>>> WELL, GOOD EVENING. AFTER THIS DAY 1208 OF THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, 176 DAYS TO GO
UNTIL OUR NEXT PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION.
ELECTION. AND WHILE WE WERE DEEP INTO THE
TRUMP PRESIDENCY NOW, WE ARE
NONETHELESS COVERING A NUMBER OF
FIRSTS TONIGHT.
FIRSTS TONIGHT. FOR STARTERS, THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES STOOD IN THE
ROSE GARDEN TODAY AND ACCUSED
HIS PREDECESSOR OF COMMITTING A
CRIME WHILE OFFERING NO DETAILS
OR PROOF.
OR PROOF. AND THAT WASN’T EVEN THE LEAD
STORY FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE
TODAY.
TODAY. IF THERE WAS A BUMPER STICKER
QUOTE TO EMERGE FROM TODAY’S
SESSION ABOUT THE CLIMBING U.S.
DEATH TOLL, IT WAS THIS, AND WE
QUOTE, "DON’T ASK ME, ASK CHINA"
BECAUSE AS OTHERS HAVE THEE
RISED, UNABLE TO RUN FOR THE
ELECTION ON ECONOMY OR HEALTH
CARE OR LEADERSHIP, THE
DEFLECTION TO CHINA ALREADY
UNDER WAY WILL BE CONSTANT AND A
DAILY THEME.
DAILY THEME. AT THE START OF TODAY’S EVENT,
THE PRESIDENT DECLARED WE HAVE
MET THE MOMENT, AND WE HAVE
PREVAILED.
PREVAILED. WHEN CALLED OUT ON THAT LATER
ON, THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WAS
TALKING ABOUT TESTING.
AND TODAY HE STAKED HIS WORD ON
TESTING.
TESTING. THESE ARE THE QUOTES.
AMERICANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET
A TEST RIGHT NOW.
IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO GET TESTED
RIGHT NOW, THEY’LL BE ABLE TO
GET TESTED.
GET TESTED. WHILE HE STOPPED TO ADD THAT NOT
EVERYBODY SHOULD GET A TEST IN
HIS ESTIMATION, HE WENT BACK
THERE AGAIN.
THERE AGAIN. QUOTE, IF PEOPLE WANT TO GET
TESTED, THEY GET TESTED.
AND THAT, WE KNOW, IS JUST NOT
TRUE.
TRUE. ABOUT THE ECONOMY, THE PRESIDENT
CONTINUES TO BET ON THE THIRD
QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
HE’S BILLING IT AS THE
TRANSITION TO GREATNESS, AND HE
SAID TODAY, QUOTE, GREATNESS IS
GOING TO BE IN THE FOURTH
QUARTER, BUT IT’S REALLY GOING
TO BE NEXT YEAR.
BACK IN THE REAL WORLD TONIGHT,
WE HAVE LOST 81,468 AMERICANS TO
THIS VIRUS WITH WELL NORTH OF
1.3 MILLION CASES THAT WE KNOW
OF.
OF. THE PRESIDENT CLAIMS, QUOTE,
NUMBERS ARE LOOKING MUCH BETTER,
GOING DOWN ALMOST EVERYWHERE,
WHICH HE THEN REPEATED THIS
AFTERNOON AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> OUR COUNTRY’S BEEN
INCREDIBLE, AND YOU SEE THE
NUMBERS.
NUMBERS. THEY’RE DROPPING VERY
SUBSTANTIALLY.
SUBSTANTIALLY. THE NUMBERS ARE COMING DOWN VERY
RAPIDLY ALL THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. >> HOWEVER, "THE NEW YORK TIMES"
FINDS AT LEAST NINE STATES,
THESE NINE, WHERE CASES ARE ON
THE RISE RIGHT NOW.
NBC NEWS REPORTS AN UNDISCLOSED
WHITE HOUSE TASK FORCE REPORT
SHOWS THE VIRUS SPREAD IN THE
HEARTLAND FAR FROM THE NATION’S
COASTS.
