Trump says virus in US will get worse before it gets better

WASHINGTON (AP)

UPDATE 7/21/2020 2:40 p.m. President Donald Trump sought to paint a rosier picture of the coronavirus for the nation on Tuesday but conceded the pandemic is likely to “get worse before it gets better.”

Trump commented as he revived his daily briefings with an eye to halting a campaign-season erosion of support.

The early evening event at the White House came as the next stage of the federal government’s response to the pandemic was being crafted on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers and White House officials opened negotiations on a trillion-dollar-or-more “phase four” rescue package. 

PREVIOUS STORY: President Donald Trump pulled the plug on his freewheeling daily coronavirus briefings when they turned into a political liability this spring.

But he was set to revive them late Tuesday as he looked to halt an erosion of support at a time when confirmed cases are spiking across the country.

The public show at the White House comes as the next stage of the federal government’s response to the pandemic is being worked out on Capitol Hill.

Lawmakers and White House officials opened negotiations Tuesday on a “phase four” rescue package of a trillion dollars or more.