*By Alisha Haridasani*
Kim Jung-un's willingness to tone down his rhetoric and reconsider a meeting with President Trump is a result of the president's “good negotiating,” a Republican spokesperson said.
A day after Trump [cancelled](https://cheddar.com/videos/trump-cancels-north-korea-summit-leaving-its-fate-in-kim-jong-uns-hands) his planned summit with the North Korean leader, Kim said Friday he was ready to come back to the table “at any time.”
Trump applauded Kim’s openness, and the president told reporters that U.S. officials were still talking with the North Koreans.
“That’s what good negotiating looks like,” said the Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany. “President Trump knows when to walk away.”
Trump’s decided to cancel the June meeting in Singapore after North Korean officials threatened to pull the plug on the meeting themselves in response to seemingly threatening comments from Vice President Mike Pence about regime change.
North Korea's unpredictability is not new, but the recent changes of directions are different, McEnany said, noting there have been tangible results from talks with Pyongyang. The North Koreans appear willing to still consider talks, they released three American hostages, and they destroyed their nuclear test site on Thursday.
“These are acts of good will, indications of seriousness,” she said.
“In the least, we are going to walk out of this with three free Americans,” said McEnany. “That’s a very good thing and more than past presidents have gotten.”
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/rnc-stands-by-michael-cohen-despite-ongoing-investigation).
Stocks turned lower Friday on Wall Street after New York became the latest major state to mandate nearly all workers stay home to limit the spread of the new coronavirus.
Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C.) is under intense scrutiny after an NPR report showed that he revealed the severity of the impending coronavirus crisis to a group of North Carolinians in private and warned of major life disruptions weeks before the federal government did the same. And, as the coronavirus outbreak continues to wreak havoc on supply chains, hospitals and markets, new financial disclosures show that Burr made big money moves before the indices showed the historic declines seen in recent weeks.
More than 60 percent of Americans also think a recession will come in the next year, according to a new study by YouGov.
Trump’s coronavirus task force on Thursday afternoon visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency to hear from several governors about the challenges facing their states.
In the morning conference, the governor also waived mortgage payments for 90 days and revealed the spike in new cases bringing the full total to 4,152, the most in the nation.
The drug, hydroxychloroquine, was developed more than a half-century ago and is approved for treating malaria, arthritis, and other ailments. Reports out of China and Italy suggest the drug may help, but there is no hard data yet.
Coronavirus has hit Capitol Hill, as the first members of Congress have tested positive for the virus. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and Ben McAdams (D-Utah) announced diagnoses late Wednesday.
The palace of Monaco says its head of state, Prince Albert II, has tested positive for the new coronavirus. In a statement Thursday, the palace of the tiny Mediterranean principality said that his health is not worrying.
GM and Tesla are among the top U.S. automakers that are looking to potentially switch over stalled auto production into the manufacturing of badly needed medical ventilators amid the coronavirus crisis.
Rep. Gabbard drops out of the Democratic presidential primary race and endorses former Vice President Joe Biden.
