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© Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.White House virus trouble is microcosm of what America faces
By AAMER MADHANI and KEVIN FREKING WASHINGTON©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
108 Comments
ulysses
Another disgraceful performance by Trump today.
The virus outbreak at the WH is not his only problem, facing reality is a bigger issue.
quercetum
He tweeted 125 times yesterday. That’s 1 every 7.5 minutes for 16 hours straight...
Blacklabel
Whatever happened to kindness and compassion for those suffering from coronavirus? Too many media seem happy about it when it’s in the White House.
kazetsukai
With better and improved testing kits and increase in testing, more people in all areas will be found to have "contracted" the virus. It is good that the those who "work" to keep the US in operation as with Abe's Japan, have taken such steps to make sure they can stay in operation. Hopefully none will be fatal, as their positions and abilties are needed in maintaining a sound and efficient government running at this critical time. May they be safe and remain healthy.
Chip Star
You can tell media is happy by reading an article?
ulysses
Another press briefing where female reporters managed to scare Trump away. It was hilarious how quickly he ran the moment he realized he was licked.
Do we really need a President spouting racist nonsense from the WH podium day after day?
BertieWooster
And this buffoon was chosen by several hundred million people? Someone who, in the middle of a torrential downpour would say that the sun is out and it's a fine day?
sunfunbun
He was disgraceful toward a reporter of Chinese descent, which may or may not have anything to do with his 'why don't you go ask China' response(it probably did). His follow up questioner was called on by him and his anger mounted inside his feeble mind, and then wouldn't even allow her to ask a question. He stormed away. How juvenile and disrespectful.
vanityofvanities
About masks, opinions were divided before. Many in the west were doubtful about its effectiveness to prevent people from viruses. However, now, masks are worn universally. I guess there still are some Americans who do not trust the masks from scientific stand point. I do not know about Trump. For myself, when I wear mask and and the other who is talking with me is also wearing a mask, I feel safer.
SimondB
Trump has a major problem with strong women. On the other hand, if can buy them by the hour he is fine with them.
PTownsend
Nutshell. Trump and his fellow 'elite' (including family members), those he's brought with him to the WH have long lived lives far removed from 99% of Americans. They have separated themselves living in gated communities where the only 'commoners' they see are household help.
The 'elite' have zero understanding of what life's like for 'others'. And the narcissistic 'elite' like Trump even less.
sunfunbun
Naw, the media is just trying to do their job with a difficult bunch of spinsters and liars.
u_s__reamer
Every time the thin-skinned Trump exposes himself in public with his thinly veiled racism and disrespect for women smarter than him his fake MAGA cred takes a hit and day by day with every shameful performance his stature as Potus shrinks. Even the Electoral College can't save him now. The sound of America's collective cry of "You're fired!" in November is already music to my ears!
Serrano
Never seen the economy shut down for a virus before.
Arrrgh-Type
"Clapped back" is now in the AP style guide? Interesting. Anyways, if Trump can give it, he should be able to take it, too.
Blacklabel
The media is desperate by now to deflect from what is coming.
i can understand the confusion as I think they thought Trump is only allowed to respond to their attacks, not to uncover things the American people need to know happened.
Serrano
Another press briefing where female reporters managed to scare Trump away. It was hilarious how quickly he ran the moment he realized he was licked.
Trump wasn't licked, he didn't want to waste any more time. He responded to that reporter's snarky question by saying "Maybe that's a question you should ask China."
He then called on another reporter to ask a question but this rude reporter kept asking questions and wouldn't shut up so Trump ended the news conference. He should have had her thrown out.
Do we really need a President spouting racist nonsense from the WH podium day after day?
What did Trump say that was racist? Be specific. I'll be waiting.
Blacklabel
I just watched the video. Nothing wrong with the response to the reporter.
She is talking about people in the world dying everyday after claimingthe US doing well in testing doesn’t matter. Trump said ask China about that (as they are the reason any of this testing is necessary and the reason for all deaths).
why are you telling ME to ask China? Well it’s YOUR question isn’t it? Simple.
