President Donald Trump had been scheduled to visit the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, but that trip was canceled.
A White House official said the trip was canceled because Trump “does not want to interfere with the CDC’s mission to protect the health and welfare of their people and the agency.”
That explanation raised some questions for CNN’s John Berman, who noted that Trump was still going to Nashville to survey damage from a tornado that ripped through the area on Tuesday.
In an appearance on CNN on Friday, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) offered two explanations for the postponement of the trip.
“It sounds like he might actually be taking this seriously for once,” Moulton said.
The congressman continued:
“He’s either respecting the fact that the CDC needs to do their work. Or frankly, we know he’s a germaphobe, and maybe he’s just afraid of going. And he’s actually reacting as people should, which is not taking unnecessary travel right now.”
Watch the video below:
“It sounds like he might actually be taking this seriously for once,” says Rep. @sethmoulton about Trump’s canceled trip to the CDC. “He’s either respecting the fact that the CDC needs to do their work or… maybe he’s just afraid of going and he’s reacting as people should.” pic.twitter.com/C7yqlAXzsc
— CNN This Morning (@CNNThisMorning) March 6, 2020
According to a White House pool report, the trip was canceled due to a possible case of the coronavirus at the CDC. However, it turned out not to be the case.
In light of that news, Trump indicated that he might go to the CDC, “So I may be going. We’re going to see if they can turn it around.”