workers making median wages remain financially whole. And businesses don't lose money by keeping everyone on payroll. The CARES Act created the framework for this, but it requires presidential leadership to execute."

Joe Biden, "Statement by Vice President Joe Biden on the Latest Unemployment Filing Numbers," medium.com, Apr. 23, 2020

Twitter:

"UV light? Injecting disinfectant?

Here's an idea, Mr. President: more tests. Now. And protective equipment for actual medical professionals."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 23, 2020
Apr. 24
895,766 / 52,191US surpassed 50,000 deathsBill signing:

On remarks made in the press conference on Apr. 23:

NPR reporter Ayesha Rascoe: "Mr. President, can you clarify your comments about injections of disinfectant? They were quite provocative."

President Trump: "No, I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen. Now, disinfectant for doing this maybe on the hands would work. And I was asking the question of the gentleman who was there yesterday, Bill, because when they say that something will last three, or four hours, or six hours, but if the sun is out or if they use disinfectant, it goes away in less than a minute. Did you hear about this yesterday? But I was asking a very sarcastic question to the reporters in the room about disinfectant on the inside. But it does kill it and it would kill it on the hands and that would make things much better. That was done in the form of a sarcastic question to the reporters. Okay?"

Rascoe: "But you were asking your medical experts to look into it."

President Trump: "No, no, no."

Rascoe: "Were you being sarcastic with them?"

President Trump: "To look into whether or not sun and disinfectant on the hands, but whether or not sun can help us because he came in yesterday and he said they've done a big study. This is a study. This isn't where he hasn't done it. This is where they've come in with a final report that sun has a massive impact negatively on this virus. In other words, it does not live well with humidity and it doesn't live well with sun, sunlight, heat. It doesn't live well with heat, and sun, and disinfectant. And that's what I brought out, and I thought it was clear.""

Reporter Q: What price China should pay for spreading this virus and covering it up and lying about it?

"Well, we're looking into it. We're studying it. We're investigating and we'll see what happens. But it is something that should have been stopped early on. It could have been stopped easily in China and we don't understand why they didn't do it. So we're looking into it. We're not happy about it."

Source: Rev, "Transcript: Donald Trump Signs Relief Bill, Says Comments on Injecting Disinfectant Were 'Sarcastic,'" rev.com, Apr. 24, 2020
Twitter:

"I can't believe I have to say this, but please don't drink bleach."

"The health of the American people is not a joke, Mr. President." [This tweet quoted a tweet by someone else that said, "Trump says his comments on disinfectant inside people's bodies was sarcastic."]

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 24, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Apr. 25
928,619 / 54,256 Twitter:

"Ventilators, many brand new and high quality just off of our production lines, and that we are now in a position to help other countries that so desperately need them. Every person needing a Ventilator got one!"

"The Do Nothing Democrats are spending much of their money on Fake Ads. I never said that the CoronaVirus is a 'Hoax', I said that the Democrats, and the way they lied about it, are a Hoax. Also, it did start with 'one person from China', and then grew, & will be a 'Miracle' end!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Apr. 25, 2020
Apr. 26
957,875 / 55,412 Twitter:

"Reports that H.H.S. Secretary @AlexAzar is going to be 'fired' by me are Fake News. The Lamestream Media knows this, but they are desperate to create the perception of chaos & havoc in the minds of the public. They never even called to ask. Alex is doing an excellent job!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Apr. 26, 2020/span>
Twitter:

"The workers on the front lines of this crisis are risking their lives every day to combat COVID-19 and keep this country running. The least we can do is provide them the pay and protection they need and deserve."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 26, 2020
Apr. 27
981,246 / 56,795More than 3 million global cases recordedPress conference:

"[W]e continue to mourn with thousands of families across the country whose loved ones have been stolen from us by the invisible enemy. We grieve by their side as one family — this great American family...

We also stand in solidarity with the thousands of Americans who are ill and waging a brave fight against the virus. We're doing everything in our power to heal the sick and to gradually re-open our nation, and to safely get our people back to work. They want to get back to work, and they want to get back to work soon. There's a hunger for getting our country back, and it's happening, and it's happening faster than people would think."

On US testing capacity:

"On Saturday alone, more than 200,000 test results were reported, which is a gigantic number — bigger than any country anywhere in the world for a much longer period of time; a number that is an increase earlier in the month when we tested roughly less than 100,000 a day...

Today we're releasing additional guidance on testing to inform the states as they develop their plans for a phased and very safe reopening."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 27, 2020
Statement:

"We all agree on the need to reopen the economy and allow some semblance of normalcy as soon as possible… But it is wrong to talk about 'choosing' between our public health and our economy. That’s a false choice. If we don't beat the virus, we will never get back to full economic strength…

Our nation is now the global epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic with more known cases than any other nation in the world.

This isn't rocket science. It just takes investment and execution — both of which have been gravely lacking."

Source: Joe Biden, "Statement by Vice President Joe Biden and the Biden for President Public Health Advisory Committee on Testing," medium.com, Apr. 27, 2020

Twitter:

"We want our country to get moving and healthy again. But we must take the necessary, rational steps, grounded in science, to do so safely, so COVID-19 doesn't come roaring back."

"Testing is the springboard we need to help get our economy safely up and running again. Trump could rapidly scale it up. He hasn't. Instead, he's passed blame and pushed sole responsibility to governors."

"The Trump Administration could have helped prevent this. But once again, they failed to take action — and now the American people are paying the price."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 27, 2020
Apr. 28
1,005,147 / 59,265US surpassed 1 million reported casesPress conference:

"Now that our experts believe the worst days of the pandemic are behind us, Americans are looking forward to the safe and rapid reopening of our country."

Reporter Q: [W]hat about the idea of another round of stimulus payments to American taxpayers directly?

"Well, I like the idea of payroll tax cuts. I've liked that from the beginning. That was the thing that I really would love to see happen... It's not the big distribution, and it would really be an incentive for people to come back to work and for employers to hire."

On daily testing capacity:

"Question from reporter: Some health experts say the U.S. needs 5 million tests per day by June in order to safely reopen. You unveiled a plan yesterday that will increase testing, but not by that much. Why not? And can you get to that benchmark?

President Trump: Well, it will increase it and it'll increase it by much more than that in the very near future. [...]

Q: Did I hear you saying you're confident you can surpass 5 million tests per day?

President Trump: Oh, well, we're going to be there very soon. If you look at the numbers, it could be that we're getting very close. I mean, I don't have the exact numbers."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 22, 2020

Executive Order:

"It is important that processors of beef, pork, and poultry ("meat and poultry”) in the food supply chain continue operating and fulfilling orders to ensure a continued supply of protein for Americans... Under the delegation of authority provided in this order, the Secretary of Agriculture shall take all appropriate action under that section to ensure that meat and poultry processors continue operations consistent with the guidance for their operations jointly issued by the CDC and OSHA."

Source: Donald Trump, "Executive Order on Delegating Authority Under the DPA with Respect to Food Supply Chain Resources During the National Emergency Caused by the Outbreak of COVID-19," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 28, 2020
Town hall on women's issues with Hillary Clinton:

"President Trump, in my view, should be expanding short term compensation programs for workers rather than laying off people. Businesses should be reducing their hours and government will make up the difference in the pay. That will keep worker's paychecks whole and ensure that distressed businesses don't lose money. And we also have to do more to help the most vulnerable families who are struggling. And I think we should immediately freeze rent for qualifying individuals, halt foreclosures and evictions, as people get back on their feet, increase the SNAP program."

Source: Rev, "Joe Biden & Hillary Clinton Virtual Town Hall Transcript on Women's Issues," rev.com, Apr. 28, 2020

Twitter:

"There are nearly 330 million people in the United States — and according to the Trump White House, we've only conducted 5.4 million COVID-19 tests. It's abysmal.

Donald Trump needs to scale up testing, and he needs to do it immediately."

"Let me be very clear: No one is expendable.

