Coronavirus in the United States: Biden attacks Trump and denounces an “economic disaster”

Text by: RFI Follow

The unemployment rate is at an all-time high in the United States. It reached 14.7%, the highest rate since June 1940. 20.5 million jobs were lost in April, a record decline in such a short time. But the American president displays his optimism: he believes that next year will be exceptional economically.

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With our correspondent in Washington, Anne Corpet

These figures were fully expected, not surprisingly, said Donald Trump. The president assures him: the lost jobs will come back, and will come again soon. "  Even the Democrats don't blame me  ," said Donald Trump about the unemployment rate. But he was quickly denied by Joe Biden, who intervened from his home to comment on statistics from the Labor Department.

"  It is an economic disaster worse than all that we have known for decades, and it is all the more serious that it should not be so. Donald Trump absolutely did not know how to prepare for this pandemic and was slow to take the necessary measures to protect our country against the economic scenario close to the worst that we are currently living. The Covid-19 created a major economic challenge. But this crisis has hit us harder, and will last longer, as Donald Trump has spent the past three years undermining the fundamental pillars of our economic strength.  "

The Democrats are calling for the adoption of a new emergency aid plan for Americans affected by the violence of the economic crisis. And reject the idea of ​​a new tax cut advocated by the president.

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• Coronavirus
• United States
• Donald trump
• Joe Biden

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