cnbc--2020-07-06--Pro-Trump lobbyists worked with firms that received small business relief loans

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he attends South Dakota 's U.S .
Independence Day Mount Rushmore fireworks celebrations at Mt .
Rushmore in Keystone , South Dakota , U.S. , July 3 , 2020 .
Two businesses got millions of dollars in government coronavirus relief loans as a group of pro-Trump lobbyists actively worked on their behalf .
Lindblad Expeditions and Laundrylux Distribution , which hired lobbyists Jeff Miller and Brian Ballard , both of whom have close ties to President Donald Trump , received loans worth millions of dollars , according to a partial list of small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paycheck Protection Program .
A Laundrylux representative denied that there was any link between Ballard 's lobbying and the loan that it received .
The Treasury Department and Small Business Administration released on Monday the list of companies that received the federal aid .
Lindblad is a New York-based cruise company with destinations including Alaska , Costa Rica , Egypt and the British Isles .
It received between $ 5 million and $ 10 million in loans .
Laundrylux , a New York-based commercial laundry machine company whose services include equipment rentals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between $ 1 million and $ 2 million in loans .
Law firms with ties to Trump also saw loans from the federal assistance program .
Kasowitz Benson Torres , founded by longtime Trump attorney Marc Kasowitz , saw a loan between $ 5 and $ 10 million .
The American Center for Law and Justice , whose chief counsel is Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow , got between $ 1 million and $ 2 million .
Kasowitz 's firm and Sekulow defended Trump during the president 's impeachment hearings .
The laundry company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , paid $ 30,000 to Ballard 's firm , Ballard Partners , in the first quarter of 2020 to work the Trump administration with the goal of `` designation as essential business in response to COVID-19 virus , '' the document says .
Essential businesses were often allowed to stay open during the start of the pandemic while many who were deemed nonessential were forced to close .
The form shows that Ballard , a lobbyist who recently raised over $ 560,000 for the Trump Victory joint fundraising committee , along with Daniel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , engaged with the Department of Homeland Security and White House representatives .
Ballard is a regional vice chair for the Republican National Committee .
Laundrylux later announced on its website that Homeland Security recognized laundromats and similar services to be essential .
Miller 's firm , Miller Strategies , helped Lindblad on `` issues as they relate to the impacts of COVID-19 on the cruise and travel industry . ''
Miller was the California campaign chair for former Secretary of Energy Rick Perry 's 2012 run for president .
He recently became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican convention .
He recently helped raise $ 1.4 million for Trump Victory .
Sven-Olof Lindblad , the CEO of the cruise company , wrote in an op-ed in May that they had returned the loan after receiving widespread scrutiny .
The cruise industry was hit particularly hard in the wake of the pandemic .
Data from FactSet shows that many of the top cruise lines , from Carnival to Norwegian , saw their first-quarter financial performance drop by up to 81 % .
Neil Milch , the executive chairman and owner of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email that the lobbying effort was not linked to the loan that they received .
Milch reached out after CNBC contacted Ballard 's firm .
`` Our application for PPP had nothing whatsoever to do with Ballard 's representation of us and our industry .
Our concern was that millions of people who completely rely on laundromats for clothing sanitation would be in serious trouble if they were all shut down , '' Mitch said .
`` This is March/April time frame .
We NEVER consulted Ballard on PPP ; had nothing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Ballard declined to comment .
Miller and a spokeswoman for Lindblad did not respond to a request for comment .
The Treasury and SBA did not respond to requests for comment .
The lobbying effort by Ballard , Miller and their teams for these companies was just a fraction of the work they did as the pandemic swept across the country .
Data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics shows that Ballard 's firm made over $ 5.2 million from January through March , their biggest first quarter ever .
Miller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early part of this year .
Data shows that they made at least $ 2.7 million in the first quarter , more than any other quarter since 2017 .

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he attends South Dakota's U.S. Independence Day Mount Rushmore fireworks celebrations at Mt. Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota, U.S., July 3, 2020.
Two businesses got millions of dollars in government coronavirus relief loans as a group of pro-Trump lobbyists actively worked on their behalf.
Lindblad Expeditions and Laundrylux Distribution, which hired lobbyists Jeff Miller and Brian Ballard, both of whom have close ties to President Donald Trump, received loans worth millions of dollars, according to a partial list of small businesses that took part in the administration's Paycheck Protection Program.
A Laundrylux representative denied that there was any link between Ballard's lobbying and the loan that it received.
The Treasury Department and Small Business Administration released on Monday the list of companies that received the federal aid.
Lindblad is a New York-based cruise company with destinations including Alaska, Costa Rica, Egypt and the British Isles. It received between $5 million and $10 million in loans. Laundrylux, a New York-based commercial laundry machine company whose services include equipment rentals and marketing tools for laundry businesses, received between $1 million and $2 million in loans.
Law firms with ties to Trump also saw loans from the federal assistance program. Kasowitz Benson Torres, founded by longtime Trump attorney Marc Kasowitz, saw a loan between $5 and $10 million. The American Center for Law and Justice, whose chief counsel is Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow, got between $1 million and $2 million. Kasowitz's firm and Sekulow defended Trump during the president's impeachment hearings.
The laundry company, according to a lobbying disclosure report, paid $30,000 to Ballard's firm, Ballard Partners, in the first quarter of 2020 to work the Trump administration with the goal of "designation as essential business in response to COVID-19 virus," the document says. Essential businesses were often allowed to stay open during the start of the pandemic while many who were deemed nonessential were forced to close.
The form shows that Ballard, a lobbyist who recently raised over $560,000 for the Trump Victory joint fundraising committee, along with Daniel McFaul, a partner at the firm, engaged with the Department of Homeland Security and White House representatives. Ballard is a regional vice chair for the Republican National Committee. Laundrylux later announced on its website that Homeland Security recognized laundromats and similar services to be essential.
Miller's firm, Miller Strategies, helped Lindblad on "issues as they relate to the impacts of COVID-19 on the cruise and travel industry." Miller was the California campaign chair for former Secretary of Energy Rick Perry's 2012 run for president. He recently became the vice finance chair for the 2020 Republican convention. He recently helped raise $1.4 million for Trump Victory.
Sven-Olof Lindblad, the CEO of the cruise company, wrote in an op-ed in May that they had returned the loan after receiving widespread scrutiny.
The cruise industry was hit particularly hard in the wake of the pandemic. Data from FactSet shows that many of the top cruise lines, from Carnival to Norwegian, saw their first-quarter financial performance drop by up to 81%.
Neil Milch, the executive chairman and owner of Laundrylux, told CNBC in an unprompted email that the lobbying effort was not linked to the loan that they received. Milch reached out after CNBC contacted Ballard's firm.
"Our application for PPP had nothing whatsoever to do with Ballard's representation of us and our industry. Our concern was that millions of people who completely rely on laundromats for clothing sanitation would be in serious trouble if they were all shut down," Mitch said. "This is March/April time frame. We NEVER consulted Ballard on PPP; had nothing to do with them."
A representative for Ballard declined to comment. Miller and a spokeswoman for Lindblad did not respond to a request for comment. The Treasury and SBA did not respond to requests for comment.
The lobbying effort by Ballard, Miller and their teams for these companies was just a fraction of the work they did as the pandemic swept across the country.
Data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics shows that Ballard's firm made over $5.2 million from January through March, their biggest first quarter ever.
Miller's firm also had success in the early part of this year. Data shows that they made at least $2.7 million in the first quarter, more than any other quarter since 2017.


cnbc--2020-07-06--Mary Trump tell-all book will be released two weeks early amid court fight

The publisher of a forthcoming tell-all book about President Donald Trump and his family by his niece Mary Trump on Monday said it was advancing the date of the book 's publication by two weeks , to July 14 .
The publisher 's change in release date comes days after a New York state appeals division judge lifted a temporary legal restraint on Simon & Schuster from publishing the book issued by a trial court judge .
Simon & Schuster in a statement cited `` high demand and extraordinary interest in this book '' for advancing its release date .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Never Enough : How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man , '' currently is the bestselling book on Amazon.com , which is pre-selling copies .
President Trump 's brother , Robert Trump , has filed several court actions seeking to block release of the book .
Robert Trump argued that Mary , 55 , is violating a nondisclosure agreement with him , the president and their sister , retired federal appeals court Judge Maryanne Trump Barry , by discussing family issues .
That NDA was signed in 2001 after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Fred Trump III , over a share of the estate of Fred Trump Sr. , the president 's father .
Mary and her brother are the children of Fred Trump Jr. , who is deceased .