1glenn
If the rest of the country had access to the rapid Covid-19 tests that he has secured for those who come close to him, then opening up the country would be easy.
But, Trump doesn't care about the country, he only cares about himself.
Ricky Kaminski13
I guess when your job involves a lot of leaning in and whispering to each other then yep the virus is gunna getcha!
blue in green
Disgraceful? It wasn't a question from a person wanting information. It was a question from a rude woman who wanted attention drawn to herself, for asking it. Too many reporters (of all races) forget they are not the news, as reporters, but there to gather it, with insightful, intelligent inquiry.
Is directing an attack disguised as a question respectful?
If someone spoke to me in that fashion they's be shown the door.
ulysses
He was licked. And he ran the moment he realized it.
Not a surprise, plenty of people out there who think racism is acceptable.
Blacklabel
He left his own voluntary press availability. I would too once someone pulls off their mask and starts screaming nonsense like she did at the end.
You guys get excited over “news” the media creates about themselves. To distract from the actual news.
Chip Star
Coming to a theater near you in fall 2020.
Trump will release evidence of aliens at Area 51?! That should put to rest all those conspiracy theory deniers.
Jsapc
No, he was chosen 62,984,828 people exactly.
(2 868 686 less people than Clinton actually.)
Chip Star
And we know the EC elects the president, just like we know the popular vote represents the will of the peole.
Strangerland
The Trump acting presidential again! And his supporters too. Very presidential!
Chip Star
*people. 2.8 million is a lot of will so deserves correct spelling.
Jsapc
Then you should probably read a history book! You will find plenty of information about the 1918 flu.
Strangerland
laughing out out out out out out out loud?
Strangerland
See what people don't realize is this woman was rude. And as any sane and logical person recognizes, it's more important to tell a rude person they are rude than to effectively manage a response to a pandemic.
Sheesh.
Jsapc
What is "coming" exactly?
Chip Star
What about letting people do what they want? Their freedom to go to a cafe orbit wear a mask. Just the other day, a President Donald John Trump appointed circuit court judge jailed a person for not personally apologizing to President Donald John Trump for a reply on twitter. I’ve posted links to the story numerous times.
Moderator: No need to say President Donald John. Trump will suffice, thank you.
Chip Star
*not wear
Numan
Under trump, American Exceptionalism means poverty, misery, and death, but he gets high TV ratings for reporting to America about his failed handling of a pandemic, so he will be able to renegotiate his deal for the Apprentice TV show!
In his eyes, it was all worth it!
lincolnman
Well, this makes the case for stringent measures - we can't have the virus infecting the White House, especially since there are so many other diseases and vermin there already - but Trump has a plan.....
"Trump Inoculation Tonic or TIT" - just take a swig everyday and it will "disinfect" you from the virus. 100% chlorine - made in cooperation with the fine folks at Clorox.
Just $9.99 a gallon - sold exclusively on the Trump website - right next to the Chinese-made Trump ties...
Blacklabel
The actual news of the day is that yes, the USA is doing well on testing and yes, the number of coronavirus cases are down. Georgia reopened weeks ago and everyone there was supposed to be dead by now, but they arent. So that tells us that states can reopen successfully.
Anything else is media people auditioning for a book deal or for their own show on CNN or MSNBC. Why do you think she pulled her mask off her face at the end? So everyone could know it is her when it is posted online and on muh resistance Twitter feeds.
yamada1043
The main reason the current occupant of the White House refuses to wear a mask, as well as reading glasses, in his vanity.
He equates protection as a sign of weakness.
Blacklabel
someone asks me a question where China is known to be responsible for what happened.
Do I not respond- Dont ask ME ask CHINA? as well all know, China did it- including the questioner.
Or just because that person who asked has some personal connections to China, would I have to advise them to have their friend ask Ecuador?
