President Donald Trump has scheduled a news conference at 5 p.m. Monday about coronavirus testing and "other announcements about safely opening up America again," White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced.
Her announcement came just hours after she told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" that the daily task force briefing would not be held Monday, making it the third day in a row. without one.
On Fox, McEnany denied that the task force briefings were being canceled altogether. She said they would resume later in the week, but likely in a different form.
"The briefings were a great opportunity for the president to speak to the American people," McEnany said on "That's why millions and millions tune in to see what he says. They recognize leadership."
The daily briefings have been under fire for some time, including last week, when Trump first raised the possibility of using disinfectant internally to fight coronavirus, and then on Friday said he'd posed the question "sarcastically" to reporters rather than medical personnel at the briefing.
No coronavirus press briefings were held over the weekend. McEnany said the media will be permitted to attend the president's meeting with CEOs Monday afternoon, and that the task force will resume briefings later this week.
She added that the conferences "may have a different look," but that Trump will "absolutely" be present.
McEnany's comments came after Trump tweeted earlier on Monday that "there has never been, in the history of our Country, a more vicious or hostile Lamestream Media than there is right now, even in the midst of a National Emergency, the Invisible Enemy!"
McEnany also on Monday declared that Trump is ready for the economy to have a "bounceback," but complained that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is content with keeping American workers at home while she delayed the passage of additional coronavirus relief money.
Trump on Friday signed the nearly $500 billion "Phase 3.5" emergency interim coronavirus relief package into law.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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