We shouldn't allow rationing of health care that discriminates based on age or disability."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 28, 2020
Apr. 29
1,031,659 / 61,655 Meeting with Governor of Louisiana:

On daily testing capacity:

"Q Mr. President, on testing: Yesterday, you said that we will very soon be testing 5 million people...

THE PRESIDENT: Everyone kept saying, 'You said there'd be five.' That was a study that came out. Somebody came out with a study of 5 million people... Do I think we will? I think we will, but I never said it. We're testing millions of people...

But somebody started throwing around 5 million. I didn’t say 5 million. Somebody said 5 million. I think it might have been the Harvard report. There was a report from Harvard and they said 5 million.

Q You were asked about it and you said, 'We will be there very soon.'

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we will be there. But I didn't say it. I mean, I'm — I didn't say it. But somebody came out with a report saying 5 million. It sounds like a lot."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Governor Edwards of Louisiana," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 29, 2020

Roundtable with business executives:

Reporter Q: Mr. President, if there is another round of aid for the states and communities, are you going to try to restrict that aid from going to sanctuary cities and states?

"I don't think you should have sanctuary cities if they get that kind of aid. You know, if you're going to get aid to the cities and states for the kind of numbers you’re talking about — billions of dollars — I don't think you should have sanctuary cities...

I don't see helping cities and states if they're going to be sanctuary. Because all sanctuary means to me is it's protecting a lot of criminals and — and others — many people."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump and Vice President Pence in Roundtable with Industry Executives on the Plan for Opening Up America Again,” whitehouse.gov, Apr. 29, 2020
Twitter:

"The Trump Admin failed to provide enough testing, PPE, and safety enforcement. Workers have gotten sick, plants have closed, and the meat supply is at risk. It's past time workers have the protections they need to stay healthy and do their job safely."

"With rent due in a few days and folks across the country worried they won't be able to make their payments, it's clear more needs to be done to provide relief. We need to freeze rent immediately for people who have lost their jobs and place a temporary ban on evictions."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 29, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
Apr. 30
1,062,446 / 63,856The Office of the Director of National Intelligence wrote in an official statement, "The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified… The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan."Public remarks:

"Our cherished seniors enrich every aspect of our national life... We'll show them the same love and loyalty they've shown us and they've shown our nation every day of their lives. No effort will be spared to give America's seniors the care and support and devotion and love they have earned and that they deserve."

On the number of coronavirus deaths:

"Through aggressive actions and the devotion of our doctors and nurses, however, we have held our fatality rate far below hard-hit other countries such as Spain and Italy and United Kingdom and Sweden. We're way below other countries... [O]ur death totals — our numbers — per million people are really very, very strong. We’re very proud of the job we've done."

Reporter Q: [H]ave you seen anything at this point that gives you a high degree of confidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the origin of this virus?

President Trump: "Yes, I have. Yes, I have. And I think that the World Health Organization should be ashamed of themselves, because they’re like the public relations agency for China."

Source: Donald Trump, "Remarks by President Trump on Protecting America’s Seniors," whitehouse.gov, May 1, 2020

Meeting with New Jersey governor:

Reporter Q: Mr. President, on operation — on this vaccine operation, "Warp Speed," who's in charge of that? And are you overpromising when you say you're going to have 300 million doses of vaccine in eight months?

President Trump: "No, I'm not over-promising. I don't know who said it, but whatever the maximum is, whatever you can humanly do, we're going to have."

Reporter Q: And who is in charge of that Operation Warp Speed?

President Trump: "We have — you know who is in charge of it? Honestly? I am. I'll tell you, I'm really in charge of it. I could say somebody else. I will say, we're dealing with, as you know, the General and the Admiral. They're very much in charge. But I think probably, more than anything, I'm in charge. And I'm the one that gets blamed. And I get blamed anyway."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump in a Meeting with Governor Murphy of New Jersey," whitehouse.gov, Apr. 30, 2020

Twitter:

"Despite reports to the contrary, Sweden is paying heavily for its decision not to lockdown. As of today, 2462 people have died there, a much higher number than the neighboring countries of Norway (207), Finland (206) or Denmark (443). The United States made the correct decision!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Apr. 30, 2020
Statement:

"More than 30 million Americans have now lost their jobs since this pandemic seized our nation... Millions upon millions of Americans are suffering economically, there are more than a million confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide, and we have now lost more American lives to this virus in just a few weeks than we did in all 20 years of the Vietnam War.

One of the hardest parts of this tragedy is knowing beyond a doubt that it didn't have to be this way. The lack of preparation, the slow response on testing, the failure to administer the relief in the CARES Act appropriately — all of it stems from Donald Trump's failures as president."

Source: Joe Biden, "Statement by Vice President Joe Biden on Today’s Unemployment Claims," medium.com, Apr. 30, 2020

Twitter:

"Donald Trump either read his daily briefings and ignored the warnings, or didn't read them at all. Either way, it's a complete and unjustifiable dereliction of duty."

"- More than 60,000 people in the U.S. have died
- 30 million have filed for unemployment
- At least 1 million have gotten sick

Enough with the late night Twitter tantrums, Mr. President. It's time for you to step up and lead."

"We need more tests. Our front line workers need protective equipment. Americans need additional economic relief.

Yet the Trump Administration is spending time and energy on President Trump's wasteful border wall.

Unbelievable."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Apr. 30, 2020
May 1
1,092,815 / 65,753President Trump went to Camp David, his first time leaving the White House grounds since Mar. 28 when he visited the US Navy hospital ship Comfort in Norfolk, Virginia.

Source: Reuters, "Trump Leaves White House Grounds for First Time since March 28," reuters.com, May 1, 2020
Recognition ceremony:

"Not long ago, models predicted that between 1.5 million and 2.2 million people would have died in the United States without the mitigation. Through our aggressive response and the remarkable commitment and bravery of American people, we have saved thousands and thousands of lives... And hopefully, we're going to come in below that 100,000 lives lost, which is a horrible number nevertheless. It's a horrible thing. It could've been stopped. It should've been stopped at source, but it wasn't...

Because we’ve flattened the curve, slowed the spread, and massively expanded our healthcare capacity, we’re now in the process of gradually reopening our country. And it’s being done with a tremendous — a tremendous gusto and vigor...

It’s a strategy guided by science, evidence, facts, and reason. A never-ending lockdown would inflict colossal damage on the health and lifespans of our people. Public health is closely tied to economic health. No state or country can long ignore the facts and the truth. And we’re just very proud of the fact that people have put up with so much in order to keep the numbers down to the level.

Source: Donald Trump, "Remarks by President Trump in a Presidential Recognition Ceremony: Hard Work, Heroism, and Hope," whitehouse.com, May 1, 2020

Twitter:

"Cryin’ Chuck Schumer was on a late night show using a false talking point over & over again. 'We don’t have enough testing,' he would repeat, when he knows we have done a great job on Testing, just like we have on Ventilators and everything else."

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 1, 2020
Twitter:

"When we emerge from this crisis, we can't just go back to the way things were before. We have to build a better future for all.

We can and will transform this nation — together."

"We left a playbook. He ignored it.

We created an office to prepare for pandemics. He gutted it.

We had CDC officials in China to detect and contain outbreaks. He pulled them out.

Trump can try and shift blame all he wants, but the fact is his actions left us unprepared."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 1, 2020
May 2
1,122,486 / 67,444 Twitter:

"There is tremendous CoronaVirus testing capacity in Washington for the Senators returning to Capital [sic] Hill on Monday. Likewise the House, which should return but isn’t because of Crazy Nancy P. The 5 minute Abbott Test will be used."

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 2, 2020/span>
Twitter:

"On March 6th, Donald Trump said: 'Anybody that wants a test can get a test.'

It was a lie then, and it's still not true nearly two months later. It's a disgrace, and it's slowing efforts to reopen safely.