COASTS. AS WE MENTIONED, TRUMP APPEARED
IN THE ROSE GARDEN TODAY TO
ANNOUNCE THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION
WILL DISTRIBUTE $11 BILLION TO
STATES TO HELP RAMP UP TESTING.
THE MONEY COMES FROM FUNDS
ALREADY APPROVED BY CONGRESS FOR
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF.
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF. AS OVER 40 STATES ARE NOW IN
SOME STAGE OF LIFTING
RESTRICTIONS, THAT WILL BE 48 BY
NEXT WEEKEND.
NEXT WEEKEND. JUST OVER 2% OF AMERICANS HAVE
NOW BEEN TESTED FOR THIS.
ACCORDING TO THE COVID TRACKING
PROJECT, TODAY NEARLY 400,000
PEOPLE WERE TESTED.
BUT, AGAIN, IN A NATION OF 330
MILLION, GIVE OR TAKE, EXPERTS
UP AT HARVARD HAVE SAID THE U.S.
SHOULD BE CONDUCTING AT LEAST
900,000 TESTS A DAY BY MAY 15 TO
HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF HOW THIS
VIRUS IS SPREADING AMONG US.
TODAY TRUMP REPEATED A CLAIM HE
MADE TWO MONTHS AGO ABOUT THE
AVAILABILITY OF TESTS.
IT WASN’T TRYUE WHEN HE SAID IT
TWO MONTHS AGO, STILL ISN’T TRUE
TODAY.
TODAY. >> WE’VE PREVAILED ON TESTING.
>> YOU’RE NOW PROMISING THAT
EVERYONE WHO NEEDS A TEST WILL
BE ABLE TO GET ONE AT SOME POINT
SOON.
SOON. WHEN WILL THAT BE A TRUE
STATEMENT EXACTLY?
STATEMENT EXACTLY? >> WELL, IT’S A TRUE STATEMENT
ALREADY.
ALREADY. AS FAR AS AMERICANS GETTING A
TEST, THEY SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO
GET A TEST RIGHT NOW.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET A
TEST.
TEST. IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO BE TESTED
RIGHT NOW, THEY’LL BE ABLE TO BE
TESTED.
TESTED. IF PEOPLE WANT TO GET TESTED,
THEY GET TESTED.
WE HAVE THE GREATEST CAPACITY IN
THE WORLD, NOT EVEN CLOSE.
IF PEOPLE WANT TO GET TESTED,
THEY GET TESTED.
>> BUT THERE WAS THIS
CLARIFICATION FROM A MEMBER OF
THE TASK FORCE.
>> EVERYBODY WHO NEEDS A TEST
CAN GET A TEST.
IF YOU’RE SYMPTOMATIC WITH A
RESPIRATORY ILLNESS, THAT IS AN
INDICATION FOR A TEST, AND YOU
CAN GET A TEST.
IF YOU NEED TO BE CONTACT
TRACED, YOU CAN GET A TEST.
>> MEANWHILE, THE WHITE HOUSE IS
BATTLING ITS OWN CORONAVIRUS
OUTBREAK AS YOU MAY KNOW AFTER
THE PRESIDENT’S VALET AND THEN
THE VICE PRESIDENT’S PRESS
SECRETARY TESTED POSITIVE.
TODAY A NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS
WERE WEARING MASKS.
YOU MAY RECALL THE CDC
RECOMMENDATION THAT FACE
COVERINGS SHOULD BE USED.
THAT WAS BACK IN EARLY APRIL.
EVEN SON-IN-LAW, SENIOR ADVISER
JARED KUSHNER WAS SPORTING ONE
TODAY.
TODAY. TODAY TRUMP WAS ASKED ABOUT THE
DECISION.
DECISION. >> WHY HAVEN’T YOU REQUIRED
EVERYONE AT THE WHITE HOUSE TO
WEAR MASKS BEFORE NOW?
>> WELL, IF THEY’RE A CERTAIN
DISTANCE FROM ME OR IF THEY’RE A
CERTAIN DISTANCE FROM EACH
OTHER, THEY DO.