The publisher of a forthcoming tell-all book about President Donald Trump and his family by his niece Mary Trump on Monday said it was advancing the date of the book's publication by two weeks, to July 14.
The publisher's change in release date comes days after a New York state appeals division judge lifted a temporary legal restraint on Simon & Schuster from publishing the book issued by a trial court judge.
Simon & Schuster in a statement cited "high demand and extraordinary interest in this book" for advancing its release date. The book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man," currently is the bestselling book on Amazon .com, which is pre-selling copies.
President Trump's brother, Robert Trump, has filed several court actions seeking to block release of the book.
Robert Trump argued that Mary, 55, is violating a nondisclosure agreement with him, the president and their sister, retired federal appeals court Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, by discussing family issues.
That NDA was signed in 2001 after a court fight by Mary and her brother, Fred Trump III, over a share of the estate of Fred Trump Sr., the president's father. Mary and her brother are the children of Fred Trump Jr., who is deceased.


cnbc--2020-07-06--Trump rips NASCAR for banning Confederate flag and targets Black driver Bubba Wallace

President Donald Trump lashed out Monday at the NASCAR Cup series ' only Black driver and ripped its ban on the Confederate battle flag .
Trump asked in a tweet if 26-year-old Bubba Wallace has `` apologized to all of those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid , stood by his side , & were willing to sacrifice everything for him , only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX ? ''
Trump was referring to findings that what appeared to have been a noose found in Wallace 's garage recently was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intimidate the driver .
It was not ruled a hoax , as the president claims .
`` That & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER ! ''
the president added in a reference to NASCAR 's move last month to prohibit displaying the Confederate battle flag .
Contrary to Trump 's tweet , NASCAR 's ratings have actually increased from previous years , according to Speed Report .
The flag has been commonly displayed at NASCAR races for decades .
NASCAR in 2015 had asked that fans not fly the flag following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of nine Black churchgoers by racist Dylan Roof , but many fans had ignored that request .
Wallace , the only Black full-time driver on the NASCAR Cup circuit , has been an outspoken critic of the Confederate flag and has called on the racing organization to `` get them out of '' events .
`` No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race , '' Wallace said last month .
Days later , NASCAR announced that `` The display of the confederate flag will be prohibited from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The White House declined CNBC 's request for comment on the president 's tweet about the Confederate flag .
But White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a Fox News interview Monday morning that Trump 's tweet was intended to make `` a broader point that this rush to judgment on the facts before the facts are out is not acceptable . ''
In a press briefing later Monday , McEnany said that Trump 's tweet `` was not making a judgment one way or the other '' on the Confederate flag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to a request for comment .
Wallace had also spoken out after the killing of George Floyd , an unarmed Black man who died when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for about eight minutes .
Floyd 's death , which was captured on video , set off a wave of massive protests across the nation .
In June , Wallace wore a shirt bearing the words `` I Ca n't Breathe/Black Lives Matter '' before a race in Atlanta .
Later that month , NASCAR announced that a noose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stall at a race in Talladega , Alabama , and that it had launched an investigation .
The discovery immediately stirred speculation that the noose was an act of retaliation .
`` There is no place for racism in NASCAR , and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all , '' the organization said in a statement at the time .
Wallace , too , weighed in , tweeting that `` the despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism . ''
But the FBI determined that the rope had been used to pull down the door of the garage since as early as fall 2019 .
U.S. Attorney Jay Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. said their investigation determined `` nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week . ''
The FBI concluded that no crime had been committed .
Courtney Weber , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richard Petty Motorsports , told NBC News in a statement that `` at this time , the team does not have anything to add '' in response to the president 's tweet .
`` Wallace has extensively exhausted the topic via a multitude of interviews in recent weeks .
It is clear there is nothing more to say , '' Weber said .
But Wallace pushed back on Trump directly in a statement Monday afternoon on Twitter .
`` All the haters are doing is elevating your voice and platform to much greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Love should come [ as ] naturally as people are TAUGHT to hate . ''
`` Even when it 's HATE from the POTUS , '' he added , referring to Trump by an acronym for President of the United States .
NASCAR in a statement later Monday said : `` We are proud to have Bubba Wallace in the NASCAR family and we commend his courage and leadership .
NASCAR continues to stand tall with Bubba , our competitors and everyone who makes our sport welcoming and inclusive for all racing fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Confederacy came amid a national reckoning over race and police brutality in the wake of the deaths of Floyd and other Black people by police .
Activists have called for states and localities to remove public statues of historical figures they view as problematic .
Some statues have been defaced or torn down by protesters .
Trump has been a vocal critic of the movement , decrying `` anarchists '' who harm monuments and threatening jail time for those who participate .
In his Independence Day speech at Mount Rushmore in South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a `` left-wing cultural revolution is designed to overthrow the American Revolution . ''
`` To make this possible , they are determined to tear down every statue , symbol and memory of our national heritage , '' Trump said .
Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden took a more nuanced view , saying at a recent press conference that he believes Confederate monuments could be moved to museums .
The debate over the flag in particular has not been limited to NASCAR .
Mississippi 's Republican governor last week signed into law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flag , which included the Confederate battle flag .
Correction : An earlier version of this article had an incorrect description of Mississippi 's former state flag .
The design included the Confederate battle flag .

Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 World Wide Technology Chevrolet, walks the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Powered by Big Machine Records at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 05, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Chris Graythen | Getty Images
President Donald Trump lashed out Monday at the NASCAR Cup series' only Black driver and ripped its ban on the Confederate battle flag. Trump asked in a tweet if 26-year-old Bubba Wallace has "apologized to all of those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid, stood by his side, & were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX?" Trump was referring to findings that what appeared to have been a noose found in Wallace's garage recently was a pull rope and not meant to intimidate the driver. It was not ruled a hoax, as the president claims. "That & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER!" the president added in a reference to NASCAR's move last month to prohibit displaying the Confederate battle flag. Trump TWEET Contrary to Trump's tweet, NASCAR's ratings have actually increased from previous years, according to Speed Report. The flag has been commonly displayed at NASCAR races for decades. NASCAR in 2015 had asked that fans not fly the flag following the slaughter in Charleston, South Carolina, of nine Black churchgoers by racist Dylan Roof, but many fans had ignored that request.
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Wallace, the only Black full-time driver on the NASCAR Cup circuit, has been an outspoken critic of the Confederate flag and has called on the racing organization to "get them out of" events. "No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race," Wallace said last month. Days later, NASCAR announced that "The display of the confederate flag will be prohibited from all NASCAR events and properties." NASCAR tweet The White House declined CNBC's request for comment on the president's tweet about the Confederate flag. But White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a Fox News interview Monday morning that Trump's tweet was intended to make "a broader point that this rush to judgment on the facts before the facts are out is not acceptable." In a press briefing later Monday, McEnany said that Trump's tweet "was not making a judgment one way or the other" on the Confederate flag. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Wallace had also spoken out after the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for about eight minutes. Floyd's death, which was captured on video, set off a wave of massive protests across the nation. In June, Wallace wore a shirt bearing the words "I Can't Breathe/Black Lives Matter" before a race in Atlanta. Later that month, NASCAR announced that a noose had been found in Wallace's garage stall at a race in Talladega, Alabama, and that it had launched an investigation. The discovery immediately stirred speculation that the noose was an act of retaliation. "There is no place for racism in NASCAR, and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all," the organization said in a statement at the time. Wallace, too, weighed in, tweeting that "the despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism."
A campaign sign for U.S. President Donald Trump sits beside a Confederate flag bearing the words "I ain't coming down" in the backyard of a home in Sandston, Virginia, U.S., July 4, 2020. Kevin Lemarque | Reuters


cnbc--2020-07-06--Amy Cooper, who called police on Black Central Park bird watcher, to be prosecuted, Manhattan DA say

Amy Cooper, who called police on Black Central Park bird watcher, to be prosecuted, Manhattan DA says

A White woman who was filmed in May reporting that `` an African American man '' was threatening her life in Central Park after he asked her to leash her dog will be prosecuted for making a false report , Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance , Jr. said Monday .
The video of Amy Cooper calling 911 was widely shared after it was posted online by the man , Christian Cooper , and his sister .
Amy Cooper , who is not related to Christian Cooper , was subsequently fired from her job at investment firm Franklin Templeton .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the history of Black men falsely accused of crimes against White women , took place on Memorial Day , the same day that George Floyd was killed in police custody in Minneapolis , setting off weeks of protests against systemic racism around the globe .
Vance said in a statement that Amy Cooper will face charges of falsely reporting an incident in the third degree .
If convicted , she could face between 15 days and one year in jail .
She is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 14 .
`` Our office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the case proceeds , '' Vance said .
`` At this time I would like to encourage anyone who has been the target of false reporting to contact our Office .
We are strongly committed to holding perpetrators of this conduct accountable . ''
Amy Cooper issued a public apology in late May , saying she `` reacted emotionally and made false assumptions about his intentions when , in fact , I was the one who was acting inappropriately by not having my dog on a leash . ''
She said Christian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her `` you 're not going to like what I 'm going to do next . ''
`` I assumed we were being threatened when all he had intended to do was record our encounter on his phone , '' she said in the apology .
`` I hope that a few mortifying seconds in a lifetime of forty years will not define me in his eyes and that he will accept my sincere apology , '' she added .
Robert Barnes , an attorney whose firm is based in Los Angeles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was representing Amy Cooper .
`` The rush to judgment is a curse of cancel culture .
Amy Cooper lost her job , her home , and her public life .
Now some demand she lose her freedom ? ''
he wrote in another tweet .
`` How many lives are we going to destroy over misunderstood 60-second videos on social media ? ''
In an interview with The New York Times that was published last month , Christian Cooper said that Amy Cooper 's actions tapped into a `` deep vein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is that deep vein of racial bias that keeps cropping up that led to much more serious events and much more serious repercussions than my little dust-up with Amy Cooper — the murder of George Floyd , the murder of Ahmaud Arbery , and before that Amadou Diallo and Patrick Dorismond and Eric Garner and Tamir Rice , '' he said .

