Donald Trump headed to the golf course on Friday, starting the long Independence Day weekend hitting connections even after the country the day before, setting a one-day record for new coronavirus cases.
Over 55,000 new cases were registered nationwide on Thursday. This marked the sixth time in nine days that the United States set a new record for confirmed cases. In addition, eight states set one-day records on Thursday. There have been 2.7 million confirmed cases in the United States, with at least 129,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Trump did not choose to stay in the White House on Friday morning to join with his coronavirus task force or to speak with governors about local efforts to stop the spread in many states of the Sun Belt and California.
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A journalist in the pool of the day, the group of journalists recounting a president’s movements and comments, sent a dispatch that Mr. Trump’s procession transported him to his golf club in Sterling, Virginia at 26.5. miles northwest of the White House.
After about 40 minutes by car, the pool reporter noticed a sign along the road saying “Trump is a traitor”. But one man gave the procession a thumbs up on a hot and humid day in Washington.
Trump earlier this week again said that the coronavirus will soon “disappear” in some way. However, he did not say how he could do it, nor did he offer scientific or medical evidence to support his prediction.
“I think we’ll be very good at coronavirus. I think it’s going to disappear at some point,” Trump told Fox Business Network before adding this qualifier: “I hope.”
Fox Business White House reporter Blake Burman asked the president if he still thinks, as he has said for months, that the virus will simply disappear – the president said, “Yes.”
Mr. Trump therefore suggested that his prediction was linked to efforts to develop a vaccine.
“I think we’ll have a vaccine soon,” said Trump.
But his main infectious disease official, Anthony Fauci, told Congress this week that he’s betting that a vaccine will be distributed a year later – after election day.
The president is expected to leave the White House around 5:00 pm for South Dakota, where a July 4th event with observations and fireworks will be held on Mount Rushmore. Participants will not be required to wear masks or social distance.
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