Trump touts deregulation, US coronavirus reaction

President Donald Trump highlighted his administration's efforts to cut regulations Thursday with a White House event on the South Lawn, flanked by two trucks.

"Nearly four years ago we ended this regulatory assault on the American worker and we launched the most regulatory relief campaign in American history," Trump told an audience of business owners, state government officials and members of his own administration.

During his remarks, the president also claimed cutting regulations had saved "countless lives," during the coronavirus pandemic.

"My administration has also eliminated massive regulatory barriers in our battle against the China virus," he said. "Ensuring that we will have a vaccine in a record time."

However COVID-19 continues to surge in many parts of the U.S.

Florida reached another ominous record with 156 virus deaths reported Thursday as the state continued to experience a swift rise in cases. The state Department of Health reported 13,965 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to nearly 316,000.