Trump Resumes COVID Task Force Briefings Amid Plummeting Approval Ratings

Briefing Scheduled from Tomorrow... Potential Use as De Facto Presidential Campaign
Aiming to Restore Image as Leader in Resolving COVID-19 Crisis
Risk of Gaffes Remains, Including Remarks on Injecting Disinfectant into Humans

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to resume daily briefings on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Although this is seen as a strategy to recover his plummeting approval ratings, considering that President Trump often caused confusion with frequent verbal slips during briefings, the success of these briefings cannot be guaranteed.

According to U.S. media, on the 20th (local time), President Trump met with reporters in the Oval Office and said regarding the recent significant increase in COVID-19 cases in Florida, Texas, and several other areas, "What we will do is start briefings with my participation."

He added, "It (the briefing) is a good way to inform the public about where we stand on vaccines and treatments," and said, "It will probably start tomorrow."

President Trump also mentioned that his COVID-19 task force briefings broadcast on TV between March and late April "were watched by many people and had record-breaking ratings in cable TV history."

Since early March, Trump, who suspended his presidential campaign due to the COVID-19 crisis, effectively used the COVID-19 task force briefings as campaign events by answering questions on major political issues and various topics including the health of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un.

However, President Trump halted the briefings after facing serious backlash for his remark in late April suggesting injecting disinfectants into the human body as a treatment for COVID-19.

This decision came shortly after President Trump decided to suspend his campaign rallies again due to the resurgence of COVID-19, indicating a high possibility that the briefings will be used as daily live televised campaign events.

The White House task force briefings resumed on the 27th of last month but have been led by Vice President Mike Pence, the task force leader.

The political media outlet The Hill reported that some White House aides recently argued that President Trump should resume briefings as his poll ratings have dropped and COVID-19 cases have increased. The intention is to show that the president is taking a leading role through the briefings.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.