A White woman who was filmed in May reporting that "an African American man" was threatening her life in Central Park after he asked her to leash her dog will be prosecuted for making a false report, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr. said Monday.
The video of Amy Cooper calling 911 was widely shared after it was posted online by the man, Christian Cooper, and his sister. Amy Cooper, who is not related to Christian Cooper, was subsequently fired from her job at investment firm Franklin Templeton.
The incident, which sparked nationwide conversations about the history of Black men falsely accused of crimes against White women, took place on Memorial Day, the same day that George Floyd was killed in police custody in Minneapolis, setting off weeks of protests against systemic racism around the globe.
Vance said in a statement that Amy Cooper will face charges of falsely reporting an incident in the third degree. If convicted, she could face between 15 days and one year in jail. She is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 14.
"Our office will provide the public with additional information as the case proceeds," Vance said. "At this time I would like to encourage anyone who has been the target of false reporting to contact our Office. We are strongly committed to holding perpetrators of this conduct accountable."
Amy Cooper issued a public apology in late May, saying she "reacted emotionally and made false assumptions about his intentions when, in fact, I was the one who was acting inappropriately by not having my dog on a leash."
She said Christian Cooper offered her dog treats and told her "you're not going to like what I'm going to do next."
"I assumed we were being threatened when all he had intended to do was record our encounter on his phone," she said in the apology.
"I hope that a few mortifying seconds in a lifetime of forty years will not define me in his eyes and that he will accept my sincere apology," she added.
Robert Barnes, an attorney whose firm is based in Los Angeles, said in a post on Twitter that he was representing Amy Cooper.
"The rush to judgment is a curse of cancel culture. Amy Cooper lost her job, her home, and her public life. Now some demand she lose her freedom?" he wrote in another tweet. "How many lives are we going to destroy over misunderstood 60-second videos on social media?"
In an interview with The New York Times that was published last month, Christian Cooper said that Amy Cooper's actions tapped into a "deep vein of racial bias."
"And it is that deep vein of racial bias that keeps cropping up that led to much more serious events and much more serious repercussions than my little dust-up with Amy Cooper — the murder of George Floyd, the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, and before that Amadou Diallo and Patrick Dorismond and Eric Garner and Tamir Rice," he said.


cnbc--2020-07-06--Texas GOP Rep. Brady argues against new virus closures, even as cases surge to record highs

Rep. Kevin Brady told CNBC on Monday that `` smart behaviors , '' such as wearing masks and social distancing , are the best ways to combat rising infections in his home state and 38 others , not closing the economy again .
`` The deadliest per-capita rates are in the 'lockdown states , ' New Jersey , New York , Massachusetts , Illinois , and Pennsylvania , '' the longtime Texas Republican said in a `` Squawk Box '' interview .
`` We are fortunate that the 'reopening states ' have some of the lowest Covid fatalities per person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the safest rates are in Texas , California , Florida , Georgia , Arizona . ''
The number of Covid-19 deaths per 100,000 people of population in New Jersey at 170.5 and in New York at 164.6 are the highest in the nation , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
However , those states were hard hit in the early days of the pandemic when little was known about the coronavirus and there were fewer treatment options .
Many of the deadly cases early were among the elderly who are at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a surge in a record number of cases are Texas and Florida , which have lower death rates of 9.1 per 100,000 and 17.4 , respectively .
However , possible fatalities in those states , which have not seen these kinds of spikes yet during the pandemic , could go higher .
One of the factors working in their favor is that many of the new cases in states such as Texas and Florida are younger people who are more apt to recover .
`` Not knocking New York or New Jersey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the deadliest per-capita fatality rates happen to be in those 'lockdown states ' and the safer ones are the 'reopening states , ' '' Brady said .
Texas and Florida were among the first states to relax statewide stay-at-home orders .
They allowed some businesses to resume operations in early May .
However , as cases started to spike last month , the Republican governors of Texas and Florida also became some of the first to slow or reverse reopening plans .
`` I think it was important for states to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a half , we saw a drop in infection rates and a drop in hospitalizations as well .
But since the Memorial Day , certainly you 've seen just the opposite , '' Brady said .
`` The next couple of weeks are critical . ''
Questioned over using total state death rates as an argument for reopening over lock downs , Brady said , `` Interwoven under all this is , 'Did states reopen too quickly ?
Should they go back to locking down their economies ? '
My answer is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected , I think everyone did , these flare ups . ''
`` The answer to this is not more locking down of the economy .
It is those smart behaviors , both by individuals and businesses , '' he added .
`` The debate is , 'Did states reopen [ too early ] and should we relock them ? '
My answer is I do n't believe that 's the solution . ''

Rep. Kevin Brady told CNBC on Monday that "smart behaviors," such as wearing masks and social distancing, are the best ways to combat rising infections in his home state and 38 others, not closing the economy again.
"The deadliest per-capita rates are in the 'lockdown states,' New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Pennsylvania," the longtime Texas Republican said in a "Squawk Box" interview. "We are fortunate that the 'reopening states' have some of the lowest Covid fatalities per person. Of the top 10 states, the safest rates are in Texas, California, Florida, Georgia, Arizona."
The number of Covid-19 deaths per 100,000 people of population in New Jersey at 170.5 and in New York at 164.6 are the highest in the nation, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. However, those states were hard hit in the early days of the pandemic when little was known about the coronavirus and there were fewer treatment options. Many of the deadly cases early were among the elderly who are at greater risks.
Among the states seeing a surge in a record number of cases are Texas and Florida, which have lower death rates of 9.1 per 100,000 and 17.4, respectively. However, possible fatalities in those states, which have not seen these kinds of spikes yet during the pandemic, could go higher. One of the factors working in their favor is that many of the new cases in states such as Texas and Florida are younger people who are more apt to recover.
"Not knocking New York or New Jersey, but ... the five [states] with the deadliest per-capita fatality rates happen to be in those 'lockdown states' and the safer ones are the 'reopening states,'" Brady said.
Texas and Florida were among the first states to relax statewide stay-at-home orders. They allowed some businesses to resume operations in early May. However, as cases started to spike last month, the Republican governors of Texas and Florida also became some of the first to slow or reverse reopening plans.
"I think it was important for states to reopen. And for the first month and a half, we saw a drop in infection rates and a drop in hospitalizations as well. But since the Memorial Day, certainly you've seen just the opposite," Brady said. "The next couple of weeks are critical."
Questioned over using total state death rates as an argument for reopening over lock downs, Brady said, "Interwoven under all this is, 'Did states reopen too quickly? Should they go back to locking down their economies?' My answer is, 'No they didn't.' We expected, I think everyone did, these flare ups."
"The answer to this is not more locking down of the economy. It is those smart behaviors, both by individuals and businesses," he added. "The debate is, 'Did states reopen [too early] and should we relock them?' My answer is I don't believe that's the solution."


cnbc--2020-07-06--Wealth management firms among those that have taken PPP loans during coronavirus pandemic

