Live blog below (yes, it is a pseudo-campaign rally, but the various Trumpian errors often make it worth it, also some folks like watching trainwrecks)
5:00* PM EDT (*it rarely starts on time)
The Trump premise continues to ignore the human costs in order to revive the national economy, because it is the last tangible rationale to re-elect him at least for the GOP. Blame-shifting continues. The GOP may now have wished that Pence became POTUS in January, but their senators decided to hold ‘em rather than fold ‘em.
36,721 dead
22 million+ unemployed
4 weeks
I have been told to be quiet on more than one occasion. I’ve been told I shouldn’t be allowed into a press briefing. But before Tuesday I had never made anyone threaten to leave his own news briefing.
Donald Trump did that.
At a Rose Garden briefing on April 14, the president also called me a loudmouth and said I was “nothing but trouble” and a “showboat.” You can watch the full exchange here.
All this because he pointed to me, recognized me and took my question, only the first part of which I was able to get out:
”Mr. President, I’ve spoken to hundreds of people across the country in the last few weeks who say they still can’t get tested and that they aren’t social distancing because they saw you and your coronavirus team not practicing it while preaching it. What do you say to the millions who simply don’t believe you? Do you take any responsibility for those who may have gotten ill because of your actions?”
Okay, technically it’s two questions. But there it is. He couldn’t answer it. Instead, after several interruptions, he said, “If you keep talking, I’ll leave and you can have it out with the rest of these people.”
Maybe I should’ve just asked, “Why do you continue to lie to the American people, Mr. President?” I’ve asked that a couple of times. It always raises his ire.
To recap, in the recent past Trump has said he takes responsibility for nothing. Monday he said he has absolute authority. Tuesday he said it was all up to the governors. But he has never accepted responsibility for anything that has gone wrong as we’ve tried to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
www.playboy.com/...
Here’s at least one reporter question:
Was Trump even working today.
This would be the basis for an interesting if random press question.
Friday, Apr 17, 2020 · 9:06:52 PM +00:00 · annieli
CNN and MSNBC feeds are now up two video screens on stage — will there be more propaganda videos in addition to slides. CSpan has been fronting the Texas state response since it’s the largest scale GOP governor response.
(N.B. I will stop my live blogging at 7pm EDT to attend the C&J virtual meeting; I am DVRing the presser, so after the DK meetup, I’ll come back to finish))
The show begins 625pm
(purportedly to discuss testing but Trump’s random attacks have included appointees to Voice of America)
Friday, Apr 17, 2020 · 10:42:05 PM +00:00 · annieli
Trump back to prepared text “all out war to defeat invisible enemy”
usual Trump boilerplate “most…. blah-blah” hypes Abbott “it’s the hot one”
“tremendous underutilized capacity” in private labs (for states to purchase) Trump BS about cotton swabs (note that they come from China)
US is the “king of ventilators” more blah
Trump yaks about testing capability hits “false reporting”
because “everything is perfect”
places where “almost no people are infected” (because there are almost no people)
Trump now ad libs back to ventilators (implies NY 40k yet again)
“the surge seems to be over”
More Trump blah-blah about research
now on to beds (Trump doesn’t understand the difference between ICU beds and beds)
now back to hospital ships Trump claims to be “overprepared”
claims sufficient testing capability in nation
now claims 2.2 million deaths differential comparing it to Civil War (because he’d like one — this message will get attached to his “liberate _____ state____ message”)
Redfield Fauci Birx to speak
4 authorized antibody tests, 35 therapies
More Trump bafflegab (now touting business numbers pre-COVID)
air bridge more #s of PPE (when will they actually arrive?)
Trump’s passing it off to Pence and will return to take questions (because prime time for the base to enjoy a lead-in to the Fox News evening line-up)
Pence does the usual PR
(back from DK event, will fill in from 736pm point where Trump does questions later) (Insert from 736pm see whitehouse.gov for tomorrow’s briefing transcript)
Questions to Trump
Q: Virginia, Minnesota, Michigan
Trump now talks about it as a second amendment matter (irrelevant to COVID)
Q: protests in those states congregating not under guidelines for social distancing
Trump doesn’t really answer
Q: what about later peaking states?
Trump does usual BS mentions other states claims others are dropping quickly
mentions SD meat packing plant
Q: Wuhan lab got $3.7 M grant (CT?)
Trump blah blah doesn’t know anything wants to blame PBO
Q: small business funding?
Trump blah-blah “community banks” wanders off to hospital financing, mentions payroll tax cut — mentions Art Laffer
Q: China death toll now 4,000
Trump “they must have this most (deaths)”
Q: Wuhan lab again?
Trump now opines on bats
Q: less than 1% of 80 million payments is 800k snafus?
Trump tries to BS it again (“Obama 5 Billion website”?*)
Q: rallies before the election?
Trump blah-blah hopes for rallies because social distancing makes rallies “lose flavor” — more lies again
Friday, Apr 17, 2020 · 11:56:43 PM +00:00 · annieli
Trump still doing shtick
wants rallies
Q: phase 2?
usual Trump blah-blah stock market 700 points still fixated on 1917 instead of 1918 for Spanish flu, zero interest rate
(it’s a campaign rally now)
more rationalizing of incompetent federalism- happy talk
Q: back to work versus schools closed
Trump blah-blah diverts to seniors, mentions Barron
Q: more about liberating Michigan?
more Trump blah-blah back to VA and 2nd Amendment (definitely a campaign rally now)
Q: which states are ready?
Trump blah-blah “the federal government has a lot to say”
Q: when will you travel again?
brings up trip to Norfolk and hospital ship more blah-blah
Q: Veep going to AF academy
blah-blah (why won’t a reporter ask about the 2 suicides aT AF Academy)
Trump blah-blah sports, restaurants “Sir” story (campaign riff) Trump pimps a miracle again
Q: 2022 Olympics?
Trump yaks about China trade now bashing China on COVID
Q: re: Fauci on China CT (man-made COVID)
Fauci: evolutionary biologists — it is definitely natural, not man-made
Trump blah-blah on his “gut” now cites 2 million death toll as if he saved them now cites “herd mentality” (even though he believes in it) Trump now BS on encouraging signs “body bags all over the floor of the hospital” blames China again.
Trump planning to flee
Flees at 806pm