page_title: Timeline of the Donald Trump presidency (2020 Q1)
section_title: Week 164
hierarchical_section_title: Timeline of the Donald Trump presidency (2020 Q1) / Timeline / March 2020 / Week 164
caption_attribution_description: President Donald j. Trump and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar meet with reporters Thursday, March 12, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)
context_page_description: The following is a timeline of the presidency of Donald Trump during the first quarter of 2020. To navigate quarters, see Timeline of the Donald Trump presidency.
context_section_description: Monday, March 9
  Tuesday, March 10
  President Trump presents the Medal of Freedom to General Jack Keane.
  Wednesday, March 11
  The total number of deaths in the United States from the coronavirus disease is 31. Twenty-four are in Washington state, two are in California, two are in Florida and one is in New Jersey. There are 1,004 total cases in the United States.
  President Trump addresses the nation on prime-time television concerning the COVID-19 pandemic as the total number of confirmed cases passes a thousand. During the address, Trump announces that he will suspend all travel to and from Europe for thirty days, starting midnight Friday. The United Kingdom is exempt from this restriction.
  Thursday, March 12
  President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland at the White House.
  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) drops ten percent—its worst day since 1987.
  Friday, March 13
  President Trump declares a national emergency to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The declaration opens access to $50 billion in emergency funding, lifts restrictions on doctors and hospitals, and waives student loan interest. When challenged about the slow response to provide testing, Trump blamed prior administrations saying, "I don't take responsibility at all."
  Saturday, March 14
  Sunday, March 15
  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates to zero and releases $700 billion in quantitative easing.
caption: President Trump and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (Prime Minister of Ireland)
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