Journalist Bob Woodward lambasted President Donald Trump’s downplaying of the coronavirus pandemic deeming his response a “monumental, catastrophic leadership failure.”
Woodward appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Wednesday where he discussed the audio of Trump’s remarks regarding the pandemic.
According to Woodward, Trump’s downplaying of the virus to reduce panic likely hindered the United States’ handling the public health crisis. He also shared his take on Trump’s stance.
“If he’d been honest and shared the truth in some form, we would be in a completely different position now,” Woodward said. “It is a monumental, catastrophic leadership failure.”
Woodward also recalled the January 28 meeting in the Oval Office when Trump received intelligence warning him about the potential severity of the virus. He also reiterated that Trump was well aware of the specificity of the threat the virus posed including the possibility of airborne transmission.
“I think it’s one of the most historic moments in the Oval Office when a crisis is laid out, and the president doesn’t level with the American people,” Woodward said.
He added, “And it’s absolutely tragic. It’s tragic for Donald Trump, for the country, for the 190,000 plus people who have died.”
See Woodward’s remarks below:
Woodward’s latest remarks follow the media firestorm surrounding the release of his recorded conversations with Trump. The clips captured Trump admitting that he downplayed the pandemic to refrain from inciting panic, as previously reported on IJR. However, Trump has been criticized for doing so.
Some of his supporters have also taken a similar stance often downplaying the virus while placing an emphasis on misinformation. In fact, Trump some supporters have even questioned the existence of the coronavirus altogether.
Just hours before the president’s campaign rally in Michigan where he ignored science and coronavirus mitigation guidelines, several of his supporters weighed in with their take on the coronavirus downplaying and dismissing the severity of it.
See the clip of Trump’s supporters below:
More than 6.7 million coronavirus cases have been reported in the United States since the beginning of the pandemic as the death toll continues to rise.
