© Reuters/KEVIN LAMARQUE U.S. President Trump leads daily coronavirus response briefing at the White House in Washington

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that a second round of direct payments from the federal government to Americans was under serious consideration to help limit the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

Asked if he would consider a second round of direct payments, Trump told a news conference: "We could very well do a second round of direct (payments)."

He then added: "It is absolutely under serious consideration."

(Reporting by Eric Beech, Jeff Mason and Phil Stewart; writing by Phil Stewart; Editing by Sandra Maler)