Trump has been in a quandary. He doesn’t want to declare a national emergency, even though we are in one, because it would conflict with his message that this is just the common flu:
President Donald Trump is reluctant to declare an expansive emergency to combat the escalating coronavirus outbreak, fearful of stoking panic with such a dramatic step, according to three people familiar with the situation.
Instead, the president is expected to sign within days a more limited designation to allow the federal government to cover small business loans, paychecks for hourly workers and delay tax bills, the White House said Wednesday. An emergency declaration would go significantly beyond that move, bringing in the Federal Emergency Management Agency and freeing up funding and resources for states struggling to contain the rapidly spreading virus.
Trump’s concern at this point is that going further could hamper his narrative that the coronavirus is similar to the seasonal flu, said the three people familiar with the discussions. The administration is also negotiating with Congress over a stimulus package designed to cushion the coronavirus-hampered economy. But that calculation could change in the coming weeks.
“The president isn’t persuaded because [an emergency declaration] contradicts his message that this is the flu,” said a Republican who speaks to Trump.
[…]
At the White House, some of Trump’s closest aides have debated whether an emergency declaration is needed to ensure those resources are available. But they have yet to make a recommendation to Trump, according to the people familiar with the situation.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is pushing for the designation but Vice President Mike Pence, who Trump tapped to lead the administration’s coronavirus response, doesn’t want Trump to act until Congress passes a stimulus package, according to two of the people.
There’s no deadline for a decision, but one of the people familiar with the talks said the task force will not give Trump its final verdict until Jared Kushner, the president’s senior adviser and son-in-law, finishes his research and comes to a conclusion himself.
You read that right. All the experts would like Trump to declare a national emergency because it would free up various funds and other resources to deal with the crisis. Mike Pence doesn’t think it’s a good idea and the president is waiting for Jared to do “his research” which presumably means a crash MD and Phd in public health and emergency planning. He’s been busy with middle east peace and hasn’t had a lot of time but he’s getting right on that.
As I write this I’m awaiting his oval office speech. Maybe Jared has weighed in with his learned verdict.
But good luck with the follow-through.