Donald Trump exits the coronavirus press conference



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United States President Donald Trump abruptly ended his press conference at the White House on Monday after combative exchanges with two journalists.

CBS’s Weijia Jiang asked Trump why he was putting so much emphasis on the number of coronavirus tests that have been conducted in the United States.

“Why does it matter?” Ms. Jiang asked.

“Why is it a global competition for you if Americans continue to lose their lives and continue to see more cases every day?”

Trump replied that “they are losing their lives in all parts of the world.” And maybe that’s a question you should ask China. Don’t ask me. Ask China that question.

He called another question, and there was no immediate answer.

“Sir, why are you telling me that specifically?” Ms. Jiang asked.

Ms. Jiang, who has worked for CBS News since 2015, was born in Xiamen, China, and immigrated to the United States with her two-year-old family.

Trump said he would say that to “anyone who asks an unpleasant question.”

“It is not an unpleasant question,” Jiang said. “Why does it matter?”

Trump asked another question again, then said, “No, it’s okay,” and said goodbye to CNN’s Kaitlin Collins when he approached the microphone.

“You pointed me out,” said Collins.

The president said, “I pointed you out and you didn’t respond.”

Ms. Collins said that she was giving Jiang time to finish her questions and added, “May I ask a question?”

With that, Trump called at the end of the press conference, held in the Rose Garden of the White House, and walked away from his lectern.

Ms. Jiang and Ms. Collins wore masks for the press conference, as did most journalists, after recent news, two White House employees, an assistant to Vice President Mike Pence, and a valet. from the president, they tested positive for the coronavirus.

The exchanges came after Trump insisted that his administration had “met the moment” and “prevailed” on coronavirus testing, even as the White House became a symbol of the risk Americans face in belatedly ordering everyone. those who enter the West Wing wearing a mask.

Trump addressed a Rose Garden audience filled with administration officials wearing masks, some publicly appearing with face covers for the first time during the pandemic.

Trump himself, without wearing a mask, tried to emphasize to the American people the steps being taken to ensure their safety, in the hope that it will convince them to resume normal activities.

The paucity of coronavirus tests has long been a sore spot for the president, but he insisted again that everyone who wanted a test could have one.

The promise, first issued by Trump more than two months ago, comes as governors across the country continue to ask the federal government to do more to boost supply to meet the requirements necessary to begin “reopening” the nation. .

The optimistic message was undermined by new protective measures in place to keep Trump safe, evidenced by the absence of Pence and three of the nation’s top medical experts, who were in various states of isolation after the Covid-19 cases. Employees in one of the most protected complexes in America.

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