Donald Trump enlists dozens of country’s top CEOs and bankers for ‘ideas’ on getting country back

Donald Trump read through a lengthy list Tuesday of more than 100 executives he plans to consult about when to ‘reopen’ the U.S. economy – even as he retreated from a posture that he had ‘total’ authority to compel governors to act.

‘I will be speaking to all 50 governors very shortly. And I will then be authorizing each individual governor of each individual state to implement a reopening, very powerful reopening plan of their estate in a time in a manner which is most appropriate,’ Trump said – stating he would give governors permission to use power they say they already have. 

President Trump named more than 100 companies during his Tuesday briefing that he says will provide advice on when to reopen the country

Trump has touted a new task force to advise him on when to reopen the country, beyond the task force headed by Vice President Mike Pence that includes government medical experts. 

But on Tuesday, the president instead described a long list of people who would advise him on what appear to be a series of conference calls.

‘We have a list of different industries we will be discussing by meeting by telephone,’ Trump said. American Farm Bureau, Cisco systems, Midland Company, Corteva Tractor Supply Company. 

Then he listed financial giants as well as some smaller lenders, sprinkling in the names of CEOS. ‘Bank of America  … J.P. Morgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, Goldman Sachs, Cirigroup, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank Corp., Morgan Stanley – James Gorman, Grand Rapids State Bank, Southern Bank Corps, all great institutions with lots to say and good ideas. 

Trump listed financial giants as well as some smaller lenders he would consult on reopening the country

Trump read through the names of 120 CEOs and people he said would provide advice

Trump listed through figures from sports, finance, and former government officials who he said would advise him

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg

Trump also rattled off the names of sports executives. Among them were New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft, who entered into a plea deal with prosecutors after being arrested in a sting last year for solicitation. 

Trump mentioned World Wrestling Entertainment and ‘the great Vince McMahon,’ a longtime associate. 

He also mentioned Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and the heads of NASCAR and pro hockey.  

‘Some of the leaders that we are going to have, there are some others that we are having, we’re just just waiting to hear. Everybody is saying yes, I must say,’ Trump added. 

He said a list of ‘political’ people, including senators, would be released Wednesday. 

Trump named billionaire Mark Cuban, who told ‘Fox News Sunday’ he didn’t share Trump’s view that the country would soon bounce back.

‘I wish he was right, but he’s not,’ Cuban said. ‘I think it’s going to be slower. I think there’s going to be so many different ways we’ll have to adapt to this new abnormal,’ he added. 

Trump also mentioned Steven Moore, his failed pick to join the Federal Reserve Board of Governors as well as former FDA chief Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who helped draft a plan for the American Enterprise Institute on when states can reopen. Also listed were Steve Forbes, former George W. Bush secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, who said it was ‘out of bounds’ for Trump to ask Ukraine to investigate the Bidens.

‘Religious leaders will be coming on Friday,’ Trump said. He said it would be a ‘separate list.’

‘But we have tremendous enthusiasm to meet with our great religious leaders,’ he added. 

By the time he was done, Trump had listed 120 names.  

Missing from the briefing was top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, who on Tuesday called Trump’s goal to begin lifting lockdowns by May 1 ‘overly optimistic.’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk