Tapes Show Trump Publicly Lied About the Deadliness of the Airborne Virus
He Still Held Six Indoor Superspreader Rallies in the Weeks After Acknowledging Risks
He Held Another Superspreader Rally Last Night in Michigan & Removed Reporter Who Pointed Out Supporters Weren’t Wearing Masks
President Trump lied to Americans, putting even his own supporters at risk as the coronavirus spread across the country. After Trump acknowledged that the coronavirus was highly contagious, airborne, and “more deadly” than the flu on February 7, President Trump held six indoor, super-spreader rallies in February and March while downplaying the pandemic to the American public.
And now, despite more than 190,000 deaths in the United States, President Trump has resumed dangerous, maskless rallies with his supporters — downplaying the dangers of a virus and putting Americans at risk in a desperate attempt to buoy his electoral prospects ahead of November.
Trump Lied About the Deadliness of the Virus, Even When He Knew How Dangerous It Was.
On February 7, Trump Told Journalist Bob Woodward On Tape That The Virus Was “Deadly Stuff”, Airborne, Highly Contagious And “More Deadly” Than The Flu.
- “President Donald Trump admitted he knew weeks before the first confirmed US coronavirus death that the virus was dangerous, airborne, highly contagious and ‘more deadly than even your strenuous flus,’ and that he repeatedly played it down publicly, according to legendary journalist Bob Woodward in his new book ‘Rage.’ ‘This is deadly stuff,’ Trump told Woodward on February 7. In a series of interviews with Woodward, Trump revealed that he had a surprising level of detail about the threat of the virus earlier than previously known. ‘Pretty amazing,’ Trump told Woodward, adding that the coronavirus was maybe five times ‘more deadly’ than the flu.” [CNN, 9/9/20]
But President Trump Deliberately Downplayed The Virus, Putting Millions Of Americans At Risk.
- “Trump’s admissions are in stark contrast to his frequent public comments at the time insisting that the virus was ‘going to disappear’ and ‘all work out fine.’ ‘I wanted to always play it down,’ Trump told Woodward on March 19, even as he had declared a national emergency over the virus days earlier. ‘I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.’ If instead of playing down what he knew, Trump had acted decisively in early February with a strict shutdown and a consistent message to wear masks, social distance and wash hands, experts believe that thousands of American lives could have been saved.” [CNN, 9/9/20]
Knowing the Dangers, President Trump Held Super-Spreader Rallies — Putting His Supporters at Risk.
Trump Held 6 Campaign Rallies In February And March After He Acknowledged On Tape The Dangers Of The Virus.
- “Despite raising these concerns with Woodward, Mr. Trump held six rallies indoors between February 7 and March 2. Public health experts have raised concerns about holding large events in indoor venues, given the risk of spreading the virus. Mr. Trump participated in rallies in New Hampshire on February 10; Arizona on February 19; Colorado on February 20; February 21 in Nevada; South Carolina on February 28; and in North Carolina on March 2. No social distancing measures were put in place for these rallies.” [CBS News, 9/10/20]
Even After It Was Revealed That Trump Lied About the Deadliness of the Virus, Trump Held a Dangerous Michigan Rally — Puzzling His Own Experts.
Just Last Night, Trump Held A Rally In Michigan Where Few Supporters Wore Face Masks.
- “At Trump’s rally, more than 5,000 supporters gathered at MBS International Airport near Saginaw to hear his rebuttal. Many were not wearing face masks, which are required in Michigan in places where it is impossible to keep a social distance of six feet or greater to deter the spread of coronavirus.” [USA Today, 9/10/20]
[Twitter, @michpoligal, 9/10/20]
National Institutes Of Health Director Francis Collins Stated That He Was “Pretty Puzzled” And “Rather Disheartened” By Trump Holding A Crowded Campaign Rally Where Attendees Did Not Wear Masks.
- “Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said Thursday he was ‘pretty puzzled’ and ‘rather disheartened’ by President Donald Trump’s crowded campaign rally in Michigan — at which few of the several thousand attendees could be seen wearing face masks and virtually none appeared to be practicing social distancing.” [Politico, 9/11/20]
Trump Went So Far as to Eject a Reporter Who Shared Photos of Last Night’s Super-Spreader Rally.
The Trump Campaign Removed New York Times Reporter Kathy Gray From A Rally Michigan After Gray Posted Photos Of Attendees Not Wearing Masks Or Practicing Social Distancing.
- “President Donald Trump and his campaign visited Freeland, Michigan on Thursday for a rally where he spoke at length about former vice president Joe Biden, auto manufacturing, antifa, the suburbs, and the media. His campaign also ejected a New York Times reporter from the event, seemingly without explanation. Kathy Gray, a Times correspondent who lives in Michigan, tweeted, ‘And so it begins’ with a picture of Air Force One arriving. Thirteen minutes later, she wrote, ‘I’ve just been kicked out of the trump rally.’ She added 19 minutes later, ‘First for me: Trump campaign tracked me down from pics i tweeted and escorted me out.’” [Daily Beast, 9/11/20]
[Twitter, @michpoligal, 9/10/20]