Donald Trump’s top economic adviser claims it’s ‘scary to go to work’ as states ease lockdowns

Donald Trump’s top ecback onomic adviser claims it’s ‘scary to go back to work’ as states ease lockdowns – and says hopes for job report recovery in six months is ‘wishful thinking’

  • Top White House Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett admitted Sunday that he’s scared to go to work
  • ‘It is scary to go to work,’ he said. ‘I think that I’d be a lot safer if I was sitting at home than I would be going to the West Wing’ 
  • The claim came after Vice President Mike Pence’s Spokeswoman Katie Miller and one of the president’s personal Navy valets both tested positive for coronavirus
  • Hassett also made the assertion as some states begin easing lockdowns and allow non-essential businesses to reopen and people to go back to work
  • No state is fully reopened yet, but many counties are well on their way
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

One of Donald Trump’s top economic advisers admitted Sunday that it’s ‘scary’ to think about going back to work, voicing his own concerns about working at the White House in the midst of the pandemic.

‘It is scary to go to work,’ Kevin Hassett told CBS News Sunday morning. ‘I think that I’d be a lot safer if I was sitting at home than I would be going to the West Wing. But, you know, it’s the time when people have to step up and serve their country.’

The comments come after one of Trump’s personal valets and Vice President Mike Pence’s spokeswoman, Katie Miller, both tested positive for coronavirus.

Several administration and task force officials, including top immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, are quarantining after potential exposure to the disease. 

Top White House Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett admitted Sunday that he’s scared to go to work. ‘It is scary to go to work,’ he said. ‘I think that I’d be a lot safer if I was sitting at home than I would be going to the West Wing’

The comments came after Vice President Mike Pence's Spokeswoman Katie Miller (pictured) and one of the president's personal Navy valets both tested positive for coronavirus

The comments came after Vice President Mike Pence’s Spokeswoman Katie Miller (pictured) and one of the president’s personal Navy valets both tested positive for coronavirus

The comments also come as some states begin easing lockdown restrictions and allow  non-essential businesses to reopen and people to go back to work

The comments also come as some states begin easing lockdown restrictions and allow  non-essential businesses to reopen and people to go back to work

No state is fully reopened yet, but many counties are well on their way to fully ending stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines

No state is fully reopened yet, but many counties are well on their way to fully ending stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines

‘Do you wear a mask? Are you going to continue to show up for work at the White House?’ CBS News’ Margaret Brennan posed to Hassett as Trump continues to face criticisms for not wearing a mask in public.

Reporters at White House briefings are now required to wear masks.

‘I’ve got a mask right here,’ he said. ‘And the fact is that I practice aggressive social distancing. I’ll wear a mask when I feel it’s necessary.’

Hassett acknowledged that it is ‘risky’ to work in the West Wing because it is a ‘small, crowded place.’ 

The economic adviser’s admission of fear also comes as several states have begun to implement the easing of lockdown and stay-at-home restrictions.

At local levels, some states, counties and localities have decided to begin reopening by permitting non-essential businesses to operate and opening up areas that were shutdown to maintain social distancing guidelines – like beaches, golf courses and marinas.

Hassett also suggested in his interview Sunday that it was ‘wishful thinking’ when he said Friday the job market could rebound in six months’ time.

‘Nobody knows it,’ Kevin Hassett told CBS News Sunday morning when asked about the ‘silver lining’ he proposed two days ago in front of the president. ‘And, you know, and it’s very unsatisfying.’

The claim comes as new numbers released last week showed in the past two months, more than 33 people have filed for unemployment benefits after losing their jobs or being furloughed.



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