Trump says critics want him to keep economy closed until election: 'It's a political thing'

President Trump, in an interview that aired Thursday morning with Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo, said he believes his political critics want a slower reopening of the economy not due to the coronavirus threat, but to hurt him politically in the November election.

The president made those comments in the same interview where he said he disagrees with the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr. Anthony Fauci, on the measures needed to reopen schools.

When asked if he thinks his political opponents want him to keep the economy closed going into the presidential election, Trump said he does.

"Yeah, I do. I do. I think it's a political thing," Trump told Bartiromo.