CNN’s Dana Bash lauded President Trump’s tone on Tuesday afternoon following the White House’s daily briefing on the coronavirus pandemic.
The network’s chief political correspondent called him “the kind of leader that people need” amid the growing crisis.
The perspective from Bash comes as coronavirus cases surge this week and more drastic measures such as school closings, quarantines, gathering bans and business shutdowns occur throughout the country.
Bash noted that Trump has struck a more measured tone in recent days while the administration has won praise from Democratic governors including California’s Gavin Newsom and New York’s Andrew Cuomo regarding its responsiveness.
“If you look at the big picture, this was remarkable from the president of the United States,” Bash said following the briefing. “This is a nonpartisan, this is an important thing to note and to applaud from an American standpoint, from a human standpoint.”
“He is being the kind of leader that people need, at least in tone, today and yesterday, in tone that people need, and want and yearn for in times of crisis and uncertainty,” she added.
Trump on Tuesday said his focus is saving “the maximum number of lives” while declaring the economy will come “roaring back.”
“We are looking to save the maximum number of lives,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “Everything else is going to come back. A life is never going to come back. Our economy is going to come roaring back.”
The president also reiterated that Americans should avoid gatherings of 10 or more people, and urged people to work from home and avoid discretionary travel.
The U.S. death toll currently stands at 93 as of Tuesday afternoon, and there are more than 5,000 cases of the virus confirmed throughout the country.