Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday dodged questions about whether the coronavirus pandemic could plunge the U.S. into a recession, insisting that the reeling stock market would eventually get back on track and that the Trump administration is more focused on targeting short-term relief to those most affected by the fast-spreading disease.
On "Fox News Sunday," the secretary repeatedly sought to avoid getting pinned down on a number of issues relating to the surge of coronavirus cases in the U.S. after he spent the last week negotiating with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the details of an economic aid package that he referred to as just the "second inning" of relief.
"I wouldn't focus on the technical issue of whether we are going to be in a recession or not," Mnuchin told host Chris Wallace, arguing the administration is more concerned about what it can immediately do to blunt the impact of the outbreak. The virus has prompted the shuttering of schools, the cancellation of sporting and entertainment events, and outright travel bans, while fears over the novel coronavirus have contributed to a turbulent month on Wall Street.
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