Trump says he’d like economy to reopen ‘with a big bang’ but acknowledges it may be limited

President Trump said Tuesday night he’d like to see the entire U.S. economy reopen with a “big bang,” but acknowledged it will be difficult to manage as certain parts of the country grapple with outbreaks.

“I’d love to open with a big bang, one beautiful country and just open,” Trump said on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show.

“We’re looking at two concepts. We’re looking at the concept where you open up sections and we’re also looking at the concept where you open up everything,” Trump added.

Trump cited New York, New Jersey and Louisiana as areas that may struggle to reopen with the rest of the country due to outbreaks of cases.

The economy, which has been a central argument for Trump’s reelection campaign, has cratered in the last few weeks due to the spreading virus. More than 10 million Americans have filed for unemployment in recent weeks.

Congress has passed a $2 trillion relief package intended to provide immediate relief to businesses and workers, but lawmakers are already discussing the need for another round of legislation.

The president suggested a payroll tax cut should be part of the next round of talks, though lawmakers in both parties have rejected the idea.

The White House last week extended its social distancing guidelines meant to mitigate the spread of the virus through the end of April, but Trump has increasingly mused in recent days about reopening the economy, saying he hopes to do so sooner than later. Trump initially set a goal of reopening parts of the economy by Easter, but has since backed off.

Still, the decision will largely be out of Trump’s hands. Governors nationwide will determine when restrictions in their states that have shuttered nonessential businesses and banned gatherings of more than a few people will be lifted. Some states, such as Virginia, have extended those restrictions into June. 

There are nearly 400,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S., and close to 13,000 people in the U.S. have died of the virus as of Tuesday night.