Trump says he’s mobilizing military to distribute potential coronavirus vaccine | TheHill

President TrumpDonald John TrumpSusan Rice says she would ‘certainly say yes’ to be Biden’s VP Jim Jordan requests documents from Pompeo regarding Hunter Biden, Burisma  Graham rebuffs Trump over Obama testimony: ‘It would be a bad precedent’ MORE said Thursday he would prepare the U.S. military to disburse COVID-19 vaccines when they are ready.

“We’re mobilizing our military and other forces, but we’re mobilizing our military on the basis that we do have a vaccine,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business’s Maria BartiromoMaria Sara BartiromoOvernight Defense: Pentagon removes official from key role amid pandemic | Trump hints at bringing more F-35 production to US | Military being prepped to distribute possible vaccine Trump hints at bringing overseas production of F-35 back to US Trump says he’s mobilizing military to distribute potential coronavirus vaccine MORE.

“You know, it’s a massive job to give this vaccine. Our military is now being mobilized so at the end of the year we’re going to be able to give it to a lot of people very, very rapidly,” he added.

Trump said the mobilization process for distributing a vaccine is “starting now” to get a head start once it is finished, adding, “We will have a tremendous force because assuming we get it, then you have to distribute it.”

The president announced Wednesday that he would place Army Gen. Gustave Perna as chief operation officer for Operation Warp Speed, the administration’s program targeting a fast development for COVID-19 vaccines.

Trump also said on Thursday that he expects a ready vaccine by the end of 2020. However, projections from the nation’s leading infectious disease expert and coronavirus task force member Anthony FauciAnthony FauciOvernight Defense: Pentagon removes official from key role amid pandemic | Trump hints at bringing more F-35 production to US | Military being prepped to distribute possible vaccine The Memo: Gulf grows between Trump and scientists Overnight Health Care: Trump says testing may be ‘overrated’ | Ousted official warns national virus plan needed | NIH begins studying drug combo touted by Trump MORE cautioned earlier this year that a vaccine could take 12 to 18 months.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. has recorded more than 85,000 deaths from the virus since the outbreak hit the nation.

Trump estimated in the interview that there will be a total of more than 100,000 deaths in the country.