President Trump reveals that his decision to extend the social distancing guidelines to April 30 was motivated by models which predicted that if the restrictions were removed as many as 2.2million people would die and about half the country would be infected.[2] President Trump also warned that between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans could become infected in the coming days, despite strict isolation and distancing guidelines.[3]
More than 3,600 people have died in the United States from the SARS-CoV-2 disease. 1,941 have died in New York state, 267 in New Jersey, 259 in Michigan, 239 in Louisiana, 225 in Washington state, 184 in California and 139 in Georgia. Every other state except Wyoming has recorded at least one death attributed to the virus.[4]
In the daily COVID-19 press conference, Jared Kushner declares that the "notion of the federal stockpile was it's supposed to be our stockpile; it's not supposed to be state stockpiles that they then use."[6][7]
President Trump announces that Kayleigh McEnany will become the 31st White House press secretary, replacing Stephanie Grisham, who was moved to be the First Lady's chief of staff.[11]
The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the COVID-19 disease is 12,956. There are more than 397,000 certified COVID-19 cases.[14]
Thursday, April 9
Friday, April 10
Saturday, April 11
Sunday, April 12
Week 170
Monday, April 13
Tuesday, April 14
Wednesday, April 15
The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the COVID-19 disease is 25,922. There are more than 606,800 certified COVID-19 cases.[15]
President Trump announces that the US will stop funding the World Health Organization (WHO), after Trump criticized the WHO for being too lenient on China.[16]
President Trump announces that the states can begin lifting restrictions for COVID-19 by May1 while acknowledging that the decision to reopen is best left to the states.[18]
Friday, April 17
President Trump tweets "LIBERATE", interpreted as support of not extending lock-downs in Michigan, Minnesota, and Virginia.[19]
Saturday, April 18
Sunday, April 19
Week 171
Monday, April 20
President Trump announces on Twitter that he will temporarily suspend all immigration in an effort to protect America from "the Invisible Enemy".[20][21]
Tuesday, April 21
Wednesday, April 22
The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the COVID-19 disease is 42,200. There are more than 830,000 certified COVID-19 cases.[22]
Health Dept. official Dr. Rick Bright is fired by President Trump after questioning the effectiveness of Hydroxychloroquine as a drug to treat COVID-19 and requesting extensive tests to confirm Trump's claims.[23]
Thursday, April 23
After the Senate passes a $480 billion aid bill to help small businesses and hospitals as well as to increase the number of COVID-19 tests performed the House of Representatives approves the bill in a vote of 388–5, sending the bill to President Trump for signing.[24]
At the daily COVID-19 press briefing, President Trump promotes the use of ultraviolet light as a remedy to COVID-19, and muses about injecting bleach or disinfectant into the lungs or other areas of the body to kill the virus.[27]
President Trump dismisses Acting Health and Human Services inspector general Christi Grimm, who had issued an April report describing severe shortages of COVID-19 testing materials and personal protective equipment.[32]
Saturday, May 2
Sunday, May 3
During a Fox News town hall in the Lincoln Memorial, President Trump revises his forecast for the death toll from COVID-19, increasing it to 100,000. He also admits the disease has been more lethal than he expected, adding that early intelligence briefings indicated the virus was "not a big deal".[33][34]
The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the COVID-19 disease is 71,077. There are more than 1.2 million certified COVID-19 cases.[37]
Thursday, May 7
One of Trump's personal valets tests positive for COVID-19. White House staffers, including valets, generally do not wear masks. Trump claims, however, that he requires all his aides to take rapid tests for the virus before he travels anywhere with them.[38]
President Trump speaks at the National Day of Prayer service in the Rose Garden.[40]
The Justice Department announces that it is dropping all charges against President Trump's former National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn.[41]
Friday, May 8
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in the 75th anniversary of VE Day celebrations.[42]
Katie Miller, the top spokesperson for Vice President Mike Pence, tests positive for COVID-19. She is married to Stephen Miller, a top aide and speechwriter for President Trump. This suggests multiple people who work in the West Wing may have been exposed.[43]
Saturday, May 9
Sunday, May 10
Despite the COVID-19 diagnosis for one of his staff members, Vice President Pence said he would not self-isolate and would continue to work in person at the White House.[44] Other members of the coronavirus Task Force, including Drs. Redfield, Hahn, and Fauci, however, planned to self-isolate.[45]
Week 174
Monday, May 11
During a press conference, CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang asks President Trump, "Why is this a global competition to you if every day Americans are still losing their lives?" referring to the number of COVID-19 tests performed daily. Trump responds by saying, "They're losing their lives everywhere in the world. And maybe that's a question you should ask China. Don't ask me, ask China that question, OK?".[46][47]
President Trump reveals that he is taking Hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug untested for its effectiveness against COVID-19, despite FDA warnings that it may cause serious heart problems.[53][54]
Glenn Fine, the Defense Department Principal Deputy Inspector General, submitted his resignation, effective June 1. Fine provided leadership of the COVID-19 accountability review of emergency funds.[60]
The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the COVID-19 disease is 98,937. There are more than 1.6million certified COVID-19 cases.[62]
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the attempted launch of the SpaceXDragon 2 spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center. However, the launch was postponed to May 30 due to the weather.[63]
Thursday, May 28
