U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington before his departure to Phoenix, Arizona on May 5, 2020. Photo by Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Sipa USA
Donald Trump departs to Arizona – Washington
President Donald Trump is threatening to withhold federal money if schools don’t reopen in the fall. He says the guidelines that his own federal health officials have created for schools to reopen are impractical and expensive.
I disagree with @CDCgov on their very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools. While they want them open, they are asking schools to do very impractical things. I will be meeting with them!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2020
Trump isn’t saying what funds would be cut off or what authority he had to make the move. Taking to Twitter to voice his frustration, Trump argues that countries including Germany, Denmark and Norway have reopened schools “with no problems.”
In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS. The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2020
He’s also repeating his claim that Democrats want to keep schools closed for political reasons, not because of coronavirus risks.
