Coronavirus National Emergency: Donald Trump's Latest Pandemic Press Conference Seeded Confusion Online
The latest pandemic team press conference at The White House took many forms across its 90 [...]
A Strong Start
Mike Pence: "We can slow the spread. We can protect the most vulnerable and we can heal our land. So let's do it America."
Trump and Pence trying hard to emulate Andrew Cuomo during his press conferences but not clearing the bar...
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 22, 2020
Many were ready to mark the change of tone for Trump to start the press event as refreshing. It was the president doing and saying things that many felt a president would be saying. He even provided a clear answer to the question asked by NBC News' Peter Alexander on Friday.
The president was on the mark and seemed to follow the script apart from a few references to the "Chinese virus."
prevnextMitt Romney
"Romney's in isolation? Gee, that's too bad" -- Trump, sarcastically, on Mitt Romney going into quarantine over coronavirus concerns. #BeBest pic.twitter.com/d4KPIDto6Z
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 22, 2020
Still, this didn't last long. After Vice President Pence and FEMA spoke during the press conference, Trump took control and began to take questions from the press corps. After being asked about his thoughts on Rand Paul testing positive for coronavirus and the decision by others to self-quarantine, specifically Mitt Romney.
This prompted what some are calling a sarcastic remark by Trump toward Romney.
prevnextClassic example of President Trump.
Trump speaking at the beginning of this press conference with prepared remarks: "No American is alone as long as we're united."
A few minutes later, Trump, speaking without prepared remarks: “Romney’s in isolation? Geeeeee - that’s too bad.”
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) March 22, 2020
China
"I'm a little upset with China, I'll be honest with you," Trump says, adding that as much as he admires the country and Xi, "They should have told us about this." Says they refused USA help out of pride.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) March 22, 2020
The president also created quite a mixed message on China and its role in the global pandemic. While he continued to ramp up the blame for the nation with his naming of the virus, Trump also praised President Xi and China for their efforts against the virus.
He then quickly changed direction again later in the presser, questioning why China didn't warn the world about the virus ahead of time.
prevnextREPORTER: Your administration eliminated a key position in China in July -- a medical epidemiologist embedded in China's disease control agency. Why did you do that?
TRUMP: "Well, I could ask, uh, anybody ... do you want to take that one Bob?" pic.twitter.com/u4VSYZqrmh
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 22, 2020
Stocks and Bailouts
Actually, his financial disclosure forms showed that he owned at least $61,000,000 in stocks back in 2016- so that is a clear lie: https://t.co/M8uG7X859t
— Roland Scahill (@rolandscahill) March 22, 2020
Another question that sent President Trump into a jumble of words and thoughts involved stocks owned by the president and if he did similar actions as the members of Congress who reportedly moved stock funds after a classified briefing on the coronavirus.
At press conference that’s supposed to be about the Coronavirus pandemic, Trump laments how much money he’s lost as president: “I think it’s very hard for rich people to run for office.”
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) March 22, 2020
Trump noted that he didn't own stocks, he just owned things. But it quickly devolved into a confusing statement on his campaign for president.
prevnextConfusion
Me trying to figure out what hell Trump is talking about #PressConference #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/RH16JliG7d
— Robyn (@MetFan35) March 22, 2020
It is safe to say quite a few people were very confused by some of what Trump was saying. There was also a lot of surprise about the president using a pandemic update press conference as a way to talk about his candidacy for president.
prevnextMixed Messages
I hate how Trump goes into the press conferences talking about how he *feels* like the vaccine they’re trying will work. Who cares how he feels about it? It’s science. Either it works or it doesn’t. His gut sense that it will work is completely irrelevant.
— Touré (@Toure) March 22, 2020
The mixed messages sent by Trump have eroded his trust with some people watching from home. The presence of Dr. Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has offered direct contradictions to the president's words on stage. His absence from the events is typically noted by people online.
These briefings now run an average of 90 minutes -- about the length of a Trump rally. Imagine that!
— Katie Rogers (@katierogers) March 22, 2020
While the president means well or is trying to be hopeful, the mixed messages are leaving a few struggling.
There will be another press conference tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see what changes.
prev