Strangerland
Heh, only in the right-wing American bubble. Literally no news organization in the world that isn't heavily right-wing biased has rated Americas testing response as being done well. None of them.
Strangerland
Heh, Trump claimed it, so now the right has determined that "it's known".
They don't even realize this is circular "logic".
SuperLib
Please tell me you made that up. Please.
Blacklabel
Your media:
https://www.vox.com/2020/5/11/21255128/coronavirus-testing-trump-white-house-briefing
So they change the measurement system to "per capita" for testing later in the article to claim the USA doesnt lead the word. But didnt even bother to change to per capita for deaths/number of cases.
Jsapc
Yes, Georgians resumed their normal lives of murdering black joggers for no reason! Good job, Georgia. Oh and also the number of covid cases is rising.
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-georgia-updates-on-may-11/85-9b44b5bd-ae28-4e94-8086-ab32a15a1531
"According to the latest data from the Georgia Department of Public Health there is a noticable increase in number of cases and case rate in metro Atlanta."
What kind of word is that?
Blacklabel
Yeah just like the media using the media to justify the truthfulness of a media report.
It is a known fact that this virus originated in Wuhan, China. Whether from a lab, or nature or wherever. Wuhan, CHINA.
Strangerland
It's ok, it didn't get in the way of his coronavirus response handling.
He'd need a response to get in the way of, for that to happen.
Strangerland
Ok, yet no news article in the world, that is not heavily American-right-wing biased has rated the US response as good.
None.
Strangerland
In other words, it's fake news.
Numan
I can't wait to buy some of that "freedom juice"!
Blacklabel
"metro Atlanta" is not the state of Georgia. and I said deaths, not cases or case rate.
The "jogger" story is off topic and irrelevant to coronavirus or the White House response.
bass4funk
I’m also trying to see what the problem here is, thought he handled it well. Ahh, nothing new, just another bored day for the media to try and find something to rile up Trump haters, other more important news, let’s gloss over that. Not like their complaining will change Trump. Lol
Numan
I doubt that they know what it means!
Blacklabel
We lead the world in total number of tests. fact. Change the goalposts all you want.
Blacklabel
also in per capita deaths, there are numerous countries with a higher rate. How do you consider their responses? and more importantly, how do you view their leaders based on those ineffective responses that caused death?
Strangerland
Shifts the goal posts, then gets all disdainful.
And then complains about not being able to have an honest discussion.
How does that bed feel? A little uncomfortable hmm?
Numan
This it the best response to trump, his supporters, and any lockdown protesters willing to risk other peoples lives.
Strangerland
What does that have to do with the fact that while you claimed the response by the US is good, when no non-extremist news source on the planet has said that?
Blacklabel
you dont read much, do you?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/21/georgia-leads-race-become-americas-no-1-death-destination/
Georgia leads the race to become America’s No. 1 Death Destination
but, but its an opinion piece. Yeah, that is what is used to try to sway public opinion against things or people.
Jsapc
You mean to say Atlanta is not part of Georgia? Were you talking about Georgia the eastern european country then, perhaps?
lincolnman
Our great "wartime" President; fearless, courageous, brave...
Except when he gets asked a question from a female reporter - then he turns tail and runs - to go hide in the WH basement...like some scared puppy...
Time for another fake bone spurs diagnosis Mr President - you can use that as an excuse to quit your press conferences...so those mean, ruthless female reporters won't pick on you...
bass4funk
So liberals don’t care about food, water, basic necessities? What they think the government can just print money without the country working? This is so ridiculous, it’s so obvious to see what the left is doing, even in California people are calling the lockdown way overrated BS. The elected leaders like DeBlasio, the mayor of Chicago and Obama can go out, lecture us, but we have to stay in? Give it another two weeks and that dam will burst, people won’t put up with this crap much longer and good on them.
Strangerland
Shift the goal posts, pretends that this makes his previous incorrect statement correct, then gets disdainful.
