President Donald Trump announced Thursday at a coronavirus press briefing that the Jacksonville, Fla. portion of the Republican National Convention will be canceled since it’s “not the right time” and he has to “protect the American people.”

“But I looked at my team and I said the timing for this event is not right, just not right with what’s happened recently. The flare-up in Florida to have a big convention is not the right time,” Trump said in his opening remarks. “It’s really something that for me, I have to protect the American people. That’s what I’ve always done. That’s what I always will do. That’s what I’m about.”

The president said business will still happen in Charlotte, N.C., but he will give his nomination acceptance speech in another type of form.

Trump also pushed Congress to include $105 billion for the reopening of schools as a provision in the next coronavirus relief package, a legislation that still remains in the works in the Republican party. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell aims to release the GOP-dominated bill Thursday, but Senate Republicans and the White House remain divided on a number of key priorities to include in the legislation, stalling the unveiling date.

The funds will go towards “smaller class sizes, more teacher and teacher aides, repurposing spaces to practice distancing and crucially mask wearing,” Trump noted.

"If schools do not reopen, the funding should go to parents to send their child to public, private, charter, religious or home school of their choice - the key word being choice," the president said, a reversal to his prior statements about defunding schools that don’t reopen in the fall. 

Funds for schools is one of the key provisions for the upcoming bill that has rallied bipartisan support.

"I hope local leaders put the full health and well-being of their students first and make the right decision for children, parents, teachers and not make political decisions. This isn't about politics," Trump said.

When asked about a payroll tax cut being omitted from the Republican coronavirus proposal, Trump blamed the Democrats for not including it, despite receiving GOP senator disapproval of the tax cut.

“I’d like to see a payroll tax cut. I think it’s great for the workers. The Democrats would never have gone for it - they don’t want it. They’re not big into the workers,” Trump responded.

Trump also announced that he’ll be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the New York Yankees on Aug. 15.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, top infectious disease expert and head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, wasn’t at the briefing for a third time this week.

Rachel Bucchino is a reporter at the National Interest. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report and The Hill.