President Trump bans European travel for 30 days; asks congress for payroll tax cut

President Donald J. Trump addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House Wednesday evening, March 11, 2020, on the country’s expanded response against the global Coronavirus outbreak. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

President Trump addressed the nation on Wednesday evening, announcing a ban on all travel between mainland Europe and the United States, in response to the growing threat of coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout the world and inside of the United States. This was the 46th president’s second address over three years in power, the first of which concerned a illegal immigration and the government shutdown of January, 2019. 

“We are marshalling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people,” Trump said on a live televised address to the nation. “This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history.” 

Italy, the sixth most popular travel destination for U.S. citizens, has been the hardest affected by the coronavirus outside of China, with more than 10,000 cases as of March 11. 

Earlier Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus to be a “pandemic”. The last time the WHO called a pandemic was more than a decade ago, in 2009, in response to H1N1 or “swine-flu.” 

President Trump also laid out plans to help relieve the current and future burdens on the economy by COVID-19, including asking congress to enact a payroll tax cut, which is used to fund social security, and to allocate an additional $50 billion towards economic relief. 

President Trump also instructed the Small Business Administration to provide capital to businesses negatively affected by the virus, in the form of “economic loans in affected states and territories.” 

“This is not a financial Crisis, just a temporary moment of time,” President Trump assured, taking a moment to cite unemployment numbers and the stock market, which hit historic highs before recent market tumbles around the coronavirus. “Our banks and financial institutions are fully capitalized and incredibly strong... This vast economic prosperity gives us flexibility reserves and resources to handle any threat that comes our way.” 

The president also directed the Treasury Department to defer tax payments for people and businesses affected by COVID-19 without interest or penalty, which Trump claimed would inject more than $200 billion into the U.S economy. 

Trump also spoke about prevention, and the United States’ response in the future, “I will never hesitate to take any necessary steps to protect the lives, health and safety of the American people. I will always put the well-being of America first.” Trump said, "Smart action today will prevent the spread of the virus tomorrow," he continued, “Each of us has a role to play in defending this virus. Wash your hands; clean often used surfaces; cover your face and mouth if you sneeze or cough, and most of all, if you are sick or not feeling well, stay home,” calling on Americans to practice “good hygiene.” 

The president also had negotiated with insurance companies to eliminate all copays, fees, and costs related to the coronavirus or virus testing, mentioning the additional $8.3 billion in funding to fight the virus that he signed into law last week. 

The travel ban, which did not address the large number of cases in the Middle East, will not apply to legal permanent residents or their immediate family members, and will be enacted starting this Friday, March 13, at midnight.