The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board published a scathing review of President Trump’s performance during the daily White House coronavirus task force briefings.
The board’s Wednesday evening editorial titled “Trump’s Wasted Briefings” acknowledged that the briefings began “as a good idea to educate the public” and suggested that his rise in the polls was a result of having “put together a team of experts working to overcome a national health crisis.”
However, the board argued that the usefulness of the briefings devolved a couple of weeks ago when Trump realized they could be used as a “showcase for him.”
“Perhaps they substitute in his mind for the campaign rallies he can no longer hold because of the risks,” the board wrote. “Perhaps he resented the media adulation that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been receiving for his daily show. Whatever the reason, the briefings are now all about the President.”
The publication also touched on Trump’s frequent bouts with members of the media, which it called “useless squabble.”
In recent weeks, the president has demanded a reporter not “be a cutie pie” after pressing him about ventilators, labeled another “terrible” for asking if he had a message for Americans who are scared during the pandemic, and scolded the White House Correspondents’ Association president for a question about reported hospital shortages, among other exchanges.
“The President’s outbursts against his political critics are also notably off key at this moment. This isn’t impeachment, and Covid-19 isn’t shifty Schiff. It’s a once-a-century threat to American life and livelihood,” the editorial continued. “The public doesn’t care who among the governors likes Mr. Trump, or whether the Obama Administration filled the national pandemic stockpile.”
The article concluded that if Trump wants to “make his briefings more helpful to the country,” then he should “make them no more than 45 minutes” and allow Vice President Mike Pence to lead them.
Trump responded to the Wall Street Journal editorial board piece on Thursday.
“The Wall Street Journal always ‘forgets’ to mention that the ratings for the White House Press Briefings are ‘through the roof’ (Monday Night Football, Bachelor Finale, according to @nytimes) & is only way for me to escape the Fake News & get my views across,” he said in a tweet, adding: “WSJ is Fake News!”
The Wall Street Journal always “forgets” to mention that the ratings for the White House Press Briefings are “through the roof” (Monday Night Football, Bachelor Finale, according to @nytimes) & is only way for me to escape the Fake News & get my views across. WSJ is Fake News!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 9, 2020
