Speaking to reporters at the White House Friday afternoon, President Trump gave additional details about a new council dedicated to reopening the economy.
"We're setting up a council of very very great doctors and business people. We're going to be announcing it on Tuesday. Some great people. This is beyond economic. I call it our Opening Our Country task force or council," Trump said. "We're going to have a great group of people."
Trump says next Tuesday he will announce the members of an "Opening Our Country Council," which will touch on economic issues https://t.co/9T8aUPjUrs pic.twitter.com/lcHhfIKQEJ
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 10, 2020
President Trump explained meetings will be held by teleconference to avoid travel. The council will be made up of individuals from a number of different sectors and locations across the country.
"I want to get it open as soon as possible," Trump said. "I would love to open it, I have not determined anything. The facts are going to determine what I do."
Near the end of the daily Wuhan coronavirus task force briefing President Trump said he is proud of the decisions made to keep people from contracting the disease. He also stressed he believes two million Americans may have died if the task force hadn't made decisions to close businesses and implement social distancing measures.
"This is the biggest decision of my life," Trump said about the timing on opening the economy while balancing public health implications.
"The American people have been so disciplined. It's been my honor to be their President. I've said it before, I'll say it again, I'll say it always. It's been my great honor to have been their President and I have a big decision coming up and I only hope to God that it's the right decision. It'll be based on input from a lot of very talented people, a lot of smart people and people who love our country," he concluded.