Donald Trump shakes hands with Brian Cornell, the CEO of Target Corporation, at a White House press conference on Coronavirus, March 13, 2020

UPDATE, 1600 GMT:

Footage confirms that Donald Trump lied on Friday when he said he didn’t “know anything about” the disbandment of the White House office for pandemics in 2018.

Trump told a press conference, “Some of those people haven’t been used for many, many years.”

Trump also lied that Google had designed a website for people to see if they should be tested, to be unveiled on Sunday.

A source at Google said company leadership was surprised at Trump’s announcement.

Google later said in a statement:

The site had been intended for health care workers only. After Trump’s statement, the company decided to open up the tool to everyone — but will only provide information in the San Francisco area.

UPDATE, 0815 GMT:

The House passed a bill with relief measures early Saturday morning. They include free testing, two weeks of paid sick leave, and up to three months of family and medical leave for those affected by Coronavirus.

The package includes tax credits to help small- and medium-size businesses finance the new benefits.

The bill went to the floor after numerous meetings between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Donald Trump had threatened to block any bill which did not include his proposal for a payroll tax cut, with an estimated cost of $800 billion, but finally relented.

Trump’s tweet late Friday signaled House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy that Republicans could support the measure.

Pelosi said, “We could have passed our bill yesterday. But we thought it would be important to show the American people — to assure the American people — that we are willing and able to work together to get a job done for them.”

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Donald Trump says he takes no responsibility at all over his Administration’s response to Coronavirus, even as he declares a national emergency.

Criticized for his mismanagement and incompetence, including a fumbling speech on Wednesday, Trump made the announcement in a Friday press conference in the White House Rose Garden. He was flanked by Vice President Mike Pence and leading CEOs as well as the Government’s infectious diseases specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Much of the conference was taken up with Pence and the business leaders giving effusive praise to Trump, but the stage management then went awry. Asked about the Administration’s failure to provide adequate testing in the first stages of the outbreak, Trump said, “I don’t take responsibility at all, because we were given…rules, regulations and specifications from a different time.”

Despite medical personnel as well as State and local leaders citing the ongoing lack of tests, Trump said every American who needs a check can get one with “millions” soon available. He did not specify when, however, and then tried to shift attention by blaming the Obama Administration for “a very big failure” over swine flu in 2009.

Last month the Administration rejected the use of the World Health Organization’s test and instead chose an alternative that proved faulty. Claims have circulated that Trump held out against testing in recent weeks because he feared the additional number of confirmed cases would hurt his chances for re-election.

“A Nasty Question”

Yamiche Alcindor of the Public Broadcasting Service asked Trump about his disbandment of the White House office for pandemics in 2018.

Trump snapped, “I think it’s a nasty question,” and insisted, “I didn’t do it….I don’t know anything about it” — even though the office was part of Trump’s National Security Council.

As Alcindor’s microphone was cut off, Trump said, “We’re doing a great job.”

No Test for Hand-Shaking Trump

Defying the health precautions about Coronavirus, Trump shook hands with the CEOs and officials gathered around him.

Challenged about why he has not been tested, even though he has been in close contact with several officials who are ill, Trump finally said he would probably be examined.

But hours later, the White House walked back the statement, saying there would be no test.

$50 Billion and A Google Website

Trump’s declaration of a national emergency frees up $50 billion for states and local communities. The Treasury can delay tax filing deadlines for some individuals and businesses. Trump said interest collections on student loans will be suspended, and he instructed the Energy Department to buy enough oil to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve “to the top”.

Trump also highlighted a website to be designed by Google, where people can enter symptoms to be advised if testing is needed.

Although there were free concrete steps beyond the assurance that tests will soon be available, the appearance of public-private cooperation and the assurance of a House bill with detailed measures helped the stock market rebound from historic losses.

The Dow Jones and S&P 500 indexes closed up by more than 9%. That recouped almost all of Thursday’s fall, the largest in the market since 1987.

The markets are still 20% lower than their level on February 21.

However, tipping off Trump’s priority, his campaign portrayed Friday’s rebound as a tribute to great leadership.