Typical Repub.
Yeah, because anyone ever claimed everyone was supposed to be dead.
Did you just hear that clap? It was my facepalm reverberating around the planet.
ulysses
You can't enjoy any of them if you are not alive!!
You need to go to a College to understand economics!
Nobody takes gun-toting, confederate flag bearing klansmen seriously, they can make a bit of a noise, but thats about it.
Serrano
He was licked. And he ran the moment he realized it.
Noooooo, he cut it off when she got rude and rightly so. Would rather have seen her thrown out, but nah, we have to let these so called reporters ask their snarky questions and be rude.
SuperLib
And talk about irrelevant things all you want.
The point is that the US isn't doing enough testing at the moment to safely open. That's the problem. Talking about numbers and moving goalposts doesn't make a dent in that problem, and that's the real problem at hand.
Blacklabel
I never used the phrase "good".
I stated facts and data, not opinion, such as "good" is.
Total number of tests: highest in world. Number of per capita deaths: Not highest in the world, by far.
bass4funk
You won’t be alive if you don’t eat.
These Democrats supposedly did, so why do they still want to print money?
Blacklabel
Then what does this mean?
Georgia leads the race to become America’s No. 1 Death Destination
Oh let me guess, they didnt say everyone so you feel you are accurately portraying their sentiment that no one would die.
No, they claimed death and lots of it. Didnt happen. So that is proof we can continue to reopen safely in phases.
Strangerland
My bad, you said 'doing well'.
Which, is something that no non-far-right-wing American websites have reported.
Fake news, bubble speak.
Numan
As COVID-19 Deaths Near 80,000, Trump Touts His Private Golf Business
https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/trump-golf-course-coronavirus-073411335.html
So, on Sunday before another intelligent woman embarrassed him and forced him to run away on Monday which caused him to whine on Twitter 125 times in one day like an unstable pre-teen girl, trump had the nerve to advertise his golf course in California since the state has been opening up slowly and carefully under a Democratic governor.
WOW! U.S. deaths from COVID-19 neared 80,000, but the president didn’t tweet about that.
An analogy for this whole presidency!
Jsapc
It seems like you've been saying that for two weeks now, and yet apart from the sparsely attended anti-lockdown demonstration organized and funded by the usual Koch/DeVos network, the majority of the american population still seems to vastly favour lockdown measures that will protect their health.
Strangerland
It certainly doesn't mean what you concluded it did: "everyone there was supposed to be dead by now"
And then you complain about not being able to have honest discussions
bass4funk
Had no idea that California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee and Washington, had angry confederate flag wielding Americans....interesting, well...looking at the pics, these governors better start taking it more seriously, because even angry vegan CA confederate flag holders aren’t happy about this lockdown and want it to end.
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/495743-protesters-in-at-least-10-states-demand-end-to-coronavirus-lockdown
Blacklabel
we are doing well. #1 in the world in total testing. Cant do more well than that.
Strangerland
Which brings me right back to my original statement:
So go ahead and pat yourself on the back. You need it, no one else in the world is doing it. Hopefully it will make the families of the dead feel a little better.
Serrano
It's so unfortunate that the Democrats actively do all they can to keep the economy down in order to hurt Trump's chances for re-election. Fortunately they will fail in this misguided endeavor.
ulysses
You will not eat if you are not alive.
As compared to what , using blockchain??
Strangerland
Most Americans oppose anti-lockdown protests — even across party lines, poll finds: https://www.thestate.com/news/coronavirus/article242161736.html
Strangerland
It's so unfortunate that the Republicans are actively willing to let as many die as necessary to ramp up the economy in order to ensure Trump's re-election.
Jsapc
Who is "they"? You posted the opinion of one man in one newspaper. (An opinion we can't fully read because it's behind a paywall)
Wait, isn't it strange not to use the same measure for both?? Why aren't you taking both per capita? Or in total?