This administration needs to act immediately to surge testing nationwide."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 2, 2020
May 3
1,152,372 / 68,597 Fox News Virtual Town Hall at the Lincoln Memorial:

On the potential total death toll:

"Look, we’re going to lose anywhere from 75, 80 to 100 thousand people. That’s a horrible thing. We shouldn’t lose one person over this. This should have been stopped in China...

Q That number has changed, Mr. President. You said 50 to 60 —

THE PRESIDENT: It’s going up. No, it’s going up.

Q You said 60, 70.

THE PRESIDENT: I used to say 65,000 —

Q Now you’re at 80 to 90.

THE PRESIDENT: And now I’m saying 80 or 90, and it goes up and it goes up rapidly. But it’s still going to be, no matter how you look at it, at the very lower end of the plane, if we did the shutdown."

On vaccine development:

We are very confident that we’re going to have a vaccine at the end of the year... Now, the doctors would say, 'Well, you shouldn’t say that.' I’ll say what I think. I’ve met with the heads of the big companies. These are great companies. Yeah, I think we’re going to have a vaccine much sooner rather than later."

In response to a viewer question about reports that threats of coronavirus were included in his daily briefings weeks before the first confirmed case on US soil:

"On January 23rd, I was told that there could be a virus coming in, but it was of no really import. In other words, it wasn’t, 'Oh, we’ve going to do something. We got to do something.'' It was a brief conversation, and it was only on January 23rd. Shortly thereafter, I closed down the country to China. And we had 20 people, 21 people in the room. I was the only one that wanted to close it down."

In response to a supporter asking about how he speaks to the media:

"Look, I am greeted with a hostile press the likes of which no president has ever seen. The closest would be that gentleman right up there. They always said Lincoln — nobody got treated worse than Lincoln. I believe I am treated worse. You’re there. You see those press conferences. They come at me with questions that are disgraceful. To be honest, disgraceful. Their manner of presentation and their words."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump in a Fox News Virtual Town Hall," whitehouse.gov, May 4, 2020

Twitter:

"Intelligence has just reported to me that I was correct, and that they did NOT bring up the CoronaVirus subject matter until late into January, just prior to my banning China from the U.S. Also, they only spoke of the Virus in a very non-threatening, or matter of fact, manner…

....Fake News got it wrong again, as always, and tens of thousands of lives were saved by my EARLY BAN of China into our Country. The people that we’re allowed were heavily scrutinized and tested U.S. citizens, and as such, I welcome them with open arms!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 3, 2020
Joint commentary with Sen. Warren (D-MA):

"Relief legislation passed by Congress provides critical support for hospitals, families, small businesses and local governments — efforts that will save lives and help cushion the economic blows of this pandemic.

As the price of their support for these measures, Trump and the Republicans insisted on a $500 billion slush fund for big businesses with minimal conditions — a fund Trump could use to reward his political friends and punish his political enemies…

The coronavirus rescue package imposed some oversight of these programs, but when he signed it, Trump said he’d ignore the law and prevent a new inspector general from communicating with Congress. He then appointed a White House loyalist to serve in that role. And just to be sure there was no real accountability, he fired another inspector general independently designated to oversee the bailout…

The Biden administration will appoint an inspector general to review every coronavirus relief transaction currently evading serious scrutiny.”

Source: Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren, "Biden, Warren: There’s No Oversight of Coronavirus Relief — Because That’s What Trump Wants,” kansascity.com, May 3, 2020
May 4
1,171,510 / 69,921Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in an interview, "If you look at the evolution of the virus in bats, and what's out there now is very, very strongly leaning toward this [virus] could not have been artificially or deliberately manipulated—the way the mutations have naturally evolved. A number of very qualified evolutionary biologists have said that everything about the stepwise evolution over time strongly indicates that it evolved in nature and then jumped species."

Source: Nsikan Akpan and Victoria Jaggard, "Fauci: No Scientific Evidence the Coronavirus Was Made in a Chinese Lab," nationalgeographic.com, May 4, 2020
Twitter:

"Interesting? By Congress not wanting the special 5 minute testing apparatus, they are saying that they are not "essential”. In any event, we have great testing capacity, and have performed 6.5 million tests, which is more than every country in the world, combined!”

"Mexico is sadly experiencing very big CoronaVirus problems, and now California, get this, doesn’t want people coming over the Southern Border. A Classic! They are sooo lucky that I am their President. Border is very tight and the Wall is rapidly being built!”

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 4, 2020
Policy plan:

"The data we’ve seen so far suggests that African Americans are dying from COVID-19 at a far higher rate than whites. African Americans represent an especially high percentage of the front-line workers putting themselves at greater risk to sustain the economy and keep the rest of the country safe and fed — and are less likely to have a job they can do from home, forcing them to make the difficult choice between their health and a paycheck. Long-standing systemic inequalities may also be contributing to this disparity — including the fact that African Americans are more likely to be uninsured… If I were President today, I would make it a top priority to ensure that African American workers, families, and small businesses got the relief they need and deserve."

Source: Joe Biden, "Lift Every Voice: The Biden Plan for Black America,” medium.com, May 4, 2020

Statement:

"The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a rash of racist messages, verbal and physical attacks, and other incidents of hate directed against AAPIs [Asian American and Pacific Islander]. Such assaults strike at the heart of our country — all the more so at a time when so many AAPIs are leading on the front lines of this crisis as nurses and doctors, researchers and scientists, delivery drivers and retail workers, and in so many other essential roles.

With a White House devoid of moral authority, and a President who chooses time and again to fan the flames of hate, it is more critical than ever that all Americans stand together strongly against racism and xenophobia."

Source: Joe Biden, "Statement by Vice President Joe Biden on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month,” medium.com, May 4, 2020

Virtual town hall:

"Every morning I start off like I did this morning, with leading medical advisors for an hour, an hour and a half briefing on the state of the Corona virus in the United States. And guess what? Nursing homes and meat packing plants, are the most dangerous places there are right now. That’s not up for debate. Thousands of infections have been traced back to meat packing plants and at least 30 workers have died from it. They designate them as essential workers, then treat them as disposable. It’s quite frankly inhumane and downright immoral because these workers are essential to our society. Not just in times of crisis, but always…

Testing with rapid results is going to be the linchpin to safely re-open our country. We need to make sure that our frontline workers, like meat packers are also at the front of the line when these tests are accessible.”

Source: Rev, "Transcript: Joe Biden Town Hall on Protecting Essential Workers," rev.com, May 4, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
May 5
1,193,813 / 72,271 Interview with World News Tonight:

"This is a situation -- who would have ever thought a thing like this could happen? Frankly, I've read about and heard about, in 1917, The Great Flu. They call that the Flu, right? The Spanish flu, and it might have killed 100 million people.

Probably stopped the First World War ‘cause all the soldiers were getting sick. I mean, it, you know, was probably a cause of stopping the -- a World War. But that was our worst. This is a different one. Not as lethal, individually, but more contagious. The level of contagion -- the level of its being contagious has never seen before."

David Muir: "Do you believe... that lives will be lost to reopen the country?"

President Trump: "It's possible there will be some because you won't be locked into an apartment or a house or whatever it is, but at the same time, we're going to practice social distancing, we're going to be washing hands, we're going to be doing a lot of the things that we've learned to do over the last period of time. And we have to get our country back."

Muir: "The University of Washington saying we could have 135,000 Americans dead by August. What do you make of those numbers, Mr. President?"

Trump: "[I]f we lose one life it's too many. But the fact is, the low end, it was 100 to 120,000 to over 200 and 250,000 [projected deaths]. If we're at 100,000, if we didn't do what we did, we could have lost 2 million people. We could have lost two and a half and 3 million people, but we did something that was courageous, very expensive, but it was the right thing to do."

Muir: "How difficult has it been to balance the need to project optimism and hope, while at the same time the duty to be honest with the American people about how dire this would be?" [...]

Trump: "I've had tremendous lack of support from Democrats...I thought the Democrats -- because this is a crisis. I thought the Democrats would come together and work with us. They really don't...