President Trump signs an executive order limiting the legal protection that social media companies have, allowing federal agencies and regulators to hold them liable if found to be violating free speech protections by deleting posts or user accounts.[64][65]
President Trump attends the second attempted launch of the SpaceXDragon 2 spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center, which the launch was finally success.[67]
Sunday, May 31
In an early morning tweet President Trump declares the United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a terrorist organization.[68]
News reports surface claiming that on Friday night Secret Service agents rushed President Trump to a White House bunker as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the executive mansion, some of them throwing rocks and tugging at police barricades.[69]
June 2020
Date
Events
Photos/Videos
Week 177
Monday, June 1
In a conference call with the nation's governors, President Trump declares that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffMark A. Milley, the nation's highest-ranking military officer, was "in charge" of the response to protests. The nature of Milley's position was not specified, nor the legal authority under which he would assume such a position.[70]
President Trump delivers a speech in the Rose Garden declaring that he was "dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults and the wanton destruction of property," and, "If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary... then I'll deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them."[71][72]
After the press conference at the Rose Garden, Trump walks to the nearby St. John's Church, where an adjacent building had experienced a fire the previous night, in Lafayette Square for a photo op. In preparation for Trump's arrival, riot police and military police use tear gas and stun grenades to clear peaceful protesters assembled at the park.[73] and the clergy at the church.[74]
The White House provided clarification for President Trump's May 31, 2020, announcement on Twitter that he vows to designate ANTIFA as a terrorist group.[75][76][77][78][79]
The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the COVID-19 disease is 106,184. There are more than 1.8 million certified COVID-19 cases.[83]
Thursday, June 4
Friday, June 5
Saturday, June 6
Sunday, June 7
Week 178
Monday, June 8
Tuesday, June 9
President Trump asserts on Twitter that Martin Gugino, elderly man pushed to the ground by police in Buffalo, New York, during a protest over the murder of George Floyd could be a "set up" that Gugino was an "ANTIFA provocateur".[84][85][86]
Wednesday, June 10
The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the COVID-19 disease is 112,174. There are more than 1.9 million certified COVID-19 cases.[87]
Thursday, June 11
The Republican National Committee selects Jacksonville, Florida to host its convention on August 27.[88]
Friday, June 12
Saturday, June 13
President Trump speaks to the cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point graduation ceremony.[89]
The Supreme Court rules in a 6–3 decision that LGBT rights are protected against discrimination by the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[91]
Tuesday, June 16
The Trump administration announces that it is ordering former National Security Advisor John Bolton to cease publication of his new book, claiming that it violates non-disclosure agreements and releases classified information.[92]
Elaine McCusker, CFO of the Defense Department, resigns.[93]
Wednesday, June 17
Solicitor GeneralNoel Francisco, who defended Trump administration policies before the Supreme Court, announces he is leaving the Department of Justice.[94]
The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the COVID-19 disease is 116,979. There are more than 2.1million certified COVID-19 cases.[95]
Thursday, June 18
The Supreme Court rules in a 5–4 decision that President Trump may not immediately end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), saying that the Administration did not provide "a reasoned explanation for its action".[96][97]
Kathryn Wheelbarger, a leading Defense Department policy official in the Pentagon, resigns.[99]
Friday, June 19
Geoffrey Berman, the top US attorney in the SDNY, declines to leave his post after Attorney General William Barr announces his removal and replacement earlier in the evening.[100]
Saturday, June 20
President Trump removes Geoffrey Berman as head attorney for the SDNY after he refuses to step down the previous evening.[101]
President Trump holds a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[102][103] Two Secret Service agents at the event test positive for coronavirus; the Secret Service later asks all agents who worked at the event to self-quarantine at home for 14 days.[104]
Sunday, June 21
Week 180
Monday, June 22
Kevin Hassett, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers and the White House's chief economist, announces he will leave this summer after helping deal with the economic disruptions of the continuing coronavirus pandemic.[105]
The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 disease is 121,978. There are more than 2.3million certified coronavirus cases.[108]
Aaron Zelinsky, a prosecutor on Robert Mueller's team, and John Elias, a career official in the Antitrust Division at DOJ, appear before a House Judiciary Committee hearing to give testimony about sentencing recommendations for Roger Stone.[110]
Thursday, June 25
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War.[111]
The Justice Act, a Republican-sponsored police overhaul bill, falls short of the 60 votes of support required to advance the bill after Senate Democrats block the bill and call it "woefully inadequate".[112]
In the House of Representatives, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is approved by a vote of 236 to 181.[113]
The Trump administration files a brief asking the Supreme Court to invalidate the Affordable Care Act.[114]
Friday, June 26
The New York Times breaks a story about bounties being paid by Russia to Taliban militants to kill American and coalition forces currently stationed in Afghanistan.[115]
Saturday, June 27
Sunday, June 28
Week 181
Monday, June 29
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and national security adviser Robert C. O'Brien conduct a briefing for GOP lawmakers at the White House concerning intelligence suggesting Russia financed Taliban militants to target US and coalition troops.[116]