VIDEO: "We’re Totally Prepared” - Trump Assigns Pence to Lead U.S. Coronavirus Response

VIDEO: "We’re Totally Prepared” - Trump Assigns Pence to Lead U.S. Coronavirus Response

United States President Donald Trump said Wednesday night that the country is “totally prepared” to handle any spread of the new coronavirus — and announced that he was putting Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the country’s response. 

Trump's comments come after the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control this week issued a strong warning about the potential spread in the country. “It’s not so much of a question of if this will happen anymore but rather more of a question of exactly when this will happen," said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

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On Wednesday, Trump repeatedly pointed to there being “only 15” confirmed cases in the U.S. at this time, who he said have “mostly fully recovered.” 

“I’m having everybody report to Mike,” said Trump at a press conference at the White House on Wednesday night, of his decision to put Pence in charge. “The Indiana model has been a great success — Mike isn’t a Czar. He’s part of the administration.” 

“We do have plans on a much larger scale if we need them— we don’t think we’re going to need them but you have to be prepared,” said Trump. “We’re getting far more than we asked for [in funding from Congress].”

 

Stock Market Response 

Trump at the press conference addressed questions related to the stock market this week, after futures the stock market has been “slammed by fears coronavirus will deliver a supply choose that central bankers can’t fix,” according to MarketWatch. 

“I really think the stock market is something I know a lot about — if you look at the people debating last night it took a hit because of that,” said Trump of the Democratic Presidential debate. “It took a hit because of this — I think the stock market will recover, the economy is strong. Our consumers are incredible — we’re doing great, other countries are not.”