Sen. John Kennedy John Neely KennedyMORE called on the U.S. economy to gradually open back up in an interview Wednesday evening, warning that global markets could "collapse" if America doesn't get back to business soon.

In an interview with Fox News's Tucker Carlson Tucker CarlsonEx-Pence aide: Trump spent 45 minutes of task force meeting 'going off on Tucker Carlson' instead of talking coronavirus Biden town hall draws 3.3 million viewers for CNN OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Cheney asks DOJ to probe environmental groups | Kudlow: 'No sector worse hurt than energy' during pandemic | Trump pledges 'no politics' in Pebble Mine review MORE, the Louisiana Republican warned that "very soon, the can is gonna run out of road."

"We gotta open this economy. If we don't, it's going to collapse. And if the U.S. economy collapses, the world economy collapses," he said. "Trying to burn down the village to save it is foolish."

ADVERTISEMENT

"When we end the shutdown, the virus is going to spread, faster. That's just a fact," Kennedy continued. "And the American people understand. So when we open up and we're gonna have to ... we've got to be smart about how we do it. Don't open up in the middle of a hot spot. Encourage the elderly and those with preexisting conditions to remain quarantined, and give them financial support."

We’re going to have to trust Americans to reopen the economy in the right places, in smart ways, at the right time.



If we don't, it's going to collapse, and, if the U.S. economy collapses, the world economy collapses.



Trying to burn down the village to save it won't work. pic.twitter.com/zak3EXzxrJ — John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) April 16, 2020

Kennedy went on to describe the choice U.S. governors face as between "cancer and a heart attack," adding that a number of measures were necessary to ensure that the economy opened back up safely, including increasing testing and treatment capacity for the health care system.

His comments come as several groups of state governors have organized regional councils to discuss plans for reopening nonessential businesses across the U.S., a prospect seen by many as necessary as unemployment claims skyrocket and many companies have cut worker pay or furloughed staff amid the outbreak.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Andrew CuomoNYT editorial board remembers Ginsburg: She 'will forever have two legacies' New York to honor Ginsburg with statue in Brooklyn New York City bus driver knocked out by passenger he told to wear a mask MORE (D), himself in discussions with the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut on such a plan, has warned that a constitutional crisis would occur if President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE were to try to order state economies to reopen.