Without Evidence, Mnuchin Insists that ‘People Misinterpreted’ Trump’s Cargo Comment

Without Evidence, Mnuchin Insists that ‘People Misinterpreted’ Trump’s Cargo Comment

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin refused to admit that President Donald Trump misstated one aspect of his administration’s effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus during an Oval Office address to the nation Wednesday night.

In his address, Trump said that travel restrictions from Europe would apply to cargo:

These prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things as we get approval. Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing. These restrictions will also not apply to the United Kingdom.

Shortly after the address, Trump clarified this point, noting that cargo would actually not be affected.

And yet Mnuchin, appearing Sunday on ABC’s This Week, felt compelled to say that “people misinterpreted the comment on cargo.”


“I don’t think [Trump] got things wrong at all,” Mnuchin said flatly when pressed on the issue.

Watch the video above, via ABC.

William Vaillancourt

William Vaillancourt is a writer and editor from New Hampshire whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Progressive, Slate and Areo Magazine, among other places. He holds a BA in Political Science and History from Boston University.

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