President Donald Trump is defending his position on masks and his decision to hold rallies amid the coronavirus pandemic.
During his 60 Minutes interview with Lesley Stahl, she told Trump, “I can’t believe after what happened in the Rose Garden here after the announcement with all the people getting sick that you are not being more strongly encouraging about wearing masks at your rallies.”
Trump replied, “I am. I tell people to wear masks.”
She interrupted him, “But you don’t.”
The president claimed the Trump campaign hands out thousands of masks at the rallies.
Stahl argued she looks out at the rallies and sees his supporters not wearing them.
Watch the conversation below:
Stahl challenged Trump on his refusal to tell his supporters to wear masks to avoid getting sick.
He touted the size and success of his rallies.
“We’re outside. The rallies are bigger than they’ve ever been. There’s more enthusiasm than we’ve ever had. There has never been anything like what you’re witnessing now and you’ll see that soon,” Trump said.
Stahl reiterated she is more concerned about the masks than the size of his rallies.
“You commented on the size of the rally. You said they’re not as big as they used to be and I’m telling you they’re much bigger,” Trump said.
He grew frustrated and told Stahl to move on to the next question.
Trump’s interview with Stahl was scheduled to air on Sunday, but he took it upon himself to post the video in full to Facebook on Thursday, as IJR previously reported.
The president walked out of the interview after he had “enough.”
Stahl criticized Vice President Mike Pence and Trump for failing to answer her questions and instead giving set campaign speeches, as IJR previously reported.
She told Pence she felt they “have insulted ’60 Minutes.'”
CBS announced they will air Trump’s interview with “full, fair, and contextual reporting.”