They said I called it a hoax. No, I called the Democrats a hoax because of what they were saying because when I did the ban they're out there saying -- they call me a racist because I did the ban. They called me xenophobic. Sleepy Joe Biden. He said ‘he's xenophobic.’ He doesn't know what the word means."

Source: ABC News, "TRANSCRIPT: ABC News anchor David Muir interviews President Trump in Arizona,” abcnews.go.com, May 6, 2020

Twitter:

"Well run States should not be bailing out poorly run States, using CoronaVirus as the excuse! The elimination of Sanctuary Cities, Payroll Taxes, and perhaps Capital Gains Taxes, must be put on the table. Also lawsuit indemnification & business deductions for restaurants & ent."

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 5, 2020
Twitter:

"The choice between the economy and public health is a false one—if we don’t beat the virus, we'll never get back to full economic strength and will lose countless lives. We have to get the number of new cases down and scale up testing before we return to some sense of normalcy."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 5, 2020

Letter to supporter:

"I’m hopeful that through this crisis, the public begins to recognize the millions of unsung heroes, like food safety program managers who defend our food system and the health and safety of the American people…

Additionally, it should not take a public health crisis to give our essential workers the long-term support they deserve. We need to raise wages, guarantee quality, affordable health care, provide free tuition for public higher education, and encourage unionization and collective bargaining."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 5, 2020
May 6
1,219,066 / 74,799 Proclamation signing:

"This is really the worst attack we’ve ever had. This is worse than Pearl Harbor. This is worse than the World Trade Center. There’s never been an attack like this. And it should have never happened."

On the status of the coronavirus task force:

"[W]e’ll be leaving the task force indefinitely. We’ll see. You know, at a certain point, that’ll end like things end. But we’ll be adding some people to the task force… So we’re keeping the task force for a period of time."

Reporter Q: Can you explain the change between what you said yesterday about winding down the task force and now, saying you’re going to keep it?... Because it is different from what you said yesterday, sir.

"Yeah. Well, I guess, if you think, we’re always winding it down… I thought we could wind it down sooner. But I had no idea how popular the task force is until actually yesterday. When I started talking about winding it down, I’d get calls from very respected people saying, 'I think it would be better to keep it going. It’s done such a good job.'"

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump at Signing of a Proclamation in Honor of National Nurses Day,” whitehouse.gov, May 6, 2020

Meeting with Governor Reynolds of Iowa:

"So the media likes to say we have the most cases, but we do, by far, the most testing. If we did very little testing, we wouldn't have the most cases. So, in a way, by doing all of this testing, we make ourselves look bad. For instance, they would say we have more than China. I don't think so."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump and Vice President Pence at a Meeting with Governor Reynolds of Iowa", whitehouse.gov, May 6, 2020
Statement:

"Today in our country, more than 1.2 million people have been infected with COVID-19. More than 71,000 lives have been lost to this pandemic. And millions more are facing enormous economic instability due to lost jobs, cut hours, reduced wages, and the ever-present fear of what they will do if they or their loved ones fall ill and need expensive medical treatment.

Against this backdrop of national crisis and human tragedy, today marks the beginning of the process of parties filing briefings with the U.S. Supreme Court in the Trump-backed lawsuit to strip away health care protections for the millions of Americans who depend on the Affordable Care Act (ACA)...

The number one job of any president is to keep the American people safe. Trump’s failures to heed the warnings that he was given to prepare for and protect against the worst impacts of the coronavirus are already nothing less than a dereliction of duty. Today’s efforts to destroy every aspect of the ACA are yet another horrifying example of Trump’s callous disregard for the struggles of everyday people all across the country. If Trump and the Republicans get their way, it will mean devastation for our health care system that will cause untold pain and suffering. We must not allow that to happen."

Source: Joe Biden, "Statement by Vice President Joe Biden on the Filing of the Opening Briefs in California v. Texas,” medium.com, May 6, 2020
May 7
1,248,040 / 76,928 Meeting with Governor of Texas:

Reporter Q: How is it possible that someone that tested positive for COVID-19 got so close to you?

"Testing is not a perfect art. No matter what you do, testing is not a perfect art. So we test once a week. Now we're going to go testing once a day. But even when you test once a day, somebody could — something happens where they catch something."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Governor Abbott of Texas," whitehouse.gov, May 7, 2020

Twitter:

"This is a big moment in our history because we're opening up our country again. People are coming out, they're starting to go around and see what's happening. They've been sort of shut down as the expression goes... People want our country to open up. Now, we want to do it in a safe way... you know all about social distancing, and washing your hands and all of the things we're supposed to do."

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 7, 2020
Virtual roundtable:

"[W]e in the Obama-Biden Administration, we had gone through two potential pandemics. They were stopped in their tracks basically. We said, we know more were coming. There are going to be more after this as you know, doc. This is not the only potential disease out there that does not honor any borders. You can't build a wall high enough to keep these diseases out.

So this disease is not only tearing through the nation, devastating families, wrecking the economy, it's magnifying and exacerbating some of the worst systematic inequities exist. Counties with majority Black populations have COVID infections three times higher than majority white counties. Death rates nearly six times higher... People of color are less likely to have access to healthcare and health insurance. Therefore, they're less likely to go in for preventative efforts. They're less likely to have had treatment for underlying conditions that make them much more vulnerable to the virus now."

Source: Rev, "Transcript: Joe Biden Virtual Roundtable with African American Florida Representatives," rev.com, May 7, 2020

Statement:

"President Trump had months to take action and stave off the worst of this crisis; he should have been deploying tests, marshaling medical supplies, and bracing the public to slow the spread from the minute he was briefed on its dangers this winter. He chose instead to dismiss the experts and knowingly make false promises about our testing capacity and the trajectory of the virus."

Source: Joe Biden, "Statement by Vice President Joe Biden on Today's Unemployment Claims," medium.com, May 7, 2020
May 8
1,274,036 / 78,615 Meeting with Republican Members of Congress:

On potential death toll:

"You look on the screens, you look on television today, and you see body bags and you see mass graves. And we may be talking about 95,000 people ultimately. We may be talking about something more than that... One person isn't acceptable, let alone perhaps 100,000."

On opening the country:

"You see what's going on at statehouses all over the country; they want to come back. I think some people don't want it really to come back for political reasons, which is sick. But the people — the real people, the people that want this country to be great and great again, we can say they want to get back...

We're going into transition. And I call it ‘transition to greatness.' It's going to be transition to greatness because we're going to do something very fast, and we're going to have a phenomenal year next year."

Reporter Q: Can you bring us up to speed about the member of the Vice President's staff who has now tested positive for coronavirus?"

"She tested very good for a long period of time, and then all of a sudden, today she tested positive. She hasn't come into contact with me...

This is why the whole concept of tests aren't necessarily great. The tests are perfect, but something can happen between a test — where it's good, and then something happens, and all of a sudden — she was tested very recently and tested negative. And then today, I guess, for some reason, she tested positive...

I feel about vaccines like I feel about tests. This is going to go away without a vaccine. It's going to go away, and it's — we're not going to see it again, hopefully, after a period of time... You may have some flare-ups next year, but eventually, it's going to be gone."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Republican Members of Congress," whitehouse.gov, May 8, 2020
Address on NowThis News:

"Today in our country, more than 1.2 million people have been infected with COVID-19. More than 71,000 lives have bNow, who's out there on the front lines every day in this crisis? Who are the workers who are literally carrying this nation on their backs? Doctors and nurses, other health care workers, the EMTs, firefighters, police. Grocery store clerks and the meat packers and the farmers. Delivery drivers, the mass transit workers. These are all too often the lowest paid and least-appreciated members of our society. But this crisis is showing us what is the century and I think it's time we reward people who actually make this country work."