Strangerland
Well yeah, the fact that you continue to push the twisted talking points of the bubble as if they were reality and made sense, has made that very clear.
Maybe not. But the rest of the world media doesn't have the US political biases. And yet not a single one has rated the American response to covid as being done "well".
The point is, you can try to pretend it's doing well, but it's clearly an opinion that only you hold, because objectively, it's wrong.
Blacklabel
the liberal media went crazy when Georgia said they would reopen. Numerous artlcles, videos and TV shows are available. Everyone will die (their and my hyperbole)
Didnt care at all when Colorado (liberal governor) did the same at the same time. Attacked Trump for supporting GA governor, then attacked him again when they found out he didnt support reopening.
So it wasnt one man in one newspaper, it was the entire liberal media against Georgia reopening. But guess what? its fine and many other states following their lead.
PTownsend
Good question. Right wingers want to use us - them to frame issues, reduce existence to one pole or its opposite level in their attempts to hijack discussions, flame and divide.
Blacklabel
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/04/its-too-early-to-reopen-georgia/610909/
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/georgia-s-decision-reopen-businesses-during-pandemic-slap-face-mothers-ncna1190846
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/4/23/21231256/georgia-reopening-plan-brian-kemp-hair-salons-bowling-coronavirus
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/28/health/georgia-coronavirus-death-projections/index.html
Georgia's daily coronavirus deaths will nearly double by August with relaxed social distancing, model suggests
Blacklabel
right here:
Georgia's daily coronavirus deaths will nearly double by August with relaxed social distancing, model suggests
Strangerland
Weird that you took the time to post four articles, none of which claimed everyone in Georgia would die, as you claimed. So you posted four articles that don't support the claim you made, all while using bold to express disdain.
And then you whine about not being able to have an honest conversation.
Boo hoo.
This is why we can't have nice things.
Strangerland
And what does that have to do with your claim that the news said everyone would die? You know, that claim you still haven't supported?
Blacklabel
Also why would world media say that the US is doing well on testing compared to their country? Do you really think Japan wants to talk about testing as compared to the USA?
will a Japanese newspaper write an article comparing the total tests of the 2 countries and compare them? No, why would they?
But ok, enjoy whatever point it is you are trying to make. My point is that #1 in the world in total tests and not in the top 5 of per capita deaths, that maybe your focus should be on another country and another leader. But all the liberals, even all the non Americans, just gotta get that orange guy. Despite the data points for testing and data showing us doing well compared to many others in the world.
Blacklabel
its breathless hyperbole from the liberal media that I appropriated to make fun of their projections. Doesnt change the point that the death rate is not going up as Georgia safely reopens. Or the data that I presented. Its still the same without the hyperbole of everyone would die. No everyone did not, and will not, die Despite what the media implied with their breathless concerns.
Strangerland
Because it would be news. Because other countries are objective about solving the problem, and if the US really were having a good response, I'd certainly want to know it, as would most of the rest of the world.
The better question is why the rest of the world would push your political propaganda.
And the fact is, they aren't.
Strangerland
Ok. I will. And to restate it, the point was that your claim that the US is responding 'well' to the problem is not a claim supported by any non-fake-news anywhere on the planet.
Which is to say, it's fake news. And since your MS is the most M of all the MSes, it's MSM fake news.
Blacklabel
the data of total testing and per capita deaths shows otherwise.
We are doing well, as compared to many other places. Also as compared to how we were doing before. Things are without a doubt, improving.
But you and the liberal media dont want to admit that so I will just move on to something else that interests me on the site today.
Jsapc
I think you just put your finger on the crux of the problem.