The government 's release of data on businesses that have participated in the Paycheck Protection Program confirms what many in the financial advice industry already knew : Wealth management firms were among those to have taken the government loans .
The data released by the Small Business Administration and Treasury Department on Monday included loans of more than $ 150,000 that were made through the PPP .
The loan program was created under the $ 2 trillion-plus CARES Act passed by Congress in March .
A list of the borrowers had not been revealed until Monday .
The government did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took less than $ 150,000 , in an effort to protect small businesses .
The average loan size was $ 107,000 , according to the SBA .
Loans of less than $ 150,000 represented 86.5 % of the loans granted .
More from FA Playbook : Op-ed : All types of investors can improve their financial fortunes Advisors guide clients through Covid-19 crisis Op-ed : CARES Act lets you tap your 401 ( k ) .
What to know first The list of bigger borrowers that was released includes wealth management firms across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their borrowing activity in their own public filings .
The move to take that money sparked debate within the industry .
Wealth management executives cited their need to protect their businesses , and therefore their clients , by shoring up their financial reserves in the face of a crisis .
Others argued financial advice firms are not facing the same dire circumstances as businesses in sectors that have been forced to shut down due to the pandemic .
`` I admire the firms that did n't do it , but I also do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did , '' said Philip Palaveev , CEO of The Ensemble Practice , which provides practice management programs and consulting services to financial advice firms .
For many firms , the urge to tap those government funds was probably driven by the Great Recession , when as much as a quarter to a third of the industry went through layoffs , Palaveev said .
`` In March and April , when the industry was looking at what was happening , I think many firms were thinking that this was going to be another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` So they did anything and everything that they could . ''
Another reason advisory firms were attracted to the loans : the attractive terms they offered .
`` There are many , many ways of financing , '' Palaveev said .
`` But in the sequence of decision making , nothing beats forgivable loans .
`` There is no form of financing that is as favorable or as desirable as forgivable loans . ''
Not all firms that participated in the program plan to ask for loan forgiveness .
Josh Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Management and a CNBC contributor , has publicly talked about the controversy taking a PPP loan caused for his firm .
After giving the loan back , Brown now says he would n't have taken the money in the first place due to negative attention .
However , accepting the money did n't take resources away from other businesses , he pointed out .
`` There 's $ 150 billion sitting the program , '' Brown said .
`` Right now .
`` Anybody who feels they need it can go borrow it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what 's the issue ? ''
The leftover funds now total about $ 132 billion , according to information the SBA released on Monday .
Who receives the money should n't get as much attention as who asks for forgiveness , Brown said .
His firm never had any intention of asking for forgiveness , he said .
The reason Brown 's firm took the loan was because the terms were so attractive : six months ' grace period before any repayment was due and a 1 % interest rate .
Following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been better off taking a regular line of credit from a bank , which they ultimately did .
Daniel Wiener , chairman of Adviser Investments , said his firm also applied for a PPP loan and was approved .
But Wiener and his firm had a change of heart before taking the loan .
Now , Wiener has become a vocal critic of registered investment advisory firms taking the money , which he said were doing so `` hand over fist . ''

Natasha Alipour Faridani | DigitalVision | Getty Images
The government's release of data on businesses that have participated in the Paycheck Protection Program confirms what many in the financial advice industry already knew: Wealth management firms were among those to have taken the government loans. The data released by the Small Business Administration and Treasury Department on Monday included loans of more than $150,000 that were made through the PPP. The loan program was created under the $2 trillion-plus CARES Act passed by Congress in March. A list of the borrowers had not been revealed until Monday. The government did not disclose the names of businesses that took less than $150,000, in an effort to protect small businesses. The average loan size was $107,000, according to the SBA. Loans of less than $150,000 represented 86.5% of the loans granted. More from FA Playbook:
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Op-ed: CARES Act lets you tap your 401(k). What to know first
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The list of bigger borrowers that was released includes wealth management firms across the country. Those firms also disclose their borrowing activity in their own public filings. The move to take that money sparked debate within the industry. Wealth management executives cited their need to protect their businesses, and therefore their clients, by shoring up their financial reserves in the face of a crisis. Others argued financial advice firms are not facing the same dire circumstances as businesses in sectors that have been forced to shut down due to the pandemic. "I admire the firms that didn't do it, but I also don't look down on the firms that did," said Philip Palaveev, CEO of The Ensemble Practice, which provides practice management programs and consulting services to financial advice firms.
Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards
For many firms, the urge to tap those government funds was probably driven by the Great Recession, when as much as a quarter to a third of the industry went through layoffs, Palaveev said. "In March and April, when the industry was looking at what was happening, I think many firms were thinking that this was going to be another version of 2008-2009," Palaveev said. "So they did anything and everything that they could." Another reason advisory firms were attracted to the loans: the attractive terms they offered. "There are many, many ways of financing," Palaveev said. "But in the sequence of decision making, nothing beats forgivable loans. "There is no form of financing that is as favorable or as desirable as forgivable loans."
Ethical questions raised
Not all firms that participated in the program plan to ask for loan forgiveness. Josh Brown, CEO and co-founder of Ritholtz Wealth Management and a CNBC contributor, has publicly talked about the controversy taking a PPP loan caused for his firm. After giving the loan back, Brown now says he wouldn't have taken the money in the first place due to negative attention. However, accepting the money didn't take resources away from other businesses, he pointed out. "There's $150 billion sitting the program," Brown said. "Right now.
This is for butchers, bakers and candlestick makers. This is not for RIAs. Daniel Wiener chairman of Adviser Investments
"Anybody who feels they need it can go borrow it," he added. "So what's the issue?" The leftover funds now total about $132 billion, according to information the SBA released on Monday. Who receives the money shouldn't get as much attention as who asks for forgiveness, Brown said. His firm never had any intention of asking for forgiveness, he said. The reason Brown's firm took the loan was because the terms were so attractive: six months' grace period before any repayment was due and a 1% interest rate. Following the controversy, Brown said his firm would have been better off taking a regular line of credit from a bank, which they ultimately did. Daniel Wiener, chairman of Adviser Investments, said his firm also applied for a PPP loan and was approved. But Wiener and his firm had a change of heart before taking the loan. Now, Wiener has become a vocal critic of registered investment advisory firms taking the money, which he said were doing so "hand over fist."
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cnbc--2020-07-06--Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana case sets back abortion foes' hopes of overturning Roe v. Wade

The Supreme Court 's 5-4 decision to strike down a restrictive Louisiana law is far from the final battle by abortion opponents in their fight to overturn Roe v. Wade .
Sponsored by an anti-abortion Democrat , Louisiana Act 620 was passed in 2014 .
State Sen. Katrina Jackson contended that its requirement that abortion providers have admitting privileges to hospitals within 30 miles of their clinic would protect women .
Challengers of the law , however , said the restriction would leave just one abortion provider at one clinic in a state with more than 4.5 million residents .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion or overturning Roe vs. Wade .
I have a path that looks at that , '' said Jackson .
`` But I also know that I have a responsibility as a woman , as a legislator , to make sure that when a woman elects to have an abortion , while Roe vs. Wade is still the law , that they have safe choices . ''
The case before the Supreme Court , June Medical Services LLC v. Russo , was nearly identical to a Texas case the court struck down in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ v. Hellerstedt , it held that a state 's admitting privileges requirement did not advance women 's health and imposed an undue burden on women seeking an abortion .
Louisiana lawmakers , with the help of the anti-abortion organization Americans United for Life , pursued the law claiming the facts were drastically different than in Texas .
`` If something had happened to me , you 'd better believe that I would 've wanted to be able to go right into an O.R .
for surgery so that if my uterus had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perforated , I would get every possible chance to save my life , '' said Catherine Glenn Foster , president and CEO of Americans United for Life .
`` Women deserve that . ''
In an amicus brief against Act 620 , leading medical associations wrote that abortions are extremely safe and rarely require hospital admission .
They argued that continuity of care between clinics and hospitals is achieved through emergency protocols and communication , not through outpatient clinicians having hospital admitting privileges , something the plaintiff has held in the Texas and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of its restrictions on abortion are about protecting women and children , but we know that 's not true because Louisiana has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the country , '' said Julie Rikelman , lead attorney from Center for Reproductive Rights .
`` It has one of the worst indicators for child health in the country .
And so instead of actually enacting laws and putting into place policies that would protect women and children , they are just trying to take people 's decisions away . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a win for abortion rights groups .
However , the 5-4 ruling , in which Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the court 's liberals and newly appointed conservative Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch dissented , could be a sign for deeper polarization and litigation ahead .
`` Anyone who reads this and thinks that abortion rights are safe now was just not paying attention , '' said abortion law expert Mary Ziegler of the Florida State University College of Law .