IN THE CASE OF ME, I’M NOT CLOSE
TO ANYBODY.
TO ANYBODY. OBVIOUSLY IN MY CASE, I’M VERY
FAR AWAY FROM EVERYONE.
JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY I’VE SEEN
TODAY HAS WORN A MASK, YEAH.
>> ARE YOU THE ONE WHO REQUIRED
THAT, SIR?
THAT, SIR? >> YEAH, I DID.
I DID.
I DID. I REQUIRED IT.
>> TRUMP WAS ALSO PRESSED ON
WHETHER LESS STRINGENT RULES LED
TO THIS WHITE HOUSE OUTBREAK.
>> WHERE DID THE SYSTEM BREAK
DOWN TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN?
>> I DON’T THINK THE SYSTEM
BROKE DOWN AT ALL.
ONE PERSON TESTED POSITIVE
SURPRISINGLY BECAUSE THE
PREVIOUS DAY TESTED NEGATIVE.
IT COULD HAPPEN.
IT’S THE HIDDEN ENEMY.
REMEMBER THAT.
REMEMBER THAT. IT’S THE HIDDEN ENEMY.
THINGS HAPPEN.
THINGS HAPPEN. >> MR. PRESIDENT, TO OTHER
COMPANIES WHO MAY LOOK AT THIS
AND SAY, I DON’T KNOW IF WE’RE
READY FOR ALL THIS?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE
HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE
WHITE HOUSE, AND WE HAD ONE.
BASICALLY WE HAD ONE PERSON.
I THINK WE’VE CONTROLLED IT VERY
WELL.
WELL. WE HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE A DAY POURING INTO THE
WHITE HOUSE.
WHITE HOUSE. SO I THINK WE’RE DOING A VERY
GOOD JOB IN WATCHING IT, AND I
THINK IT’S VERY WELL CONTAINED
ACTUALLY.
ACTUALLY. >> THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE
PRESIDENT HAS EXPRESSED SURPRISE
THAT YOU CAN TEST NEGATIVE
BEFORE TESTING POSITIVE.
IN ADDITION TO THE TWO CONFIRMED
INFECTIONS WITHIN TRUMP’S
CIRCLE, NONE OF THE MEDICAL
EXPERTS WERE THERE TODAY IN PART
BECAUSE THREE TASK FORCE
MEMBERS, FAUCI, THE CDC DIRECTOR
REDFIELD, AND THE FDA DIRECTOR,
COMMISSIONER, DR. STEPHEN HAHN
ARE ALL IN SOME FORM OF
SELF-QUARANTINE AFTER COMING
INTO CONTACT WITH WHITE HOUSE
STAFF WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR
THE VIRUS.
THE VIRUS. THEY ALL PLAN TO TESTIFY AT A
SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE HEARING
TOMORROW.
TOMORROW. THAT’S BEING DONE BY VIDEO
CONFERENCE.
CONFERENCE. IN FACT, THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN,
LAMAR ALEXANDER, REPUBLICAN OF
TENNESSEE, WILL ALSO RUN THE
HEARING REMOTELY.
HEARING REMOTELY. HE’S IN SELF-ISOLATION AFTER
EXPOSURE TO ONE OF HIS OWN STAFF
MEMBERS WHO TESTED POSITIVE.
EVEN WITH CORONAVIRUS NOW
DISCOVERED IN THE WEST WING,
TRUMP’S ATTENTION HAS BEEN
FOCUSED ON A NUMBER OF OTHER
ISSUES QUESTION SIDES THE
PANDEMIC.
PANDEMIC. OVER THE WEEKEND HE POSTED A
BARRAGE OF MESSAGES AND ATTACKS
ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THERE WERE 125 OF THEM OVER A
16-HOUR SPAN, AVERAGING ONE
EVERY 17.5 MINUTES ON MOTHER’S
DAY.
DAY. AMONG THEM WAS THIS ACCUSING
FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA OF
COMMITTING, QUOTE, THE BIGGEST
POLITICAL CRIME IN AMERICAN
HISTORY BY FAR.
