Fact Check: "President Donald Trump ordered the service to shut down in March."
What We Know
The claim that "President Donald Trump ordered the service to shut down in March" is misleading. On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a national emergency concerning the COVID-19 outbreak, which began on March 1, 2020. This proclamation allowed for the mobilization of federal resources to combat the pandemic but did not specifically order a nationwide shutdown of services or businesses (Proclamation on Declaring a National Emergency).
While the Trump administration did implement various measures to control the spread of COVID-19, including travel restrictions and public health guidelines, the actual enforcement of shutdowns was largely left to state and local governments. For instance, on March 17, 2020, Trump encouraged Americans to stay home, but this was not a federal mandate; rather, it was a recommendation (Timeline of Trump's Coronavirus Responses).
By March 29, 2020, Trump extended the voluntary national shutdown until April 30, but again, this was a recommendation rather than a direct order to shut down services (Chicago Tribune).
Analysis
The evidence suggests that while President Trump took significant steps in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including declaring a national emergency, he did not issue a direct order to shut down services in March. The proclamation focused on mobilizing federal resources and empowering the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive certain regulations to facilitate the response to the pandemic (Proclamation on Declaring a National Emergency).
The timeline of Trump's responses indicates a gradual approach to addressing the pandemic, with initial statements downplaying the severity of the virus and later shifting towards more serious recommendations as the situation evolved (Timeline of Trump's Coronavirus Responses). The claim that he "ordered the service to shut down" conflates his emergency declaration with the actions taken by state governors, who were primarily responsible for implementing shutdowns and restrictions in their jurisdictions.
Moreover, the sources used to support the claim lack specificity and do not provide evidence of a direct order from Trump for a nationwide shutdown. Instead, they reflect a mix of recommendations and state-level actions, which diminishes the reliability of the claim.
Conclusion
Verdict: False. The claim that "President Donald Trump ordered the service to shut down in March" is inaccurate. While he declared a national emergency and made recommendations for public health measures, he did not issue a federal order mandating a nationwide shutdown. The enforcement of shutdowns was primarily the responsibility of state and local governments.
