President Trump was put on the defensive about the coronavirus early during an NBC News town hall in Miami — one that, at times, felt like a debate with moderator Savannah Guthrie — facing questions about both the federal response to the pandemic and his own positive test.
Asked about whether he should have required more face mask-wearing and social distancing at White House events, Trump insisted that as president, he “can’t be locked in a room all the time.” He argued that without the actions the federal government took under his leadership, the death toll would have been much higher. He also would not definitively say he was tested for the coronavirus before the first presidential debate with Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
The first audience questioner also asked Trump why he did not do more earlier if he knew, as he had told veteran journalist Bob Woodward, that the virus was airborne and deadlier than the flu. Trump contended he was early to support things like travel restrictions. “I don’t want to panic this country,” he said of his rhetoric about the outbreak. He touted the number of ventilators and masks the government produced to counteract the coronavirus.
In a testy exchange, Guthrie peppered Trump with questions about white supremacy and QAnon. He replied that he did denounce white supremacy, that he knew nothing about QAnon, and he demanded to know why no one asked Biden to denounce antifa.
She also asked him why he was sowing doubt about the election outcome as he talked about discarded ballots. Trump said he “absolutely” wanted a peaceful transfer of power if he lost, but most of all, he wanted an “honest” election, and he hoped to win.
Guthrie pressed Trump on protections for people with preexisting conditions and whether Republicans had a plan to replace rather than just repeal Obamacare. “We’d like to have new healthcare, much better and at a lower price,” Trump said.
“I’m ready to sign a big, beautiful stimulus,” Trump said, challenging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to pass a bill. He vowed that if the White House and Pelosi could reach an agreement on a fourth economic rescue package, Senate Republicans would go along with it.
Trump and Biden were scheduled to hold the second presidential debate in a town hall format, but it was canceled. The debate commission had attempted to change it to a virtual event following Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis, but the president refused to participate unless it was a live, in-person exchange. The two major-party candidates instead held separate forums at the same time on different networks.
Still, Trump’s event still frequently had the tone of a debate and was at times heated. “I know you, I knew you’d do this,” Trump said to Guthrie at one point. Guthrie asked Trump to take 30 seconds to justify why he deserved a “second chance.” He replied, “Because I’ve done a great job.”
The two tangled about Trump’s tax returns and debts. Trump noted that he was, in fact, under audit. Guthrie responded that there was no law or rule that prevented him from releasing his returns while under audit. “Except common sense and intelligence,” the president shot back.
When a voter asked Trump whether he planned to do anything to help Dreamers, a subset of young undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as minor children, in a second term, he told her she would be pleased by the immigration deal he would strike. Guthrie then pointed out that Trump had “curtailed” the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program Barack Obama created.
Trump denied speaking to Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett about any cases she might have to rule on in the future. He even declined to give an opinion on the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, saying he did not want to be seen as sending Barrett a “signal.” He said he did not know how she would rule in a case involving the presidential election.
Trump and Biden will hold the final scheduled presidential debate next week, moderated by NBC’s Kristen Welker.
