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Trump begins his press conference by having Dr Anthony Fauci argue that his contradiction with Trump on when they should have acted on coronavirus came about from a poor response to a "hypothetical" question.
White House: 'Ridiculous' to think Trump would fire Fauci after he hinted he would https://americanindependent.com/anthony-fauci-white-house-donald-trump-coronavirus-pandemic-twitter-covid-19/
During what is supposed to be a briefing on a virus that has killed tens of thousands of Americans, Trump plays a campaign-style highlight reel to attack media coverage of the virus.
Trump: "Nobody's asking for ventilators."
Reality: Governors have been begging for equipment throughout the crisis and Trump refused to use the Defense Authorization Act to ramp up production, even as thousands of Americans died.
Reality: Governors have been begging for equipment throughout the crisis and Trump refused to use the Defense Authorization Act to ramp up production, even as thousands of Americans died.
Previously: Trump laughs off governor who can't get medical supplies https://americanindependent.com/donald-trump-coronavirus-laughs-supplies-governor-charlie-baker-massachusetts-covid-19/
Asked about the campaign ad-style video he just ran at the briefing, Trump says "that was done by a group in the office," admitting that the video was assembled at taxpayer expense.
"Everything we did was right," Trump says as America leads the world in coronavirus infections. He then says "governors should have ventilators," repeating a claim from his team that despite the national stockpile, it was not his job to supply American citizens with equipment.
Previously: Kushner claims national emergency stockpile isn't for states — but he's wrong https://americanindependent.com/jared-kushner-coronavirus-strategic-national-stockpile-states-white-house-covid-19/
Trump tries to blame the media for stories that he is considering firing Fauci, but reporters note he is the one who amplified a tweet calling for the firing. "I notice everything," Trump says of the hashtag.
Pressed by a reporter on what actions his administration took in February as coronavirus deaths increased, Trump yells "a lot" (without offering any details) then he attacks her outlet as "fake" (which is what he calls any unflattering reporting).
Trump administration uses coronavirus to launch new attacks on the press https://americanindependent.com/donald-trump-media-attacks-coronavirus-mike-pence-william-barr-press-covid-19/
Asked what provision of the Constitution grants him the authority to order states to open or close their economies, Trump replies, "numerous provisions" without elaborating.
After a reporter notes that it is state governments that ordered schools and other institutions closed, Trump says, "That's because I let that happen."
Which isn't true.
Which isn't true.
"The president of the United States has the authority to do what the president has the authority to do, which is very powerful" - Donald Trump
Pressed on his sweeping assertion of presidential power over the states, Trump reiterates: "When somebody's the president of the United States, the authority is total and that's the way it's got to be."
"Your authority's total?" asks a reporter.
"Total," Trump replies.
"Your authority's total?" asks a reporter.
"Total," Trump replies.
Trump faults the Obama administration for their handling of swine flu and claims "they had the H1N1, which is swine flu, and that was a big failure" adding, "17,000 people died."
Thousands more continue to die from coronavirus on Trump's watch.
Thousands more continue to die from coronavirus on Trump's watch.