Source: NowThis News, "Exclusive: Joe Biden Gives Address on Economy | LIVE | NowThis," YouTube.com, May 8, 2020
May 9
1,300,696 / 80,037 Twitter:

"TRANSITION TO GREATNESS!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 9, 2020
Twitter:

"No one should pay a dollar out of pocket for coronavirus testing or treatment. Period."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 9, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
May 10
1,324,488 / 80,787 Twitter:

"We are getting great marks for the handling of the CoronaVirus pandemic, especially the very early BAN of people from China, the infectious source, entering the USA. Compare that to the Obama/Sleepy Joe disaster known as H1N1 Swine Flu. Poor marks, bad polls - didn't have a clue!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 10, 2020

May 11
1, 342,594 / 81,795 Press briefing:

"To battle a virus, my administration marshaled every resource at our nation's disposal: public, private, military, economic, scientific, and industrial — all at your disposal. We launched the largest manufacturing ramp-up since the Second World War...

In every generation, through every challenge and hardship and danger, America has risen to the task. We have met the moment, and we have prevailed."

Reporter Q: You said in your comments earlier, "We have met the moment. We have prevailed." To you, sir, is the mission accomplished?

"No, we've prevailed on testing, is what I'm referring to. That was with regard to testing. You never prevail when you have 90,000 people [dead], 100,000 people; when you have 80,000 people, as of today; when you have this — the kind of death you're talking about, when you have potentially millions of people throughout the world that are dying.

What I'm talking about is: We have a great testing capacity now."

Reporter Q: So when will the rest of America have the same access that members of your own White House have to testing?

"If we didn't get the tests, if we did no tests in the White House, you'd be up complaining, ‘Why aren't you getting tests for the White House?' See, we can't win, because if we didn't get the tests, you'd be up — I understand you very well, better than you understand yourself — and, frankly, if we didn't get tests done, you'd be up complaining about the fact that we didn't have the tests done...

As far as Americans getting a test, they should all be able to get a test right now. They should be able to get a test...

If people want to get tested, they get tested. We have the greatest capacity in the world... But, for the most part, they shouldn't want to get tested. There's no reason. They feel good. They don't have sniffles. They don't have sore throats. They don't have any problem."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump in a Press Briefing on COVID-19 Testing," whitehouse.gov, May 11, 2020
Op/Ed:

"The coronavirus, to date, has taken the lives of more than 79,000 Americans. One of every 5 U.S. workers has filed for unemployment — with the unemployment rate now the highest since the Great Depression...

It's been more than two months since Trump claimed that "anybody that wants a test can get a test." It was a baldfaced lie when he said it, and it still isn't remotely true. If we're going to have thriving workplaces, restaurants, stores and parks, we need widespread testing...

And why does the president insist on trying to turn this into yet another line of division, pitting strained, grieving Americans against one another across manufactured battle lines of 'health' and 'the economy'? Everybody knows that we can't revive the latter unless we safeguard the former — and pretending otherwise is the most transparent of political ploys. Instead of once again seeking to divide us, Trump should be working to get Americans the same necessary protections he has gotten for himself."

Source: Joe Biden, "Joe Biden: How the White House Coronavirus Response Presents Us with a False Choice," washingtonpost.com, May 11, 2020

Twitter:

"Donald Trump and his team seem to understand how critical testing is to their own safety. So why are they insisting that it's unnecessary for the American people?"

"Donald Trump just doesn't understand: We have an economic crisis because we have a public health crisis — and we have a public health crisis because he failed to act."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 11, 2020
May 12
1,364,061 / 83,425Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in his testimony before the US Senate, "The consequences [of opening prematurely] could be really serious... [T]here is no doubt even under the best of circumstances, when you pull back on mitigation, you will see some cases appear."

Source: Rev, "Dr. Anthony Fauci & CDC Director Senate Testimony Transcript May 12," rev.com, May 12, 2020
Twitter:

"Remember this, every Governor who has sky high approval on their handling of the Coronavirus, and I am happy for them all, could in no way have gotten those numbers, or had that success, without me and the Federal Governments help. From Ventilators to Testing, we made it happen!"

"California should let Tesla & @elonmusk open the plant, NOW. It can be done Fast & Safely!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 12, 2020
Interview on Good Morning America:

George Stephanopoulos: "If you were president what would you tell governors to do?"

Biden: "I would tell them to listen to Dr. Fauci. Listen to the scientists. Listen to what the facts are. This president has to focus on what's going on here. We're in a situation where there's a great crisis. Dr. Fauci talks about if we open needlessly-- or we open soon, there will be needless deaths and we have to have things in place. Everything wants to open, George. The governors want to open but they want to open in a rational way."

Source: ABC News, "Joe Biden Calls Trump's COVID-19 Response 'Incompetent,'" abcnews.go.com, May 12, 2020
May 13
1,384,930 / 85,197 Meeting with governors:

"I think they should open the schools, absolutely. I think they should. And it's had very little impact on young people. And I think that if you're an instructor, if you're a teacher, a professor, and you're over a certain age — like, let's say, 65 or maybe even, if you want to be conservative, 60 — perhaps you want to stay out for a little while longer."

Reporter Q: Dr. Fauci yesterday was a little cautious on reopening the economy too soon. Do you share his concerns?

"Look, he wants to play all sides of the equation...

The schools are going to be open... These are young people. These are students... They're in great shape.

Now, when you have an incident, one out of a million, one out of five hundred thou- — will something happen? Perhaps. But, you know, you can be driving to school and some bad things can happen too."

Reporter Q: Sir, when you say Dr. Fauci is playing both sides, are you suggesting that the advice he's giving to you is different?

"Well, I was surprised — I was surprised by his answer, actually, because, you know, it's just — to me, it's not an acceptable answer, especially when it comes to schools.

The only thing that would be acceptable, as I said, is professors, teachers, et cetera, over a certain age. I think they ought to take it easy for another few weeks — five weeks, four weeks, who knows. Whatever it may be. But I think they have to be careful because this is a disease that attacks age and it attacks health."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump in a Meeting with Governor Polis of Colorado and Governor Burgum of North Dakota," whitehouse.gov, May 13, 2020
Interview on Snapchat's Good Luck America:

"You know, we have already thousands of deaths right now. You have the highest unemployment rate [since the Great Depression]. I mean it's just, it's astounding what's happening and what's going on."

Host Q: [C]an the Democratic convention actually happen in August in person?

"I don't know. I think we have to follow the science... I hope we can. It may have to be smaller. It may be in a different venue. I just don't know.

Look, you know, it's a false choice between, you either choose public health or the economy. It's a false choice. And an effective plan to beat the virus is how we get the economy back to strength. Trump has not been doing the hard work needed to get us there.

Look, we all want to reopen. We all want to be safe, get testing in place, get workplace protections in place. Make sure our seniors and other vulnerable populations are protected. But you know, we've got to get money to true small businesses instead of businesses that are worth a billion dollars that are publicly traded."

Source: Peter Hamby, "Who You Calling Sleepy Joe?: Biden on His Youth Agenda, Internet Memes, and Fighting Trump From His House," vanityfair.com, May 13, 2020
May 14
1,412,121 / 87,293 Interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business:

"China, I made a great trade deal. The ink wasn't dry when the plague came over from China... I'm very disappointed in China. I will tell you that right now...

We're of the assumption that by the end of the year we're going to have a vaccine, and then we have to be able to give it, to use it, on most of our population.

I'm actually saying, like with the schools, open the schools. But if a teacher is 65 or older, especially if they have diabetes, if they have a bad heart, if they have a problem, we say relax for a longer period of time. But if you look, there's been very little damage done to people that are healthy and young, and frankly, medium aged people. But the elderly have been decimated, absolutely."

Reporter Q: Dr. Fauci is saying a different thing. He says he's worried about spikes turning into outbreaks.

"So Anthony is a good person, very good person. I've disagreed with him. When I closed the border to China, he disagreed with that. And then ultimately he agreed. And he said I saved hundreds of thousands of lives, which is what happened... I think that we have to open our schools. Young people are very little affected by this."