You read and watch a lot of right-wing media. This type of media needs you to keep clicking and watching in order to get their precious advertising money, so it appeals to the basest emotion you have : fear. In effect, they make up an enemy (the "liberal media"), exaggerate and invent dangerous thing this enemy does, and then give you comfort by assuring you it can inform you and protect you from that enemy. The problem is that if they reported purely on facts, you would never be scared of "the enemy". So they need use constant hyperbole to paint the broadest and scariest image possible. That is how the idea of health care for everyone becomes "death panels" on Fox News. And that is how you then come on this comments section to assure us that the entirety of the "liberal media" lost their mind and said that all Georgians would die, when in actuality 99% of them simply reported that most people, most of all medical professionnals, thought the reopening was happening much too soon. And now you claim vindication because the streets of Atlanta (which is in indeed Georgia, by the way) aren't lined up with bodies. But the number of cases keeps rising in that state. And since Covid-19 has a death rate around 2-3%, the number of deaths will ultimately rise too. Deaths that could all have been actually prevented.
Strangerland
Yet no one in the world outside the US right-wing bubble is rating the US response as "doing well".
Jsapc
Again, if you're counting deaths per capita, shouldn't you count tests per capita too?
A suggestion : yes you should.
bass4funk
That is absolutely not true.
They have the right to voice their opinions, they also don’t have the third largest population on the planet to deal with.
As well as thinking it was not done well, now I am not saying everything was perfect, far from it, but given the circumstances surrounding it, the politics and how all these State governors performed to handle this, they did a better than outstanding job given all that transpired"
Blacklabel
Yes, it should be that way. Starting with the US media. They do total deaths and switch to per capita for testing. cause it suits their narrative.
Strangerland
The point wasn't an opinion that they voiced, it was that literally no one has voiced the biased opinion that the right-wing bubble has, that America's response is well.
Strangerland
And yet, you don't practice what you preach.
If it should be that way, then maybe you should do it the way you say it should be done.
SuperLib
So you're saying we have enough testing to safely reopen? Or are you saying that we have more testing than Guatemala? Because one question is the 500 lb elephant and the other is a distraction
And don't forget to add Trump to the list and of people predicting bad results for Georgia:
"President Donald Trump said he told Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp that he “disagreed strongly” with Kemp’s decision to begin allowing some nonessential businesses to soon reopen.
“I want him to do what he thinks is right. But I disagree with him on what he’s doing. … But I think (opening) spas and beauty salons and tattoo parlors and barbershops in phase one … it’s just too soon.”
Liberal. Sheesh.
ulysses
Don't worry about the governors, they have education, look a bit closer..
In the meantime they need to keep themselves and their families safe, and hope that the federal government cares about them too.
I actually don't find it funny, feel sorry for them, considering that they can't think for themselves ...
Chip Star
I want to make sure I understand what you’re trying to say. The US response isn’t in question regarding total number of tests and fewest per capita deaths; however, it’s not described as well in any media beyond the right wing sources, correct?
Maybe a picture would be more effective.
bass4funk
They don’t have to, if liberals think they didn’t do a good job, that’s their right to believe so as is the right for conservatives to think the opposite and please stop with Europe, whatever they that’s on them, it has nothing to do with us, let them think whatever they want, who cares?
bass4funk
I don’t worry, but the governors should, but if they want to be replaced, fine by me.
That won’t be forever in the meantime as more and more people are agitated in the tension screw in the push for the lock down just stop continues to grow.
I do
lincolnman
As the death toll reaches almost 80K - one third more than all the lives lost in Vietnam, some folks think we're "doing well" and "without a doubt improving"....
I guess when deaths reach 100K like "President Trump" suggested, they'll want to have a block party - masks and distancing optional of course....and bring your AR15 and confederate flag!
Blacklabel
not when the opposition is intentionally doing it the incorrect way. in a way that benefits them to try to "win" by spreading misinformation.
Its why I used to be a Democrat, because Republican always lost. every single time, it was hysterical to watch. By doing it the way that everyone agreed was the "correct" way, but that no one but them was actually doing. which caused them to lose.
no more. If liberal media can frame data in the way that benefits their point, then so can I.
Dont you guys do this with the "popular vote" argument, knowing that its the electoral college that is the truth of how someone is elected? same thing.