House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is offering a different take on President Donald Trumpâsapparent shift in messaging on the Coronavirus Outbreak.
Pelosi appeared on CNNâs âThe Situation Roomâ Tuesday evening where she weighed in on Trumpâs remarks during Tuesdayâs press briefing.
Although the president appears to be taking a different stance on the coronavirus, Pelosi is arguing that the presidentâs âinactionâ is the only reason the virus âwill get worse before it gets better.â
âWell, I think with the presidentâs comments today, he recognized the mistakes he has made by now embracing mask-wearing and the recognition this is not a hoax. It is a pandemic that has gotten worse before it will get better because of his inaction,â Pelosi said.
Pelosi debuted a new nickname for the virus as revealed her reason for holding the president accountable for the United Statesâ pandemic response.
âIn fact, clearly, it is the Trump virus,â Pelosi added.
See Pelosiâs remarks below:
The top Democratic lawmaker went on to note Trumpâs actions prior to the press briefing on Tuesday.
From not publicly wearing a mask for a while to holding presidential rallies while many did not follow social distancing guidelines, Pelosi argues that if Trump had taken his current stance at the beginning of the pandemic, the country might be in a very different place as his supporters would have followed his lead.
âThe Trump virus,â Pelosi said again. âIf he had said months ago, letâs wear masks, letâs not â letâs socially distance instead of having rallies and political whatever they were, then more people would have followed his lead.â
She also expressed concern about the need for a âreturn to science and governanceâ to combat the pandemic. Despite discussions about the vaccine, Pelosi noted that it is still months away. In the meantime, more people âwill die,â she said.
âIf they donât return to science and governance â and thatâs a way that we can overcome this,â the California Democrat said. âWe hope and pray for a vaccine. God willing that will be soon.â
Pelosi continued, âBut itâs still months away, and people will die. So letâs hope that the president comes closer to embracing the reality of this pandemic, this Trump virus.â
During Tuesdayâs press briefing, Trump said, âIt will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better â something I donât like saying about things, but thatâs the way it is.â
