President Trump Defended His Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic and Said National Testing is “Working Too Well”

President Trump Told Herridge “If It’s Necessary, I Would Urge [Americans] to Wear a Mask, And I Would Say Follow the Guidelines”

President Trump Told Herridge That “More White People” Are Dying at The Hands of Police Than Black People

Trump Said School Districts Are Making A “Terrible Decision” If They Don’t Reopen

CBS News senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge spoke with President Donald Trump at the White House today for an interview. Excerpts of the interview aired tonight on the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH NORAH O’DONNELL (6:30-7:00 PM, ET) on the CBS Television Network. More will be broadcast tomorrow on CBS THIS MORNING (7:00-9:00 AM, ET).

Click here to watch tonight’s CBS EVENING NEWS report. In the interview, President Trump was asked if the national testing strategy is working, and he insisted that, despite a week-long wait for results, testing is “working too well… we’re finding thousands and thousands of cases.” He also discussed police brutality against African Americans, school reopenings in the fall, the Confederate flag and China:

• Herridge asked the president if there should be a federal mandate wearing masks or if that’s up to governors. “They can have their own guidelines, but they go by the CDC guidelines, and right now that’s saying wear a mask, and that’s okay with me. That’s good.” Trump added he would urge Americans to wear a mask “if it’s necessary … and I would say follow the guidelines.” Click here to watch.

• President Trump told Herridge that “more White people” are dying at the hands of police than Black people. Click here to watch.

• President Trump said it’s a “mistake” to keep schools closed this fall. Click here to watch.

• President Trump told Herridge where he stands on the Confederate flag: “All I say is freedom of speech. It’s very simple. My attitude is freedom of speech.” Click here to watch.

• When asked about phase two of trade talks with China, President Trump says he is “not interested” in talking to China: “I’ve always had a tough stance… Look, we made a great trade deal but as soon as the deal was done, the ink wasn’t even dry and they hit us with the plague. So right now I’m not interested in talking to China about another deal. I’m interested in doing other things with China.” Click here to watch.

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