The Supreme Court's 5-4 decision to strike down a restrictive Louisiana law is far from the final battle by abortion opponents in their fight to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Sponsored by an anti-abortion Democrat, Louisiana Act 620 was passed in 2014. State Sen. Katrina Jackson contended that its requirement that abortion providers have admitting privileges to hospitals within 30 miles of their clinic would protect women. Challengers of the law, however, said the restriction would leave just one abortion provider at one clinic in a state with more than 4.5 million residents.
"This case was not about decriminalizing abortion or overturning Roe vs. Wade. I have a path that looks at that," said Jackson. "But I also know that I have a responsibility as a woman, as a legislator, to make sure that when a woman elects to have an abortion, while Roe vs. Wade is still the law, that they have safe choices."
The case before the Supreme Court, June Medical Services LLC v. Russo, was nearly identical to a Texas case the court struck down in 2016. In Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, it held that a state's admitting privileges requirement did not advance women's health and imposed an undue burden on women seeking an abortion. Louisiana lawmakers, with the help of the anti-abortion organization Americans United for Life, pursued the law claiming the facts were drastically different than in Texas.
"If something had happened to me, you'd better believe that I would've wanted to be able to go right into an O.R. for surgery so that if my uterus had been perforated, if my bowel had been perforated, I would get every possible chance to save my life," said Catherine Glenn Foster, president and CEO of Americans United for Life. "Women deserve that."
In an amicus brief against Act 620, leading medical associations wrote that abortions are extremely safe and rarely require hospital admission. They argued that continuity of care between clinics and hospitals is achieved through emergency protocols and communication, not through outpatient clinicians having hospital admitting privileges, something the plaintiff has held in the Texas and Louisiana case.
"Louisiana says that many of its restrictions on abortion are about protecting women and children, but we know that's not true because Louisiana has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the country," said Julie Rikelman, lead attorney from Center for Reproductive Rights. "It has one of the worst indicators for child health in the country. And so instead of actually enacting laws and putting into place policies that would protect women and children, they are just trying to take people's decisions away."
Monday's decision by the Supreme Court is a win for abortion rights groups. However, the 5-4 ruling, in which Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the court's liberals and newly appointed conservative Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch dissented, could be a sign for deeper polarization and litigation ahead.
"Anyone who reads this and thinks that abortion rights are safe now was just not paying attention," said abortion law expert Mary Ziegler of the Florida State University College of Law.


cnbc--2020-07-07--Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says she tested positive for coronavirus

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms , who is reportedly in the running to become the running mate to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , said Monday she has tested positive for the coronavirus .
`` COVID-19 has literally hit home , '' Bottoms said in a tweet .
`` I have had NO symptoms and have tested positive . ''
She later said on CNN that one of her children has also tested positive .
In the interview , Bottoms said she had recently experienced symptoms similar to seasonal allergies , including a headache and a mild dry cough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as signs of Covid-19 .
`` I do n't have any idea how we were exposed , '' she said .
`` I 'm stunned . ''
Bottoms , 50 , has gained national attention in recent weeks for her handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the nationwide protest movement against police brutality and racism , both of which have had major impacts on Atlanta .
Neither the Atlanta mayor 's office nor the Biden campaign immediately responded to CNBC 's requests for comment on Bottoms ' tweet .
Bottoms has been an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Brian Kemp , whom she accused of rushing the process of lifting the strict social distancing measures put in place to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Last month , Bottoms ' city became a hot spot for the civil unrest over race and law enforcement that had already boiled over across the country in the wake of George Floyd 's killing in Minneapolis .
Protesters and rioters burned down a Wendy 's fast-food restaurant in Atlanta where a white officer on June 12 shot Rayshard Brooks , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wheel of his car in the drive-thru lane .
Brooks , 27 , fought with two officers after being questioned at length about his sobriety .
Footage of the incident showed him grabbing one of the officers ' stun guns and fleeing , then appearing to turn and point the device at an officer who pulled out his firearm and shot Brooks .
Both former officers involved in the incident have been charged .
`` That could have been any one of us , '' Bottoms said in an interview days after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any of our kids or brothers .
In this case it was : It was someone 's father . ''
Bottoms had previously been floated as a possible vice presidential pick by Rep. Jim Clyburn , D-S.C. , the influential House Majority Whip whose endorsement of Biden during the contentious primary season was seen as an inflection point in the race for the Democratic nomination .
`` There is a young lady right there in Georgia who I think would make a tremendous VP candidate , and that 's the mayor of Atlanta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Political betting markets have since put the Atlanta mayor near the top of the running to become the VP pick for Biden , who has already vowed to choose a woman as his veep .
Biden is expected to announce his selection by early August .
Bottoms is hardly the first politician to be diagnosed with Covid-19 .
More than half a dozen members of Congress have tested positive for the highly contagious disease , and most lawmakers have taken at least some preventive steps to protect themselves and others from @ @ @

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is reportedly in the running to become the running mate to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, said Monday she has tested positive for the coronavirus.
"COVID-19 has literally hit home," Bottoms said in a tweet. "I have had NO symptoms and have tested positive."
She later said on CNN that one of her children has also tested positive. In the interview, Bottoms said she had recently experienced symptoms similar to seasonal allergies, including a headache and a mild dry cough, and did not initially recognize them as signs of Covid-19.
"I don't have any idea how we were exposed," she said. "I'm stunned."
Bottoms, 50, has gained national attention in recent weeks for her handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the nationwide protest movement against police brutality and racism, both of which have had major impacts on Atlanta.
Neither the Atlanta mayor's office nor the Biden campaign immediately responded to CNBC's requests for comment on Bottoms' tweet.
Bottoms has been an outspoken critic of Georgia's Republican governor, Brian Kemp, whom she accused of rushing the process of lifting the strict social distancing measures put in place to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Last month, Bottoms' city became a hot spot for the civil unrest over race and law enforcement that had already boiled over across the country in the wake of George Floyd's killing in Minneapolis.
Protesters and rioters burned down a Wendy's fast-food restaurant in Atlanta where a white officer on June 12 shot Rayshard Brooks, a Black man who had fallen asleep at the wheel of his car in the drive-thru lane.
Brooks, 27, fought with two officers after being questioned at length about his sobriety. Footage of the incident showed him grabbing one of the officers' stun guns and fleeing, then appearing to turn and point the device at an officer who pulled out his firearm and shot Brooks. Both former officers involved in the incident have been charged.
"That could have been any one of us," Bottoms said in an interview days after the incident. "That could be any of our kids or brothers. In this case it was: It was someone's father."
Bottoms had previously been floated as a possible vice presidential pick by Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., the influential House Majority Whip whose endorsement of Biden during the contentious primary season was seen as an inflection point in the race for the Democratic nomination.
"There is a young lady right there in Georgia who I think would make a tremendous VP candidate, and that's the mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms," Clyburn said.
Political betting markets have since put the Atlanta mayor near the top of the running to become the VP pick for Biden, who has already vowed to choose a woman as his veep. Biden is expected to announce his selection by early August.
Bottoms is hardly the first politician to be diagnosed with Covid-19. More than half a dozen members of Congress have tested positive for the highly contagious disease, and most lawmakers have taken at least some preventive steps to protect themselves and others from catching it.


cnbc--2020-07-07--Small business coronavirus relief loan database contains some big errors, firms say

They ca n't show you the money because they did n't get it — despite what the government says .
Several companies that purportedly received forgivable loans as part of a federal relief program said that they did not apply for — much less get — the funds that are detailed in a database of loans released Monday .
That database includes information about the lion 's share of $ 521 billion so far approved under the Paycheck Protection Program , which is aimed at helping small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic .
The data released Monday reflects the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for at least $ 150,000 in loans under the program .
While that tally is just a small fraction of the nearly 5 million companies that were approved for PPP funds – most were approved for under $ 150,000 – it is large enough to potentially contain a variety of data errors .
The venture capital firms Index Ventures and Foundation Capital , along with the scooter company Bird , said that they did not apply for PPP funds , despite being listed in the database as having been approved for millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federally run program .
And a woman who lives in the Milwaukee area told CNBC she was surprised to be listed in the database released by the Small Business Administration as having been approved for a loan ranging from $ 5 million to $ 10 million .
The woman , 72-year-old Geraldine Brimley , had applied for a PPP loan of about $ 9,300 through Radius Bank and received a little less $ 2,300 .
She runs a small company that delivers mail to rural customers of the U.S .
Postal Service .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked Brimley when told that her name was listed as having been approved for a loan of $ 5 million or more .
`` How do they make a mistake like that ? ''
`` I could use it , '' she quipped , referring to the large amount of money that she did not actually get .
Kathleen Barrett , a spokeswoman for Radius Bank , said that when Brimley or someone acting on her behalf applied online for the loan , extra `` zeros '' were accidentally input in one section @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like she had asked for $ 9 million .
Barrett said that Radius , when it looked at the application , saw from the paperwork that Brimley submitted that she was only actually seeking $ 9,000 , and that the bank fixed the mistake referring to the higher amount before processing the loan .
Barrett said that while the SBA 's database that was publicly released Monday contains an incorrect , much higher range that was approved by the bank , an internal database contains the correct , lower amount that she actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SBA side appears to be delayed or incorrect , '' Barrett said .
An SBA spokesman declined to comment to CNBC about Brimley 's case , or the ones involving the firms who said they did not get loans .