Source: Factbase, "Interview: Maria Bartiromo Interviews Donald Trump on Fox Business - May 14, 2020," factba.se, May 14, 2020

Remarks in Pennsylvania:

"So we have the best testing in the world. It could be that testing is, frankly, overrated... We have more cases than anybody in the world. But why? Because we do more testing. When you test, you have a case. When you test, you find something is wrong with people. If we didn't do any testing, we would have very few cases. They don't want to write that. It's common sense."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump at Owens & Minor, Inc. Distribution Center | Allentown, PA," whitehouse.gov, May 14, 2020

Twitter:

"Good numbers coming out of States that are opening. America is getting its life back! Vaccine work is looking VERY promising, before end of year. Likewise, other solutions!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 14, 2020
Virtual roundtable:

"I think it's a false choice to say we either deal with employment or we deal with the virus. You can't separate them. Unless you get the virus under control, unemployment and the economy is going to remain in real trouble. And so, one of the things that I think is important is as we get from stimulus, what we’re talking about now, into recovery, we have an opportunity to really provide for some real changes, economic change."

Source: Rev, "Joe Biden Virtual Roundtable Transcript with Governors Whitmer, Murphy & Lamont," rev.com, May 14, 2020

Interview on The Last Word with Lawrence O. Donnell:

On how he would handle coronavirus coming into the presidency in January 2021:

"One, tell the American people the truth. Look at the science. Put together a board, a pandemic board, like we did in World War II, when President Roosevelt put together a board that related to dealing with how we're going to deal with World War II...

In the meantime, it's going to matter, Lawrence, whether or not between now and then this president has used his powers and used the organizational ability that the White House has, that the president has to make sure we have enough PPP [sic], those protective gear for this second wave, if there is going to be the second wave, which is predictable, and to make sure we are going to have in place all the tests that we need, all the tests we need, and we are able to track and test, test and follow on when there is an outbreak, where it was, track and trace...

You know, the truth is, Trump was praising the Chinese government and downplaying the threat to the American people, and, as I said, as I was warning – I was warning the need to get the people into China to see what was actually going on."

Source: MSNBC, "Joe Biden TRANSCRIPT: 5/14/20, The Last Word w/ Lawrence O. Donnell," msnbc.com, May 14, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
May 15
1,435,098 / 88,895 Remarks on vaccine development:

"As of this morning, almost every state has taken steps to begin reopening, and the American people are doing an extraordinary job of continuing to take precautions while, at the same time, wanting to start. And they will be starting to resume their American way of life...

Today I want to update you on the next stage of this momentous medical initiative. It's called Operation Warp Speed. That means big and it means fast. A massive scientific, industrial, and logistical endeavor unlike anything our country has seen since the Manhattan Project...

Its objective is to finish developing and then to manufacture and distribute a proven coronavirus vaccine as fast as possible. Again, we'd love to see if we could do it prior to the end of the year...

And I just want to make something clear. It’s very important: Vaccine or no vaccine, we’re back."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump on Vaccine Development," whitehouse.gov, May 15, 2020
Twitter:

"To everyone who has lost a loved one due to COVID-19: I know it's incredibly difficult right now, but there will come a time when their memory brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. It will take time, but that’s when you know you’re going to make it."

"The fact is Donald Trump wasted an awful lot of time, and lives were lost as a consequence."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 15, 2020
May 16
1,467,065 / 90,113 Twitter:

"We've done a GREAT job on Covid response, making all Governors look good, some fantastic (and that's OK), but the Lamestream Media doesn't want to go with that narrative, and the Do Nothing Dems talking point is to say only bad about 'Trump'. I made everybody look good, but me!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 16, 2020
May 17
1,480,349 / 90,978 Twitter:

"The number of Coronavirus cases is strongly trending downward throughout the United States, with few exceptions. Very good news, indeed!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 17, 2020
Twitter:

"Behind every COVID-19 death is a family and a community that will never be the same.

Behind every unemployment claim is a life thrown into uncertainty — a person wondering how theyll make ends meet.

There is a real human toll to this crisis. We cannot forget that."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 17, 2020
May 18
1,504,830 / 91,981 Letter to Director-General of the World Health Organization:

"It is clear the repeated missteps by you and your organization in responding to the pandemic have been extremely costly for the world... That is why it is my duty, as President of the United States, to inform you that, if the World Health Organization does not commute to major substantive improvements within the next 30 days, I will make my temporary freeze of United States funding to the World Health Organization permanent and reconsider our membership in the organization."

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 18, 2020

Roundtable with restaurant executives:

"[I]t came out of China, spread to Europe, but also came here. And the whole world became infected by this horrible thing that they unleashed one way or the other. Not a good situation. Not a good situation. I'm not a man that likes taking that... They knew it was happening. We wanted to go in, others wanted to go in. They wouldn't let... other countries go in...

China should be held responsible for what they've done. They have hurt the world very, very badly."

On taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure against coronavirus:

"I'm taking it — hydroxychloroquine."

Reporter Q: Right now?

"Right now. Yeah. A couple of weeks ago, I started taking it."

Reporter Q: Why, sir?

"Because I think it's good. I've heard a lot of good stories. And if it's not good, I'll tell you right — you know, I'm not going to get hurt by it. It's been around for 40 years for malaria, for lupus, for other things.

I take it. Frontline workers take it. A lot of doctors take it."

Reporter Q: Can you explain, sir, though, you — what is the evidence that it has a preventative effect?

"Here we go. Are you ready? Here's my evidence. I get a lot of positive calls about it."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump in a Roundtable with Restaurant Executives and Industry Leaders," whitehouse.gov, May 18, 2020
Twitter:

"Companies getting relief from taxpayers have an obligation to protect workers' paychecks, and the Trump Administration has an obligation to hold their feet to the fire to ensure they do.

We need real relief paired with real oversight—not no-strings-attached corporate bailouts."

"One of President Trump's top advisors admitted that this administration 'really let the country down' on testing.

He's right. It's long past time for Trump to step up and implement a national testing strategy so we can begin safely reopening the economy."

"Donald Trump is not responsible for the coronavirus. But he does bear full responsibility for failing to protect our nation from the worst public health and economic crisis in our lifetime."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 18, 2020
May 19
1,528,235 / 93,533 Remarks:

"[M]y administration is launching a sweeping new initiative: the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Through this effort, we are providing $19 billion to support our nation's agricultural producers, maintain the health of our critical food supply chains, and provide food assistance to American families. Nineteen billion dollars.

As part of this program, today we're announcing 16-billion-dollar direct payments to farmers and ranchers. So $16 billion is going directly to the farmers and ranchers, and it's authorized by the CARES Act and the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act. We fought hard for this. These payments will compensate farmers for losses related to the global pandemic, caused by China."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump on Supporting our Nation’s Farmers, Ranchers, and Food Supply Chain," whitehouse.gov, May 19, 2020

Remarks:

"But once the virus came in — once the plague, as I call it, came in, I said, 'How did they let that happen? How did they let that happen?'' And how come it didn't go into other sections of China? Why did they block it from leaving Wuhan but they didn't block it from going to the rest of the world, including the United States? Why is that? Beijing doesn't have it; other places don't have it. So why is it that it was blocked very effectively from leaving that area and going into China, but it went out to the rest of the world, including the United States? And why didn't they let us go in and help them fix it? So I'm very disappointed in China."

On the safety of taking hydroxychloroquine:

Reporter Q: The FDA has said hydroxychloroquine should not be used outside of a hospital setting or outside of a research study.

"No, that's not what I was told. No... There was a false study done where they gave it to very sick people — extremely sick people, people that were ready to die. It was given by, obviously, not friends of the administration... So, immediately, when it came out, they gave a lot of false information, just so you understand. Great studies came out of Italy on hydroxy. You know what I'm talking about, right?...

It's gotten a bad reputation only because I'm promoting it. So I'm obviously a very bad promoter. If anybody else were promoting it, they'd say, 'This is the greatest thing ever.'"

