Trump begins reading prepared text “stable and declining” we are in happy talk land, usual boilerplate touts extra beds first, emphasizes ventilators over tests. usual blather over test total.
It’s not a solo appearance by Trump, he’s defaulted to his infomercial format for the Rose Garden.
It apparently will be a corporate infomercial today as Trump has some CEOs there to praise him Walmart, Kroger,… Trump has trouble reading names of companies.
Now he does the corporate testimonial bit and calls up CEOs… CNN leaves (will return for questions) MSNBC stays. (c’mon rats!) idiotic touting of Ohio swab manufacturer (at least there wasn’t the touting of 3-d printed swab handles)
More corporation, CVS and Walgreens (gosh, only white men except Rite-Aid run companies), Kroger and Walmart do corporate testimonials to Trump.
Now back to Trump begins allusion to China starting it, and then veers to happy talk, and back to prepared text.
Additional guidance for testing , “blueprint” (he probably loves that construction reference) repeating the involvement of pharmacies in testing.
More Trump blah-blah
IMPOTUS* says “1917” again (does he do this to dare the press to ask him about this only to push the 1917 CT rather than the 1918 epidemic?)
Dr. Birx is called up — she has slides today “robust”, “timely”, and “rapid response” are the new cues (someone needs to ask Birx about “1917”
HHS deputy Admiral Giroir on Launch, scale, support goes blah on swab production (reporters need to ask about per capita testing rather than his citation of volume numbers using South Korea as example)
Back to Trump
Questions
Q: advice on opening states?
Trump goes bafflegab talks about school systems
Q: about Azar quote framing the 55,000 death figure?
Trump calls it an “unfair question” cites Democrats, veers to border bans, attacks Pelosi (Chinatown)
Q: asks about Trump claim that inflated mortality rates by underreporting is it a CT?
Q: (Karl) re: PPP website not working
Trump punts
Q: Trump companies getting aid?
sure, if it’s legal
Q: blaming China (supply chain) holding them accountable?
Trump goes blah-blah, blaming China says “serious investigation” happening
then goes trade (we’re now in a campaign rally) farmers etc.
Q: data and restrictions if the reopening fails?
Trump punts compares Manhattan with Montana spends time on WV
Q: Germany billing China?
Trump punts,
Q: (Alcindor) Barr’s prosecuting states?
Trump filibusters sells point that economy causes death (campaign rally)
Q: Brian Karem tries to get him to talk about bleach
Trump punts, knows he’s screwed if he actually answers
Q: testing needs to be doubled
Trump punts, calls on Pence who goes into mortician thing … sucks up to corporate guests cites 200k testing level (it needs to be a million), Pence tries to get Giroir to take the heat. Giroir “depends on the state” cites Fauci “4M per month” diverges to swabs… etc. claims “more testing in May than South Korea in 4 months”
Q: Karl on “69 drive-through test sites”?
Pence “it’s a misunderstanding on your part on tests versus test processing” sleight of hand by Pence touts commercial labs. (It’s BS) claims that Trump is responsible for (2M a week is still not enough) Karl follows up and Pence filibusters “those were tests, but for POTUS’s leadership, we’d still be waiting” Pence leaps on the grenade.
Now Trump goes bafflegab
Q: (OAN) General Flynn’s return to the Trump administration?
Trump we’ll see what happens (campaign meme) Trump now refers to himself in third person.
Q: GDP decline?
Trump punts we’ll have a phenomenal 3rd quarter tries to blame China again
campaign speech begins GEITHOTW … (if only a reporter would ask him if you built it (‘I built’ The greatest economy in the history of the world (repeats it three times)), but will you take responsibility for breaking it)