They can't show you the money because they didn't get it — despite what the government says.
Several companies that purportedly received forgivable loans as part of a federal relief program said that they did not apply for — much less get — the funds that are detailed in a database of loans released Monday.
That database includes information about the lion's share of $521 billion so far approved under the Paycheck Protection Program, which is aimed at helping small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The data released Monday reflects the more than 661,000 firms that were approved for at least $150,000 in loans under the program. While that tally is just a small fraction of the nearly 5 million companies that were approved for PPP funds – most were approved for under $150,000 – it is large enough to potentially contain a variety of data errors.
The venture capital firms Index Ventures and Foundation Capital, along with the scooter company Bird, said that they did not apply for PPP funds, despite being listed in the database as having been approved for millions of dollars of funds from banks under that federally run program.
And a woman who lives in the Milwaukee area told CNBC she was surprised to be listed in the database released by the Small Business Administration as having been approved for a loan ranging from $5 million to $10 million.
The woman, 72-year-old Geraldine Brimley, had applied for a PPP loan of about $9,300 through Radius Bank and received a little less $2,300. She runs a small company that delivers mail to rural customers of the U.S. Postal Service.
"How did that happen?" asked Brimley when told that her name was listed as having been approved for a loan of $5 million or more. "How do they make a mistake like that?"
"I could use it," she quipped, referring to the large amount of money that she did not actually get.
Kathleen Barrett, a spokeswoman for Radius Bank, said that when Brimley or someone acting on her behalf applied online for the loan, extra "zeros" were accidentally input in one section of the application, making it seem like she had asked for $9 million.
Barrett said that Radius, when it looked at the application, saw from the paperwork that Brimley submitted that she was only actually seeking $9,000, and that the bank fixed the mistake referring to the higher amount before processing the loan.
Barrett said that while the SBA's database that was publicly released Monday contains an incorrect, much higher range that was approved by the bank, an internal database contains the correct, lower amount that she actually received.
"The reporting on the SBA side appears to be delayed or incorrect," Barrett said.
An SBA spokesman declined to comment to CNBC about Brimley's case, or the ones involving the firms who said they did not get loans.


cnbc--2020-07-07--Trump vows to pressure governors to reopen schools in the fall

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the White House plans to pressure state governors and educators to reopen schools in the fall , despite a soaring rate of coronavirus infections in several states and an overall increase nationwide .
`` We 're very much going to put pressure on the governors and the schools to reopen , '' Trump said at a White House event Tuesday on school reopenings .
`` Open your schools in the fall , '' the president told attendees , who were seated close together despite the fact that very few were wearing masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen schools has become one of the thorniest issues of the entire national response to the deadly pandemic .
More than 50 million children attend school in the United States , and the near blanket closures of schools this spring forced millions of parents to become teachers overnight , often on top of holding down their own full-time jobs .
As the traditional start of the school year approaches , there are few concrete plans in place at either the state or the federal level about how to open schools safely .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soared to record levels in the past week , parents and educators have become increasingly anxious about whether there is any way to make in-person school safe for both students and teachers .
According to experts , decisions about whether to reopen school systems should be made at the local level in most cases , although they stress that schools across the nation will need additional federal funding in order to retrofit classrooms and common areas to accommodate social distancing .
`` We should try the best as possible to get the children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the simple reason that the secondary , unintended consequences of having children not being able to go to school has ripple effects for the family that might have deleterious effects that really override the so-called safety benefits , '' said Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's premier infectious disease specialist , during a livestreamed event Tuesday with Democratic Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama .
`` So you do n't want to be risking the health of the children or their families , but you 've got to follow the guidelines depending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the community , '' said Fauci .
In some counties with few or no coronavirus cases , officials and parents might not need to worry much about reopening schools , Fauci said .
He added that in other counties , modifications might be necessary to reduce the risk of spread such as staggering class schedules to reduce density in school buildings .
But for Trump , who faces an uphill battle for reelection , the question of whether schools reopen in the fall is quickly becoming one the president is weaponizing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several weeks , Trump has begun accusing his Democratic opponent , former Vice President Joe Biden , of deliberately trying to keep schools closed for no reason other than to damage Trump 's reelection prospects .
`` Educators want nothing more than to be back in classrooms and on college campuses with our students , but we must do it in a way that keeps students , educators and communities safe , '' said Lily Eskelsen Garcia , a sixth-grade teacher and president of the 3 million-member National Education Association , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one should listen to Donald Trump or Betsy DeVos when it comes to what is best for students .
Trump has not once proven credible , compassionate or thoughtful when it comes to this pandemic , '' said Eskelsen Garcia , also referring to the Education secretary .
Fauci has been careful not to underestimate the potential risk to families of reopening schools .
While young people are less likely to develop serious illnesses from Covid-19 , Fauci warned earlier this week that the virus could still `` put them out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' They should also remember that when they are infected , there 's the likelihood that they could spread the disease to people who are at high risk of serious illness , he said .
`` They could infect someone who infects someone , and then all of a sudden someone 's grandmother , grandfather or aunt who 's getting chemotherapy for breast cancer gets infected , '' Fauci said .
`` You 're part of the propagation of the pandemic , so it 's your responsibility to yourself as well as to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNBC 's Will Feuer contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the White House plans to pressure state governors and educators to reopen schools in the fall, despite a soaring rate of coronavirus infections in several states and an overall increase nationwide.
"We're very much going to put pressure on the governors and the schools to reopen," Trump said at a White House event Tuesday on school reopenings. "Open your schools in the fall," the president told attendees, who were seated close together despite the fact that very few were wearing masks.
The question of just how to reopen schools has become one of the thorniest issues of the entire national response to the deadly pandemic.
More than 50 million children attend school in the United States, and the near blanket closures of schools this spring forced millions of parents to become teachers overnight, often on top of holding down their own full-time jobs.
As the traditional start of the school year approaches, there are few concrete plans in place at either the state or the federal level about how to open schools safely. And as the rate of coronavirus cases has soared to record levels in the past week, parents and educators have become increasingly anxious about whether there is any way to make in-person school safe for both students and teachers.
According to experts, decisions about whether to reopen school systems should be made at the local level in most cases, although they stress that schools across the nation will need additional federal funding in order to retrofit classrooms and common areas to accommodate social distancing.
"We should try the best as possible to get the children back to school and the schools open for the simple reason that the secondary, unintended consequences of having children not being able to go to school has ripple effects for the family that might have deleterious effects that really override the so-called safety benefits," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's premier infectious disease specialist, during a livestreamed event Tuesday with Democratic Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama.
"So you don't want to be risking the health of the children or their families, but you've got to follow the guidelines depending upon the level and penetrance of infection in the community," said Fauci.
In some counties with few or no coronavirus cases, officials and parents might not need to worry much about reopening schools, Fauci said. He added that in other counties, modifications might be necessary to reduce the risk of spread such as staggering class schedules to reduce density in school buildings.
But for Trump, who faces an uphill battle for reelection, the question of whether schools reopen in the fall is quickly becoming one the president is weaponizing to serve his campaign. Over the past several weeks, Trump has begun accusing his Democratic opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, of deliberately trying to keep schools closed for no reason other than to damage Trump's reelection prospects.
TRUMP TWEET
"Educators want nothing more than to be back in classrooms and on college campuses with our students, but we must do it in a way that keeps students, educators and communities safe," said Lily Eskelsen Garcia, a sixth-grade teacher and president of the 3 million-member National Education Association, in a statement Tuesday.
"The reality is no one should listen to Donald Trump or Betsy DeVos when it comes to what is best for students. Trump has not once proven credible, compassionate or thoughtful when it comes to this pandemic," said Eskelsen Garcia, also referring to the Education secretary.
Fauci has been careful not to underestimate the potential risk to families of reopening schools. While young people are less likely to develop serious illnesses from Covid-19, Fauci warned earlier this week that the virus could still "put them out of action for weeks at a time."
They should also remember that when they are infected, there's the likelihood that they could spread the disease to people who are at high risk of serious illness, he said.
"They could infect someone who infects someone, and then all of a sudden someone's grandmother, grandfather or aunt who's getting chemotherapy for breast cancer gets infected," Fauci said.
"You're part of the propagation of the pandemic, so it's your responsibility to yourself as well as to society to avoid infection."
— CNBC's Will Feuer contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-07-07--Mary Trump tell-all paints president as a 'narcissist' who is 'lost to his own delusional spin'