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump in Cabinet Meeting," whitehouse.gov, May 19, 2020
Yahoo News Virtual Town Hall with chef José Andrés:

"We don’t have a food shortage problem, we have a leadership problem. We have plenty of food, it’s being plowed under. You’ve got- you’re euthanizing cattle and pigs, they’re out there making sure that they’re pouring thousands of gallons of milk into the ground."

On President Trump taking hydroxychloroquine:

"It's like saying maybe if you inject Clorox into your blood it may cure you. C'mon, man! What is he doing? What in God's name is he doing?... Look, this is absolutely irresponsible. There’s no serious medical personnel out there saying to use that drug. It's counterproductive. It's not going to help... It does much more harm than good. This is totally irresponsible."

Sources: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 18, 2020
David Knowles, "Biden Blasts Trump for Taking Hydroxychloroquine: 'C'mon Man!'," news.yahoo.com, May 19, 2020


[Editor's Note: A well-publicized May 22, 2020 study published in Lancet that touted the dangers of hydroxychloroquine was retracted by three of the study's four authors who stated that they could "no longer vouch for the veracity of the primary data sources."

Sources: Laurie McGinley, "Researchers Retract Study The Found Big Risks in Using Hydroxychloroquine to Treat COVID-19," washingtonpost.com, June 4, 2020
Mandeep R. Mehra, et al., "RETRACTED: Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine with or without a Macrolide for Treatment of COVID-19: A Multinational Registry Analysis," thelancet.com, May 22, 2020]

May 20
1,551,095 / 94,936 Remarks in a meeting with the Governors of Arkansas and Kansas:

Reporter Q: Mr. President, with 4 percent of the world’s population and 30 percent of the — of the outbreak, what would you have done differently facing this crisis?

"Well, nothing. If you take New York and New Jersey — which were very hard hit — we were very, very low. And in terms of morbidity and in terms of — if you look at the death, relatively speaking, we're at the lowest level along with Germany...

But when you do 14 million tests, you're going to find more cases... We're finding a lot of people. By doing testing, you're finding people. So we’re doing 14, Germany is doing 3, South Korea doing 3, and I think they're number two and three. So we're way ahead of everybody. But when you do that, you have more cases. So a lot of times, the fake news media will say, 'You know, there are a lot of cases in the United States.' Well, if we didn't do testing at a level that nobody has ever dreamt possible, you wouldn't have very many cases."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump in a Meeting with Governor Hutchinson of Arkansas and Governor Kelly of Kansas May 20," whitehouse.gov, May 20, 2020

Twitter:

"Some wacko in China just released a statement blaming everybody other than China for the Virus which has now killed hundreds of thousands of people. Please explain to this dope that it was the 'incompetence of China', and nothing else, that did this mass Worldwide killing!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 20, 2020
Statement:

"As a result of the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis — made worse by President Trump's failure to act — it is projected that one in six American households will experience food insecurity by the end of this year. Americans are lined up at food banks across the country."

Source: Joe Biden, "Joe Biden Urges Donald Trump to Address Hunger Crisis," medium.com, May 20, 2020

Twitter:

"When we emerge from this crisis, we can't just go back to the way things were before. We need to take this country to a place we've never been. Where we finally live up to our highest ideals and everyone gets a full share of the American dream."

"Donald Trump needs to do his job and implement a national testing strategy."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 9, 2020
May 21
1,571,617 / 96,347More than 5 million coronavirus cases reported worldwideRemarks while visiting Ford plant:

"A permanent lockdown is not a strategy for a healthy state or a healthy country. Our country wasn't meant to be shut down. We did the right thing, but now it's time to open it up. A never-ending lockdown would invite a public health calamity. To protect the health of our people, we must have a functioning economy. And as I said, and I'll say it 100 times, we're going to have an incredible year next year, right at the beginning. Even our fourth quarter is going to be very good. There's a tremendous pent-up demand...

Americans who need and want to return to work should not be vilified; they should be supported. Unlike many politicians and journalists, for those who earn a living with their own two hands, working remotely is just not an option."

Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump at Ford Rawsonville Components Plant," whitehouse.gov, May 21, 2020

Twitter:

"The Wacky Do Nothing Attorney General of Michigan, Dana Nessel, is viciously threatening Ford Motor Company for the fact that I inspected a Ventilator plant without a mask. Not their fault, & I did put on a mask. No wonder many auto companies left Michigan, until I came along!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 21, 2020
Interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert:

"We've lost 36 million jobs, we have over 93,000 dead and the number's climbing. And the way he's [President Trump] walked away from the rest of the world… I just do not understand it...

[T]he CDC had set out and were prepared to issue some very detailed guidelines about how to reopen, under what circumstances. And the White House quashed that. So they put out a very watered-down version of what they in fact said should be the basis upon which we open— how we should reopen."

Source: Joe Biden, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, "Joe Biden: Trump Put The Country In A Terrible Spot By Failing To Act - EXTENDED INTERVIEW,” YouTube.com, May 22, 2020
May 22
1,595,885 / 97,645 Press briefing:

"Today I'm identifying houses of worship, churches, synagogue and mosques as essential places that provide essential services. Some governors have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential, but have left out churches and other houses of worship. It's not right. So I'm correcting this injustice and calling houses of worship essential. I call upon governors to allow our churches and places of worship to open right now. If there's any question, they're going to have to call me, but they're not going to be successful in that call."

Source: Rev, "Donald Trump Coronavirus Press Conference Transcript May 22: Says Places of Worship Must Open Immediately," rev.com, May 22, 2020

Proclamation:

"Our Nation mourns for every life lost to the coronavirus pandemic, and we share in the suffering of all those who endured pain and illness from the outbreak. Through our grief, America stands steadfast and united against the invisible enemy. May God be with the victims of this pandemic and bring aid and comfort to their families and friends. As a mark of solemn respect for the victims of the coronavirus pandemic, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, May 24, 2020. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations."

Source: Donald Trump, "Proclamation on Honoring the Victims of the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic," whitehouse.gov, May 22, 2020
Interview on The Breakfast Club radio show with Charlamagne tha God:

"Charlamagne tha God: So, I'm wondering how you're going to energize people and win a campaign from the house? [...]

Joe Biden: What I have to do is I have to continue to talk about the things that matter and the things that matter are, for example, right now there's a study out of Columbia University and a disease control center up there. They pointed out that if he had listened to me and others and acted just one week earlier to deal with his virus, there'd be 36,000 fewer people dead. Dead. Dead. And you are wondering, what's he doing? Come on, man. Get a life. Get a life.

This guy has been incredibly terrible and what we’ve had is, back in January, I said, I wrote an article back I think the 27th of January said this pandemics here. We should act. Every other country that was active around the time, it got the notice around at the time we did, they have considerably fewer deaths as a percent of the population... I tell ya, if you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black."

Source: Rev, "Joe Biden 'You Ain't Black' Interview Transcript on Radio Show with Charlamagne tha God," rev.com, May 22, 2020
May 23
1,622,114 / 98,678 Twitter:

"36,000 Americans could be alive today if President Trump had acted sooner."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 23, 2020

Twitter:

"The hard truth is Donald Trump ignored the warnings of health experts and intelligence agencies, downplayed the threat COVID-19 posed, and failed to take the action needed to combat the outbreak.

It’s one of the greatest failures of presidential leadership in our history."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 23, 2020

Twitter:

"We can protect the sacred right to vote and protect public health at the same time."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 23, 2020

May 24
1,637,456 / 99,293 Twitter:

"Cases, numbers and deaths are going down all over the Country!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 24, 2020

Twitter:

"Schools in our country should be opened ASAP. Much very good information now available. @SteveHiltonx @FoxNews"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 24, 2020
Twitter:

"We’re in the middle of a global pandemic, and the Trump Administration is trying to prevent people from getting health care."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 24, 2020
May 25
1,662,114 / 98,678 Twitter:

"I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August. Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed...

...full attendance in the Arena. In other words, we would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space. Plans are being....

