Trump's Remarks in an Update on the Nation's Coronavirus Testing Strategy; September 28, 2020

[mahatmakanejeeves]

STATEMENTS & RELEASES

Remarks by President Trump in an Update on the Nation’s Coronavirus Testing Strategy
HEALTHCARE

Issued on: September 28, 2020

Rose Garden

3:43 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you. So beautiful out here. And thank you for joining us as we announce a massive and groundbreaking expansion in our testing capability of the — for the China virus. And as you know, it’s already setting records — records like nobody has ever seen before.

{snip}

I would like to ask Admiral Giroir to come up and demonstrate how these tests are performed. You’ll do this very nicely, I think. Good luck. Hope you don’t test positive. (Laughter.)

ADMIRAL GIROIR: So, thank you, Mr. President. As of today, the nation has performed over 111 million tests for the virus causing COVID. On 13 separate days, we have achieved tests over 1 million per day, and our average test numbers are now approximately 920,000 per day.

{snip}

Mr. President, we just completed a briefing to the governors and their state health officials from the Sit Room, and we heard words like “game changer” for their states. Thank you, Mr. President, for your leadership and support of all our efforts to defeat this virus.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Admiral. And let me ask you, Governor Reeves, do you — do agree? Would you like to say something?

GOVERNOR REEVES: Well, thank you, Mr. President, for your leadership through this pandemic and through this crisis. This is — it was said by Republicans and Democrats alike earlier — this is a game changer.

{snip}

And I want to personally thank you on behalf of the residents of Mississippi for doing this, Mr. President. Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you, Tate. Great job.

{snip}

With that, I’d like to ask Mike to say a few words because you just left a task force meeting. Vice President Mike Pence.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Mr. President. This is a historic day. And other than the day that I believe will come soon — that America produces the first safe and effective vaccine — what’s announced today, with the distribution of 150 million rapid point-of-care tests all across America, it’s a testament to your leadership, Mr. President; it’s a testament to this great team that you’ve assembled from Secretary Azar, Admiral Giroir, and others; it’s a testament to the partnership that we forged with governors, like Governor Reeves, all across America.

{snip}

But as you just announced a few moments ago, last week, we cleared 100 million tests all across the country. It’s extraordinary we have the capacity to do 3 million tests a day. It’s a testament to American innovation and the leadership that you’ve provided.

{snip}

So, Mr. President, with thanks to our industry partners, thanks to this team, but thanks to you for your strong leadership, I hope for that day. And the American people can be confident we will not rest, we will not relent until we put this coronavirus in the past.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Mike.

Scott Atlas, would you say a few words, please, as to how we’re doing and where you see us going? Please.

DR. ATLAS: Okay, thank you, Mr. President. And I also want to echo the congratulations to the team, the task force — Admiral Giroir, in particular, who’s worked very hard on the testing.

{snip}

This is a remarkable advance. And I anticipate that as — as this virus — as we get toward the end of this pandemic — and the vaccine is being developed as quickly as it has been — America will be in a different position. And there really should be — as I’ve said many times, the fear is not the issue here. We really have a handle on what’s going on. We know what to anticipate, and there’s remarkable advances being made as we see today.

Thank you very much.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. Tremendous progress is being made. And I say, and I’ll say it all the time: We’re rounding the corner. And, very importantly, vaccines are coming, but we’re rounding the corner regardless. But vaccines are coming, and they’re coming fast. We have four great companies already, and it’s going to be added to very rapidly. They’re in final stages of testing. And from what we’re hearing, the results are going to be very extraordinary.

So thank you very much. I appreciate it. And thank you very much. Great job by Abbott. Right from the beginning, great job Abbott.

Thank you. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. (Applause.)

END 4:07 P.M. EDT

[634-5789]

1. Resign, you orange ass hat.