Speaking to reporters Wednesday afternoon, President Trump defined himself as a wartime president as the United States works to fight an invisible enemy: Wuhan coronavirus.
"I view it, in a sense, a wartime president. I mean that's what we're fighting. It's a very tough situation. You have to do things, you have to close parts of an economy that six weeks ago were the best they've ever been. We had the best economy we've ever had and then one day you have to close it down in order to defeat this enemy. But we're doing it and we're doing it well. I'll tell you, the America people have been incredible, for the most part," Trump said. "It's a war."
President Trump says he considers himself a "wartime president" during the coronavirus response https://t.co/yMZlZ5gV1w pic.twitter.com/X5EmLxAAup
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 18, 2020
He also reassured the American people we're in a war that will be won.
"I want people to be calm because we're going to win this," he said.
He also announced the invocation of the Defense Production Act, "just in case it is needed." The act allows the Department of Defense to amp up production and prioritization of supplies.
?? CRITICAL ACTION → President Trump is invoking the Defense Production Act to ensure the private sector can surge manufacturing and distribution of emergency medical supplies and equipment as needed to combat Coronavirus.
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) March 18, 2020
Another smart, decisive move by @realDonaldTrump. pic.twitter.com/TGVdSEyIpa