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is a textbook narcissist and his late father , the real estate developer Fred Trump Sr. , was a sociopath , writes the president 's niece , Mary Trump , a clinical psychologist and the author of the forthcoming `` Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man . ''
The highly anticipated family tell-all is due to be released next Tuesday .
CNBC has obtained an advance copy of the manuscript .
At the root of President Trump 's narcissism , writes his estranged niece , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the emotional abuse Trump suffered at the hands of his father and by his mother 's absence due to a lengthy illness .
Lying , cheating and hiding one 's true feelings were all rewarded in the Trump household , Mary Trump writes , and as a result of this , these behaviors are all fundamental parts of President Trump 's personality .
For her uncle , `` lying was primarily a mode of self-aggrandizement meant to convince other people he was better than he actually was , '' writes Mary Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ own accomplishments regularly , even under the harsh glare of the presidential spotlight , where his claims are swiftly disproved .
Trump 's lies are also well documented .
According to The Washington Post 's fact checkers , between his inauguration in January 2017 and April of this year , Trump has made a staggering total of 18,000 false statements .
As for Trump 's cheating , Mary Trump writes that it dates all the way back to his teen years , when she alleges that her uncle paid someone to take the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his place .
On Tuesday , White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews denied that Trump had paid someone to take the SATs for him , calling the claim , `` completely false . ''
Matthews also disputed Mary Trump 's characterization of the president 's relationship with his father .
`` The President describes the relationship he had with his father as warm and said his father was very good to him , '' said Matthews .
`` He said his father was loving and not at all hard on him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Trump 's brother Robert Trump filed a lawsuit seeking to bar the book 's publication , on the grounds that it violated a confidentiality agreement that Mary Trump had signed decades ago .
The suit is still pending , but the book 's publisher , Simon and Schuster , told a judge last week that thousands of copies of the book had already been shipped out , making it all but impossible to prevent the book 's contents from being made public .
The book is one part tragic family memoir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's personality .
`` By limiting Donald 's access to his own feelings and rendering many of them unacceptable , Fred [ Trump Sr. ] perverted his son 's perception of the world and damaged his ability to live in it , '' writes the president 's niece .
Elsewhere she writes , `` Nothing is ever enough .
This is far beyond garden-variety narcissism ; Donald is not simply weak , his ego is a fragile thing that must be bolstered every moment because he knows deep down that he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` The fact is , Donald 's pathologies are so complex and his behaviors so often inexplicable that coming up with an accurate and comprehensive diagnosis would require a full battery of psychological and neuro-physical tests , that he 'll never sit for , '' she writes at another point in the book .
Mary Trump also describes her uncle as having been sheltered from the real world and from the consequences of his own behavior .
`` Donald has been institutionalized for most of his adult life , so there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would thrive , or even survive , on his own in the real world . ''
Trump , 74 , has also been enabled throughout his life , she writes , by people who have permitted him to violate rules and mores with impunity .
Trump 's presidency and the multiple crises currently engulfing the nation , Mary Trump writes , are the `` end result of Donald 's having continually been given a pass and rewarded not just for his failures but for his transgressions — against tradition , against decency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human beings . ''
Mary Trump levels especially sharp criticism at her uncle 's handling of the global coronavirus pandemic , which has so far infected almost 3 million Americans and claimed the lives of nearly 130,000 .
According to his niece , Trump was unable to acknowledge the threat of the coronavirus pandemic early this year because `` in Donald 's mind , even acknowledging an inevitable threat would indicate weakness . ''
She adds : `` Taking responsibility would open him up to blame .
Being a hero — being good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The past six months of the pandemic , says Mary Trump , have revealed the president to be a `` petty , pathetic little man — ignorant , incapable , out of his depth , and lost in his own delusional spin . ''
`` He 'll withhold ventilators or steal supplies from states that have not groveled sufficiently , '' she writes , adding : `` What Donald thinks is justified retaliation is , in this context , mass murder . ''
Trump repeatedly complained this spring about governors he felt had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states acquire lifesaving coronavirus supplies .
In March , Trump said he had instructed Vice President Mike Pence not to reach out to governors who were not `` appreciative '' enough of what the Trump administration had done for their states .
`` If they do n't treat you right , I do n't call , '' Trump said .
`` I say , 'Mike , do n't call the governor of Washington .
You 're wasting your time with him .
Do n't call the woman in Michigan .
It does n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump said , referring to Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee and Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer .
For Mary Trump , the dynamic she observed between Trump and the governors during the pandemic was a familiar one .
Her father , Fred Trump Jr. , `` could n't retaliate when his little brother mocked his passion for flying because of his filial responsibility and his decency , just as governors in blue states , desperate to get adequate help for their citizens during the COVID-19 crisis , are constrained from calling out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withhold ventilators and other supplies needed in order to save lives , '' she writes .
`` Donald learned a long time ago how to pick his targets . ''
`` Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World 's Most Dangerous Man , '' is scheduled for release on July 14 , two weeks earlier than the July 28 date the publisher had originally announced .

Donald Trump and his father, Fred Trump, at the opening of Wollman Rink in Manhattan's Central Park in 1987. Dennis Caruso | New York Daily News | Getty Images
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is a textbook narcissist and his late father, the real estate developer Fred Trump Sr., was a sociopath, writes the president's niece, Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist and the author of the forthcoming "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man." The highly anticipated family tell-all is due to be released next Tuesday. CNBC has obtained an advance copy of the manuscript. At the root of President Trump's narcissism, writes his estranged niece, is a childhood that was scarred by the emotional abuse Trump suffered at the hands of his father and by his mother's absence due to a lengthy illness. Lying, cheating and hiding one's true feelings were all rewarded in the Trump household, Mary Trump writes, and as a result of this, these behaviors are all fundamental parts of President Trump's personality. For her uncle, "lying was primarily a mode of self-aggrandizement meant to convince other people he was better than he actually was," writes Mary Trump. To this day, Trump exaggerates his own accomplishments regularly, even under the harsh glare of the presidential spotlight, where his claims are swiftly disproved. Trump's lies are also well documented. According to The Washington Post's fact checkers, between his inauguration in January 2017 and April of this year, Trump has made a staggering total of 18,000 false statements. As for Trump's cheating, Mary Trump writes that it dates all the way back to his teen years, when she alleges that her uncle paid someone to take the college entrance exam, the SAT, in his place.
Mary L. Trump Source: Peter Serling, copyright 2020
On Tuesday, White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews denied that Trump had paid someone to take the SATs for him, calling the claim, "completely false." Matthews also disputed Mary Trump's characterization of the president's relationship with his father. "The President describes the relationship he had with his father as warm and said his father was very good to him," said Matthews. "He said his father was loving and not at all hard on him as a child." In June, President Trump's brother Robert Trump filed a lawsuit seeking to bar the book's publication, on the grounds that it violated a confidentiality agreement that Mary Trump had signed decades ago. The suit is still pending, but the book's publisher, Simon and Schuster, told a judge last week that thousands of copies of the book had already been shipped out, making it all but impossible to prevent the book's contents from being made public.
A psychological portrait
The book is one part tragic family memoir and another part clinical analysis of President Trump's personality. "By limiting Donald's access to his own feelings and rendering many of them unacceptable, Fred [Trump Sr.] perverted his son's perception of the world and damaged his ability to live in it," writes the president's niece. Elsewhere she writes, "Nothing is ever enough. This is far beyond garden-variety narcissism; Donald is not simply weak, his ego is a fragile thing that must be bolstered every moment because he knows deep down that he is nothing of what he claims to be." "The fact is, Donald's pathologies are so complex and his behaviors so often inexplicable that coming up with an accurate and comprehensive diagnosis would require a full battery of psychological and neuro-physical tests, that he'll never sit for," she writes at another point in the book. Mary Trump also describes her uncle as having been sheltered from the real world and from the consequences of his own behavior. "Donald has been institutionalized for most of his adult life, so there is no way to know how he would thrive, or even survive, on his own in the real world."
Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump Source: Simon and Schuster
Trump, 74, has also been enabled throughout his life, she writes, by people who have permitted him to violate rules and mores with impunity. Trump's presidency and the multiple crises currently engulfing the nation, Mary Trump writes, are the "end result of Donald's having continually been given a pass and rewarded not just for his failures but for his transgressions — against tradition, against decency, against the law, and against fellow human beings."
Trump's coronavirus response


