At a Monday press conference, President Donald Trump said his administration had a plan to stimulate the U.S. economy in an effort to offset the damage done by fears over the coronavirus epidemic, but it turns out that that so-called plan is “not there right now,” according to administration officials who spoke with CNBC:
“Inside the administration, some officials were stunned by Trump’s claim Monday that he would hold a press conference Tuesday to announce an economic plan. ‘That was news to everyone on the inside,’ one official said.
“The actual details of any plan remain up in the air. ‘It’s not there right now,’ an official said. ‘A lot of details need to be worked out.'”
Among the measures mentioned by the president were a payroll tax cut, working to provide relief to airlines and cruise lines, and wage relief for hourly workers. But the payroll tax cut and wage relief are seen as non-starters with many Senate Republicans who are unwilling to add billions more to the federal deficit:
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and top economic adviser Larry Kudlow will meet today with Senate Republicans. Oddly, however, it doesn’t appear the administration is actively reaching out to House Democrats even though all spending bills must originate in the House. CNBC also notes that there are no plans for congressional Republicans to meet with the president, despite his insistence on Monday that he would be doing so:
“A House Republican aide said there were no plans for members to go to the White House. A representative for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office said it had nothing to share regarding his schedule.”
Meanwhile, Trump took to Twitter Tuesday morning and urged the Federal Reserve to reduce interest rates again even though the Fed did so just last week:
Our pathetic, slow moving Federal Reserve, headed by Jay Powell, who raised rates too fast and lowered too late, should get our Fed Rate down to the levels of our competitor nations. They now have as much as a two point advantage, with even bigger currency help. Also, stimulate!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 10, 2020
The Federal Reserve must be a leader, not a very late follower, which it has been!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 10, 2020
Featured Image Via NBC News