Vice President Pence; Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator; and CDC Director Robert Redfield arrive at McChord Field near Tacoma, Wash., to meet with Gov. Deputy national security adviser Matthew Pottinger, left, and national security adviser Robert O’Brien listen during a White House coronavirus briefing on Jan. 31. But his standing with White House officials, already shaky before the coronavirus crisis began, was damaged further. White House officials relented to a degree weeks later as the feared coronavirus surge in the United States began to materialize. In late March, the administration ordered 10,000 ventilators — far short of what public health officials and governors said was needed.

Source: Washington Post April 04, 2020 13:03 UTC