Even in the midst of a global Coronavirus outbreak that has sent some areas, like Italy and New York City, reeling, President Donald Trump’s campaign is apparently refusing to let an opportunity for petty political jabs pass. This Saturday, the Trump campaign sent out an angry email about NBC reporter Peter Alexander, who the day before had asked Trump the very simple, straightforward question of what message he had for scared Americans. At the time, Trump — apparently taking the mere notion that any Americans are scared as an insult to his ego — lashed out. In their follow-up email, the Trump campaign said Alexander was peddling “pure, dishonest garbage.”
The email read, in part:
‘President Trump was in the middle of delivering a positive, uplifting message to Americans who may be afraid, and Peter Alexander was triggered by it. Perhaps if Alexander hadn’t been so determined to undermine the President’s message, he would have heard it.’
Initially, at the press conference, Trump had told Alexander when asked what he’d say to worried Americans:
‘I say that you’re a terrible reporter. That’s what I say. I think it’s a very nasty question, and I think it’s a very bad signal that you’re putting out to the American people.’
All of this belligerence just because Alexander wanted a focused, direct message for the Americans who are “scared” as the economy, job market, and other aspects of life grind to a halt. Alexander wasn’t making up that Americans are frightened! Just look at the rashes of panic buying at supermarkets across the country as Americans have attempted to gear up for social restrictions that are part of an attempt to stem the spread of the virus.
As Alexander put it in a follow-up appearance on MSNBC:
‘I was trying to provide the president an opportunity to reassure the millions of Americans” who may be scared amid the coronavirus outbreak. This was his opportunity to… provide a sort of positive or uplifting message.’
I offered both Pres Trump and VP Pence an opportunity to reassure Americans.
Simple question: “What do you say to Americans who are scared?”
Trump, to me: “I say, you’re a terrible reporter.”
Pence, an hour later: “Don’t be afraid. Be vigilant.”
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) March 20, 2020
And Americans could certainly have used it. The country has almost 25,000 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus as of mid-Saturday afternoon, and at least 288 Americans have died from the illness, including 32 whose passings were reported just this Saturday by the middle of the day. Around the globe, confirmed cases have passed the 300,000 mark, and almost 13,000 people have died, including large numbers in Italy, which has been hit hard. In a potentially worrying omen of possible near futures for the U.S., Italy’s reported daily new cases and deaths keep going up. This Saturday, they reported more than 6,500 new cases and almost 800 new deaths.
BREAKING: Italy reported 793 deaths, the highest daily death toll for the country yet, marking nearly a 20% increase from Friday. https://t.co/sCgfiT7foK
— ABC News (@ABC) March 21, 2020
Alexander, for his part, asked the same controversial question to Vice President Mike Pence, and in that instance, the reporter got an actually levelheaded answer. Pence commented:
‘I would say, do not be afraid, be vigilant.’
One observer pointed out that Trump appeared irritated that Pence answered the reporter’s question at all.
Mike Pence answered Peter Alexander’s question. Trump, uhhh… does not appear to be happy about that. pic.twitter.com/AYT6VGp5m1
— Caroline Orr (@RVAwonk) March 20, 2020
And this is the kind of nonsense we’re supposed to trust in while the U.S. struggles through its side of a global pandemic? Seriously?