...made by many thousands of enthusiastic Republicans, and others, to head to beautiful North Carolina in August. They must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied. If not, we will be reluctantly forced...

...to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site. This is not something I want to do. Thank you, and I LOVE the people of North Carolina!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 25, 2020

Twitter:

"Great reviews on our handling of Covid 19, sometimes referred to as the China Virus. Ventilators, Testing, Medical Supply Distribution, we made a lot of Governors look very good - And got no credit for so doing. Most importantly, we helped a lot of great people!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 25, 2020
A. DateB. # US Cases / Deaths C. EventD. Donald TrumpE. Joe Biden
May 26
1,678,843 / 100,572The US reported more than 100,000 cases.
Twitter:

"We made most Governors look very good, even great, by getting them the Ventilators, unlimited Testing, and supplies, all of which they should have had in their own stockpiles. So they look great, and I just keep rolling along, doing great things and getting Fake Lamestream News!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 26, 2020

Twitter:
"For all of the political hacks out there, if I hadn’t done my job well, & early, we would have lost 1 1/2 to 2 Million People, as opposed to the 100,000 plus that looks like will be the number. That’s 15 to 20 times more than we will lose. I shut down entry from China very early!

....One person lost to this invisible virus is too much, it should have been stopped at its source, China, but I acted very quickly, and made the right decisions. Many of the current political complainers thought, at the time, that I was moving far to fast, like Crazy Nancy!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 26, 2020
Twitter:

"We are months into this crisis, and Donald Trump still doesn't have a comprehensive plan when it comes to COVID-19 or the economy. It's unacceptable. I released a detailed plan laying out what I would do months ago, and have built on it since."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 26, 2020

Twitter:

"1 in 4 U.S. workers has filed for unemployment benefits in the last 10 weeks. It’s a crisis unlike anything we’ve seen in our lifetime — and the Trump Administration is failing to do enough to help."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 26, 2020

Twitter:

"Wear a mask."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 26, 2020
May 27
1,698,523 / 102,107 Twitter:

"The Radical Left Lamestream Media, together with their partner, the Do Nothing Democrats, are trying to spread a new narrative that President Trump was slow in reacting to Covid 19. Wrong, I was very fast, even doing the Ban on China long before anybody thought necessary!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 27, 2020

Twitter:

"Texas Supreme Court: Lack of immunity to COVID-19 alone not enough to vote by mail... Big win in Texas on the dangerous Mail In Voting Scam!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 27, 2020
Twitter:

"We’re in the middle of a global pandemic — and not only is Donald Trump preventing people from getting the health insurance they need, but he’s also actively trying to terminate the insurance millions already have.

It’s morally reprehensible."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 27, 2020

Twitter:

"Over the last few months, countless Asian Americans have been threatened, attacked, and blamed for COVID-19. They've cruelly been made the scapegoat by the most powerful man on the planet, President Trump. It has to end."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 27, 2020

Twitter:

"There are moments in our history so grim, so heart-rending, that they're forever fixed in each of our hearts as shared grief. Today is one of those moments. 100,000 lives have now been lost to this virus.

To those hurting, I'm so sorry for your loss. The nation grieves with you."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 27, 2020
May 28
1,719,827 / 103,330 Twitter:

"We have just reached a very sad milestone with the coronavirus pandemic deaths reaching 100,000. To all of the families & friends of those who have passed, I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy & love for everything that these great people stood for & represent. God be with you!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 28, 2020

Twitter:

"All over the World the CoronaVirus, a very bad 'gift' from China, marches on. Not good!"

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 28, 2020

Twitter:

"The men and women of the National Guard have been doing a great job fighting the CoronaVirus. This week, I will extend their Title 32 orders through mid-August, so they can continue to help States succeed in their response and recovery efforts."

Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, May 28, 2020
Twitter:

"The hard truth is that this crisis didn’t have to be this bad."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 28, 2020

Twitter:

"Today, we learned that another 2.1 million people filed for unemployment last week, bringing the total number of new claims since this crisis began to more than 40 million. It's just the latest evidence of Donald Trump’s utter failure of leadership."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 28, 2020

Twitter:

"100,000+ lives lost across the country.
1,700,000+ confirmed U.S. cases.
40,000,000+ unemployment claims filed.

Donald Trump has failed our nation."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 28, 2020

Twitter:

"We’re months into this crisis, and Donald Trump still doesn't have an effective national testing strategy."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 28, 2020
May 29
1,737,950 / 104,542 Press conference:

"China has total control over the World Health Organization despite only paying $40 million per year compared to what the United States has been paying, which is approximately $450 million a year... The world needs answers from China on the virus. We must have transparency. Why is it that China shut off infected people from Wuhan to all other parts of China? It didn’t go to Beijing, it went nowhere else, but they allowed them to freely travel throughout the world, including Europe and the United States.”

Source: Berkeley Lovelace, Jr., "Trump Says the U.S. Will Cut Ties with World Health Organization," cnbc.com, May 29, 2020
May 30
1,761,503 / 105,557 Twitter:

"Trump’s Tantrum Diplomacy is eroding U.S. credibility on the international stage. Withdrawing from @WHO during a global pandemic is a recipe for disaster and increases the cost of the American response. We must instead rally the world to confront COVID-19."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, May 30, 2020

Medium.com article:
"I know that there are people all across this country who are suffering tonight. Suffering the loss of a loved one to intolerable circumstances, like the Floyd family, or to the virus that is still gripping our nation. Suffering economic hardships, whether due to COVID-19 or entrenched inequalities in our system. And I know that a grief that dark and deep may at times feel too heavy to bear."

Source: Joe Biden, "We Are a Nation Furious at Injustice," medium.com, May 30, 2020
May 31
1,787,680 / 106,195 White House statement:

"The American and Brazilian people stand in solidarity in the fight against the coronavirus. Today, as a demonstration of that solidarity, we are announcing the United States Government has delivered two million doses of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to the people of Brazil. The United States will also soon be sending 1,000 ventilators to Brazil.

HCQ will be used as a prophylactic to help defend Brazil’s nurses, doctors, and healthcare professionals against the virus. It will also be used as a therapeutic to treat Brazilians who become infected.

Further, in continuation of the two countries’ longstanding collaboration on health issues, we are also announcing a joint United States-Brazilian research effort that will include randomized controlled clinical trials. These trials will help further evaluate the safety and efficacy of HCQ for both prophylaxis and the early treatment of the coronavirus."

Source: Rev, White House, "Joint Statement From the United States of America and the Federative Republic of Brazil Regarding Health Cooperation," whitehouse.gov, May 31, 2020
[Editor’s Note: Bernie Sanders was removed from this resource following the Apr. 8, 2020 suspension of his presidential campaign.]

Footnotes

 

  1. The number of cases by day in the United States is taken from the CDC website page titled “Cases in the U.S.” available at cdc.gov. The case numbers included here reflect the numbers presented by the CDC for a given day when added to this chart. The CDC does not appear to provide the number of US COVID-19 deaths by day.

    The source for the number of US coronavirus deaths per day shown in this chart is Worldometer, “United States,” worldometers.info (accessed Apr. 29, 2020 for historical data then daily going forward).
  2. Erin Allday and Matt Kawahara, “First Known U.S. Coronavirus Death Occurred on Feb. 6 in Santa Clara County,” sfchronicle.com, Apr. 22, 2020

    [Editor’s Note: The first death from COVID-19 on US soil was announced on Feb. 29 in Washington state. On Apr. 21, 2020, health officials in Santa Clara County, California, announced that an autopsy revealed someone had died from coronavirus on Feb. 6, 2020. It is possible that the data may continue to change as more information becomes available.]
  3. Riley Beggin, “First Coronavirus Death in the US Reported in Washington State,” vox.com, Mar. 1, 2020

    [[Editor’s Note: A death in Washington state on Feb. 29, 2020 was considered to be the first coronavirus death on US soil until evidence was announced on Apr. 21, 2020 indicating that someone died from coronavirus on Feb. 6 in California.]