President Trump claimed he had “met the moment” for safe testing levels for a reopening, as the White House issued new restrictions to dampen its own coronavirus outbreak.
Before President Trump abruptly shut down Monday’s White House coronavirus press conference, he boasted of the nation’s current capacity for testing: “We have met the moment, and we have prevailed.” While the message is consistent with his goal to reopen the economy to embolden his electoral prospects, it does not mesh with the reality on the ground on which he stood. As contact tracers worked over the weekend to find out who at the White House had interacted with infected staffers, the administration still does not know how the coronavirus breached the West Wing, which has reported two confirmed cases of COVID-19.
With Trump broadcasting a message of confidence and security as states reopen, the White House is shoring up its coronavirus security. Despite the president’s reported opinion that wearing a mask is a “sign of weakness,” anyone who enters the West Wing will now be required to wear face coverings while on the site.
