President Donald Trump is receiving harsh criticism from Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden after reports surfaced of Trump concealing the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.
“He waved a white flag; he walked away. He didn’t do a damn thing. Think about it. Think about what he did not do. It’s almost criminal,” Biden said in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper.
During a March phone call with Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward, Trump said in regards to the coronavirus, “I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”
Biden noted Columbia Medical School pointed out in March if Trump acted on the outbreak one week earlier there would be over 31,000 Americans fewer deaths and if it were two weeks earlier there would be around 50,000 fewer deaths.
Watch his comments below:
Joe Biden on President Trump concealing the coronavirus threat: "He waved a white flag, he walked away. He didn't do a damn thing. Think about it. Think about what he did not do. It's almost criminal" https://t.co/Irc5NRKrxr pic.twitter.com/aeC8Kb4j5s
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) September 10, 2020
“He acknowledges you breathe it, it’s in the air, and he won’t put on a mask. He’s talking about ‘it’s ridiculous to put on a mask, what do you need social distancing for?'” Biden said.
He continued, “‘Why have any of these rules?’ It was all about making sure the stock market didn’t come down, that his wealthy friends didn’t lose any money and that he could say that, in fact, anything that happened had nothing to do with him.”
Trump acknowledged he “perhaps” misled the American people on the outbreak “in order to reduce panic,” as IJR previously reported.
The president received backlash from other Democratic lawmakers including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
Schumer told MSNBC Trump “doesn’t mind panicking people when it serves his interest,” as IJR previously reported.
During her press conference, Pelosi said Trump’s comments showed contempt for Americans and their health and science.
Duckworth explained she is “just furious” with Trump and she “cannot imagine anyone with good conscience would” downplay the coronavirus.
