Trump on reopening economy: 'A lot of facts and a lot of instinct'

President Trump is signaling his optimism for eventually re-opening America's economy from the pandemic, saying it is a way to honor the fallen and the decision will be made based on "a lot of facts and a lot of instinct also.'"

The president spoke Saturday night with Jeanine Pirro on Fox News "Justice with Judge Jeanine" show about the opportunity and challenges of re-opening the economy and the impact that his decision to close borders and recommend social distancing have had.

"We did it the right way. We took care of social distancing and all of the things, words that nobody ever heard before, frankly, and phrases," he said. "But if we didn't do that, we would have pulled through it, There were estimates, 2.2 million people. Well, if you cut that in more than half and you said a million and cut that in half. You say 500,000, it just would have been unacceptable."

Trump said he is confident America's economy, which has lost 16 million plus jobs due to coronavirus, will come roaring back once restrictions are lifted.

"I think the stimulus, coupled with pent-up demand and everybody wanting to get out and go back to work/ I think we're going to have a just a tremendous surge," he said.

As for when and how to reopen the economy, the president many experts will be consulted.

"A lot of very smart people, a lot of professionals, doctors and business leaders are a lot of things that go into a decision like that. And it is going to be based on a lot of facts and a lot of instinct also," he said. "Whether we like it or not, there is a certain instinct to it."