President Trump just addressed the nation on US response to COVID-19 in his second Oval Office address. Two clips, and then I’ll discuss the specific policies tomorrow on my program:
We will be suspending all travel from Europe, except the United Kingdom, for the next 30 days. The policy goes into effect Friday at midnight. pic.twitter.com/Yeq1gVCIln
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 12, 2020
Insurance companies have agreed to waive co-payments of necessary testing and treatment, and we are cutting red tape to make treatments available in record time.
"We are moving very quickly." pic.twitter.com/bjof7bWvYx
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 12, 2020
And the media response, beginning with Jim Acosta:
On CNN, Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta says President @realDonaldTrump referring to the coronavirus as a "foreign virus" "smacks of xenophobia." pic.twitter.com/1aibFjZp5R
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 12, 2020
Brian Stelter:
Trump's Oval Office address was exactly what his Fox wingmen needed – now Sean Hannity et al can celebrate the new travel ban – while evading the real scourge of community spread within the US
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 12, 2020
WaPo:
Early in his remarks, Trump notes the coronavirus "started in China" and calls it a "foreign virus."
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) March 12, 2020
Summary of Trump's solutions to the coronavirus pandemic:
-ban European travel (though the virus is already here)
-business tax cuts
-payroll tax cut which cuts money from Medicare (the virus is most deadly to the elderly)
-bragging about the economy
-oh and wash your hands!— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) March 12, 2020
In the first 30 seconds, President Trump says the virus 'started in China' and then calls it a 'foreign virus'
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) March 12, 2020
The media have played identity politics with this the moment they realized they needed to as a strategy to offset any positive feelings people may harbor towards the administration’s handling of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the digital directer for Joe Biden’s campaign:
Meanwhile from the Biden campaign. Good grief. We have entered the Mos Eisley Cantina, America. https://t.co/YL0nRZ8Kjc
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) March 12, 2020
Unbelievable.
