Donald Trump again held a press conference focused on the coronavirus crisis, and again he went alone: without Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the White House task force in the pandemic, and without medical experts.
When asked by CNN’s Kaitlin Collins on Wednesday why they were not present, Trump said: “They are informing me. I am meeting with them. I just spoke to Dr. [Anthony] Fauci. Dr [Deborah] Birx is just outside. And they’re giving me everything they know as of right now, and I’m giving them the information, and it seems like a very concise way to do it. It seems to be working very well. “
Fauci is the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Birx is the coronavirus response coordinator for the White House task force.
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On Tuesday, Trump held his first coronavirus briefing since April, acknowledging that the growing number of cases across the country means that the pandemic “may get worse before it gets better,” while encouraging Americans to wear masks and social distance. . Like his report today, the President appeared alone on the lectern.
That contrasts with reports from last spring, when figures like Fauci and Birx, along with Pence and others, would comment and answer questions from journalists.
Trump said medical experts are “very involved.” Relationships are very good. “
Much attention has been paid to the friction between the White House and Fauci, who has become a celebrity in his own right as a ubiquitous medical voice in the crisis. Peter Navarro, Trump’s business adviser, published an opinion piece in USA Today discrediting Fauci, and the president told Fox News’ Chris Wallace that the infectious disease doctor was “a bit of an alarmist.”
Wednesday’s briefing was also notable for its length: 22 minutes, a contrast to some of the spring marathons, which spanned over two hours. The abbreviated format left little time for the president to fight with journalists.
With Trump poll numbers dropping, even on the question of how he is handling the coronavirus crisis, his return to briefings is one way to attract attention at a more opportune time: the afternoon, just like the networks. broadcast and cable news. leading to their nightly newscasts and exclusive nightly shows. Earlier this week, Trump boasted of getting “record numbers of observation.”
The president also promoted a new agreement that the administration reached with Pfizer for the delivery of 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Although the vaccines have not been found to be safe and effective, the idea is to achieve production so that it can be deployed quickly once that happens.
Trump also had the opportunity to make one of his superlative statements. A journalist had asked him about Joe Biden’s comment earlier in the day, in which he said Trump was the first racist to be elected president.
After speaking about employment, opportunity zones, and criminal justice reform, Trump replied: “I have said this and I say it openly, and not many people dispute it, I have done more for African Americans than anyone with the possible exception by Abraham Lincoln. No one has even come close.
