As early as Tuesday, the airline industry had insisted that it didn’t need a “bailout,” but with a single executive order.
President Donald Trump’s suspension of European travel to the United States represents one of the most sweeping bans in the history of air travel, creating chaos in an already beleaguered industry and creating uncertainty for thousands of global travelers.
“We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days,” Trump said, adding that the restrictions will be adjusted as necessary. He also noted that there will be “exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings.”
As early as Tuesday, the airline industry had insisted that it didn’t need a “bailout,” but with a single executive order, Trump is wiping out thousands of airline routes and potentially stranding travelers far away from home if they can’t get on a plane by Friday at midnight. After his speech, though, the Homeland Security Department clarified that it wouldn’t apply to American citizens, legal permanent residents or their families.
A reporter for NBC 10 Boston tweeted soon after the announcement that dozens of people got up and left their plane that had been headed for Europe when they heard the news, worried that they wouldn’t be able to get back home.
Trump’s order to stop all travel from Europe to the United States will be the most severe disruption in airline travel since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — except it will last far longer, by an order of weeks. In the aftermath of the attacks, planes were grounded across the United States for just days, spurring Congress and then-President George W. Bush to enact a bailout worth $5 billion in immediate cash and $10 billion in loan guarantees.
During his speech, Trump said cargo would also be affected — but the White House later clarified that it would only apply to “people carrying cargo,” not all-cargo carriers.
Minutes after Trump’s Oval Office address, U.S. stock futures fell almost 900 points as investors absorbed the news.
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- Discussion
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Trump’s suspension of European travel to the United States represents one of the most sweeping bans in the history of air travelhttps://t.co/1gxvCBisFF
— POLITICO (@politico) March 12, 2020
So, to recap—in the most important speech of his presidency, one running just 12 minutes, Trump misled the public twice:
—trade goods flowing between the US & Europe are *not* subject to the ban
—insurers are *not* waiving copayments for coronavirus treatments. Just testing. https://t.co/twQBuIV0DS
— Heath Mayo (@HeathMayo) March 12, 2020
Missing in President Trump’s speech—any responsibility to work with other countries to limit the twin crises, health and economic, from COVID-19. He should close ranks to work with China, Japan, South Korea, Europe+Iran. Instead, he thinks we can dig a moat around America.
— Nicholas Burns (@RNicholasBurns) March 12, 2020
In case you were worried enough by seeing the President terrified, here's a U.S. senator barely better composed himself.
I worked on the Hill during a war and never saw people this week-kneed. https://t.co/VpHrUAfh1G— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) March 12, 2020
No sooner did I say "no one is in control and the national government seems close to imploding," we get confirmation. https://t.co/EcQ6fLqwr6
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) March 12, 2020
And now I will go back to being partisan:
All of you goddamned idiots who thought it would be a hoot to put a sociopathic ignoramus in the Oval now know why we were warning you.
Would I feel better with Hillary or Mitt in charge? Damned right I would.
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) March 12, 2020
His address to the nation was perfect, just like phone call and the corona tests.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) March 12, 2020
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