cnbc--2020-07-07--Companies with Trump ties got coronavirus small business loans

U.S. President Donald Trump hosts an event on reopening schools amid the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) pandemic in the East Room at the White House in Washington , U.S. , July 7 , 2020 .
Multiple businesses with ties to President Donald Trump received millions of dollars in small business relief loans backed by the administration .
Trump is linked to the firms and their executives through business deals conducted with his company , the Trump Organization , as well as through financial support for his 2016 run for president , his inauguration and his 2020 reelection campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were approved for Paycheck Protection Program loans were revealed on Monday by the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration .
Loans went to companies both small and large as the coronavirus pandemic swept through the country .
Other businesses that are led by people with strong allegiances to the president received aid , as well .
An analysis by the Associated Press shows that as much as $ 273 million was loaned to more than 100 companies that are owned or operated by donors to Trump .
G.H .
Palmer Associates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump backer Geoffrey Palmer , was approved for a loan .
The company is listed as `` G.H .
Palmer Inc. '' on the list of loans that were distributed , but the address of the company matches that of Palmer 's real estate firm in Beverly Hills , California .
The company was approved for a loan worth $ 350,000 to $ 1 million .
Palmer has been close to Trump for years .
He was one of many corporate leaders of Trump 's coronavirus business advisory council and has combined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-Trump super PAC America First Action , according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics .
Dezer Development , a real estate company founded by Michael Dezer , says on its website that it has the same address as Trump International Beach Resort in Miami , Florida .
The Dezer website says that its `` branded real estate portfolio includes six-Trump branded towers . ''
Dezer got between $ 350,000 and $ 1 million from PPP .
Then there 's White Stallion Energy , a coal mining company out of Indiana , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coal executive reportedly met with former EPA chief Scott Pruitt to discuss the softening of a pollution law .
White Stallion gave $ 175,000 to Trump 's inaugural committee .
Below , he is shown shaking Trump 's hand , along with Indiana Sen. Mike Braun , when the president visited the state in 2018 .
White Stallion saw between $ 5 million and $ 10 million in PPP loans .
The business executives mentioned in this story did not respond to requests for comment .

U.S. President Donald Trump hosts an event on reopening schools amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 7, 2020.
Multiple businesses with ties to President Donald Trump received millions of dollars in small business relief loans backed by the administration.
Trump is linked to the firms and their executives through business deals conducted with his company, the Trump Organization, as well as through financial support for his 2016 run for president, his inauguration and his 2020 reelection campaign.
The names of more than 660,000 businesses that were approved for Paycheck Protection Program loans were revealed on Monday by the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration. Loans went to companies both small and large as the coronavirus pandemic swept through the country.
Other businesses that are led by people with strong allegiances to the president received aid, as well. An analysis by the Associated Press shows that as much as $273 million was loaned to more than 100 companies that are owned or operated by donors to Trump.
G.H. Palmer Associates, a real estate firm run by longtime Trump backer Geoffrey Palmer, was approved for a loan. The company is listed as "G.H. Palmer Inc." on the list of loans that were distributed, but the address of the company matches that of Palmer's real estate firm in Beverly Hills, California. The company was approved for a loan worth $350,000 to $1 million.
Palmer has been close to Trump for years. He was one of many corporate leaders of Trump's coronavirus business advisory council and has combined to give at least $4 million to pro-Trump super PAC America First Action, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
Dezer Development, a real estate company founded by Michael Dezer, says on its website that it has the same address as Trump International Beach Resort in Miami, Florida. The Dezer website says that its "branded real estate portfolio includes six-Trump branded towers." Dezer got between $350,000 and $1 million from PPP.
Then there's White Stallion Energy, a coal mining company out of Indiana, which is owned by Steven Chancellor. The coal executive reportedly met with former EPA chief Scott Pruitt to discuss the softening of a pollution law. White Stallion gave $175,000 to Trump's inaugural committee. Below, he is shown shaking Trump's hand, along with Indiana Sen. Mike Braun, when the president visited the state in 2018. White Stallion saw between $5 million and $10 million in PPP loans.
The business executives mentioned in this story did not respond to requests for comment.


cnbc--2020-07-07--White House begins the process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization

President Donald Trump speaks to journalists in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House July 2 , 2020 .
The president addressed reports that the unemployment rate fell to 11.1 % .
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has submitted to the U.N. secretary-general its notice to withdraw from the World Health Organization by July 6 , 2021 , a senior administration official confirmed to CNBC .
The notice to the United Nations was the first step in a yearlong process that will rely on several factors outside of Trump 's control , including cooperation from Congress and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neither of which are assured .
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said he would have the U.S. rejoin the WHO on day one of his presidency , were he to defeat Trump this November .
The move comes as coronavirus cases are again surging in the United States .
Nearly 3 million people in the nation have contracted the disease , while more than 130,000 have died , according to a Johns Hopkins University tally .
Worldwide , the virus has infected about 11.7 million and killed more than 540,000 .
Whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. law to withdraw from the WHO , which is the health agency of the U.N. , is the subject of scholarly debate , according to a June report from the Congressional Research Service .
Answering that question would require a court to `` confront several complicated issues of first impression , '' the nonpartisan organization found .
In April , Trump said that he had suspended U.S. funding to the organization pending a review , citing what he called `` the World Health Organization 's role in severely mismanaging and covering up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A month later , he announced his intentions to leave the organization amid the coronavirus pandemic , citing what he called the WHO 's misuse of funding and its cozy relationship with China .
The coronavirus is widely believed to have originated from China .
`` China has total control over the World Health Organization , despite only paying $ 40 million per year compared to what the United States has been paying , which is approximately $ 450 million a year , '' Trump explained during remarks made in the Rose Garden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it must make and engage with them directly , but they have refused to act .
Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms , we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving , urgent , global public health needs , '' he added at the time .
On the heels of Trump 's Rose Garden remarks , the State Department began redirecting funds from the World Health Organization to other global health organizations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the WHO needs to get its act together .
That starts with demonstrating significant progress and the ability to prevent , detect , and respond to infectious disease outbreaks with transparency and accountability , '' a State Department spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement to CNBC Tuesday evening .
`` The United States will continue efforts to reform the WHO and other international organizations to ensure they operate with transparency , fulfill their mandates , and hold governments accountable for their commitments under international law . ''
In an emailed statement to CNBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports of the formal notification from the White House but did not provide further details .
The decision to end the partnership between the United States and the WHO has drawn criticism from congressional lawmakers .
Earlier this month , House Republicans argued that the United States would be able to have a bigger impact on the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic if the country remained part of the international group .
-- CNBC 's Yelena Dzhanova and Tucker Higgins contributed to this report from New York .
Correction : Nearly 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus , according to a Johns Hopkins University tally .
An earlier version misstated the figure .

President Donald Trump speaks to journalists in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House July 2, 2020. The president addressed reports that the unemployment rate fell to 11.1%.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has submitted to the U.N. secretary-general its notice to withdraw from the World Health Organization by July 6, 2021, a senior administration official confirmed to CNBC.
The notice to the United Nations was the first step in a yearlong process that will rely on several factors outside of Trump's control, including cooperation from Congress and the president's own reelection in November, neither of which are assured.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said he would have the U.S. rejoin the WHO on day one of his presidency, were he to defeat Trump this November.
Biden tweet
The move comes as coronavirus cases are again surging in the United States. Nearly 3 million people in the nation have contracted the disease, while more than 130,000 have died, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally. Worldwide, the virus has infected about 11.7 million and killed more than 540,000.
Whether the president has the unilateral authority under U.S. law to withdraw from the WHO, which is the health agency of the U.N., is the subject of scholarly debate, according to a June report from the Congressional Research Service. Answering that question would require a court to "confront several complicated issues of first impression," the nonpartisan organization found.
In April, Trump said that he had suspended U.S. funding to the organization pending a review, citing what he called "the World Health Organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus."
A month later, he announced his intentions to leave the organization amid the coronavirus pandemic, citing what he called the WHO's misuse of funding and its cozy relationship with China. The coronavirus is widely believed to have originated from China.
"China has total control over the World Health Organization, despite only paying $40 million per year compared to what the United States has been paying, which is approximately $450 million a year," Trump explained during remarks made in the Rose Garden.
"We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engage with them directly, but they have refused to act. Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving, urgent, global public health needs," he added at the time.
On the heels of Trump's Rose Garden remarks, the State Department began redirecting funds from the World Health Organization to other global health organizations.
"The President has been clear that the WHO needs to get its act together. That starts with demonstrating significant progress and the ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks with transparency and accountability," a State Department spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement to CNBC Tuesday evening.
"The United States will continue efforts to reform the WHO and other international organizations to ensure they operate with transparency, fulfill their mandates, and hold governments accountable for their commitments under international law."
In an emailed statement to CNBC, a World Health Organization spokesperson confirmed reports of the formal notification from the White House but did not provide further details.
The decision to end the partnership between the United States and the WHO has drawn criticism from congressional lawmakers. Earlier this month, House Republicans argued that the United States would be able to have a bigger impact on the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic if the country remained part of the international group.
-- CNBC's Yelena Dzhanova and Tucker Higgins contributed to this report from New York.
Correction: Nearly 3 million people in the U.S. have contracted the coronavirus, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally. An earlier version misstated the figure.