A Yahoo News reporter has apologized after misreading coronavirus testing numbers and pressing President Trump on the incorrect statistics during a press briefing.
Reporter Hunter Walker asked Trump on Tuesday why South Korea had “done five times more” coronavirus tests per capita than the United States. However, the statistic was incorrect, as the U.S. has recently caught up to South Korea’s testing numbers.
“That’s why you are Yahoo, and nobody knows who the hell you are. Go ahead. That’s why nobody knows you are, including me,” the president responded.
Walker apologized in a series of tweets after the incident.
“In the Oval Office, I asked about test rates and infection rates compared to South Korea. President Trump and Dr. Birx said I was wrong that they’ve done more tests per capita. Trump said I should apologize. They did not address multiple questions about our higher infection rate,” he wrote. “We have passed South Korea in the number of tests conducted per capita. I misread the mobile version of this chart and am sorry about that [Trump]. Our infection rate is far higher though as I noted.”
We have passed South Korea in the number of tests conducted per capita. I misread the mobile version of this chart and am sorry about that @realDonaldTrump . Our infection rate is far higher though as I noted.
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) April 28, 2020
The president later thanked Walker for the apology, and former press secretary Sean Spicer lauded the reporter for “owning” his mistake.
People makes mistakes. I give @hunterw of @YahooNews credit for owning this. https://t.co/IIzUT65CS1
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) April 28, 2020