THIS AFTERNOON, PHIL RUCKER OF
"THE WASHINGTON POST," WHO IS
STANDING BY TO JOIN US IN A
MOMENT, ASKED THE PRESIDENT FOR
AN EXPLANATION.
AN EXPLANATION. >> WHAT CRIME EXACTLY ARE YOU
ACCUSING PRESIDENT OBAMA OF
COMMITTING, AND DO YOU BELIEVE
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD
PROSECUTE HIM?
PROSECUTE HIM? >> OBAMAGATE.
>> OBAMAGATE. IT’S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG
TIME.
TIME. IT’S BEEN GOING ON FROM BEFORE I
EVEN GOT ELECTED, AND IT’S A
DISGRACE THAT IT HAPPENED.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT’S GONE
ON AND IF YOU LOOK AT NOW ALL OF
THIS INFORMATION THAT’S BEING
RELEASED AND FROM WHAT I
UNDERSTAND, THAT’S ONLY THE
BEGINNING.
BEGINNING. SOME TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPENED,
AND IT SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED
TO HAPPEN IN OUR COUNTRY AGAIN.
AND YOU’LL BE SEEING WHAT’S
GOING ON OVER THE NEXT -- OVER
THE COMING WEEKS, AND I WISH
YOU’D WRITE HONESTLY ABOUT IT.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CHOOSE
NOT TO DO SO.
YEAH, JON, PLEASE.
>> WHAT IS THE CRIME EXACTLY
THAT YOU’RE ACCUSING HIM OF?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT THE CRIME IS.
THE CRIME IS VERY OBVIOUS TO
EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY. >> THAT’S ALL WE GOT TODAY.
THERE WAS ANOTHER CONTENTIOUS
EXCHANGE, ONE WHICH BROUGHT THE
NEWS CONFERENCE TO AN ABRUPT
END.
END. >> YOU SAID MANY TIMES THAT THE
U.S. IS DOING FAR BETTER THAN
ANY OTHER COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES
TO TESTING.
TO TESTING. >> YES.
>> YES. >> WHY DOES THAT MATTER?
WHY IS THIS A GLOBAL COMPETITION
TO YOU IF EVERYDAY AMERICANS ARE
STILL LOSING THEIR LIVES AND
WE’RE STILL SEEING MORE CASES
EVERY DAY?
EVERY DAY? >> WELL, THEY’RE LOSING THEIR
LIVES EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD,
AND MAYBE THAT’S A QUESTION YOU
SHOULD ASK CHINA.
DON’T ASK ME.
ASK CHINA THAT QUESTION, OKAY?
WHEN YOU ASK THEM THAT QUESTION,
YOU MAY GET A VERY UNUSUAL
ANSWER.
ANSWER. YES, BEHIND YOU, PLEASE.
>> SIR, WHY ARE YOU SAYING THAT
TO ME SPECIFICALLY?
>> I’M TELLING YOU --
>> THAT I SHOULD ASK CHINA?
>> I’M NOT SAYING IT
SPECIFICALLY TO ANYBODY.
I’M SAYING IT TO ANYBODY THAT
WOULD ASK A NASTY QUESTION LIKE
THAT.
THAT. >> THAT’S NOT A NASTY QUESTION.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> WHY DOES IT MATTER?
>> ANYBODY ELSE?
PLEASE GO AHEAD IN THE BACK.
>> I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
>> THAT’S OKAY.
>> BUT YOU POINTED TO ME.
I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS,
MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT. >> NEXT, PLEASE.
>> YOU CALLED ON ME.
>> I DID, AND YOU DIDN’T
RESPOND, AND NOW I’M CALLING
ON --
ON -- >> SORRY, I JUST --
>> THE YOUNG LADY IN THE BACK.
>> I JUST WANTED TO LET MY
COLLEAGUE FINISH.
COLLEAGUE FINISH. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> SO RATHER THAN TAKE QUESTIONS