Former national security adviser Susan Rice blamed the severity of the United States coronavirus pandemic on the shoulders of the Trump administration on Wednesday during an interview with “The View” hosts.
Rice, who served under former President Obama, accused the Trump White House of throwing out a playbook to deal with the global pandemics provided by the Obama White House.
“We prepare the administration with a play book for pandemics of fools,” Rice said. “And a tabletop exercise. And many other briefings.”
“So the blame here, the tragic loss of 150,000 Americans and counting, is on Donald Trump
Donald John TrumpBiden hits Trump’s ‘law and order’ message: he’s trying to ‘scare the devil’ out of people Pelosi hits Barr after testimony: ‘It was like a blot’ and Trump Schumer’s ‘henchman’: Trump should want COVID-19 deal to aid Republican election opportunities MORE and its mishandling of this pandemic, “he continued.” He said it would disappear. She likened it to the flu … she urged children to return to school in communities where the virus is at its peak. Every step of the way, Donald Trump has put his own personal and political interests ahead of the health, well-being, and economic security of Americans. “
Former Obama National Security Advisor @AmbassadorRice to @TheView: “We prepare the [Trump] administration with a pandemic for the fool playbook … So, the blame here, the tragic loss of 150,000 Americans and counting, is on Donald Trump and his great mishandling of this pandemic. pic.twitter.com/4pK0zHTwww
– The View (@TheView) July 29, 2020
Rice’s comments are some of the most severe criticism leveled at the president by former members of the Obama administration, as the outbreak continues to devastate the US More than 4.3 million cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the US Since the pandemic began, more than any other country.
Obama administration officials reportedly briefed several incoming White House officials on pandemic response protocols in early 2017, but about two-thirds of those in attendance had left the White House before the pandemic will hit the United States this year.
Trump himself has refused to acknowledge the resources the Obama White House provided to his employees, instead of labeling the former president “incompetent” when journalists asked him about the issue.
The Hill has contacted the White House for comment.
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