President Trump will hold a news conference Monday afternoon at 5:00 p.m., the White House announced.
The White House canceled Monday’s scheduled coronavirus briefing after skipping its usual sessions over the weekend and spending just 21 minutes with reporters Friday, far short of the hour-plus sessions Trump has been holding.
Trump took to Twitter after Friday’s briefing to share his frustrations, claiming that the media “asks nothing but hostile questions, & then refuses to report the truth.”
He added: “They get record ratings, & the American people get nothing but Fake News. Not worth the time & effort!”
The White House has been holding briefing seven days a week.
Trump came under fire Thursday after suggesting that UV light or a disinfectant be used inside the body to kill the coronavirus. “We’re talking about almost a cleaning, sterilization of an area. Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn’t work. But it certainly has a big effect if it’s on a stationary object,” he said.
Trump mounted a vigorous defense over the weekend to a New York Times times story about his daily schedule and habits. Over several tweets, Trump said: “I work from early in the morning until late at night, haven’t left the White House in many months (except to launch Hospital Ship Comfort) in order to take care of Trade Deals, Military Rebuilding etc.”
“I will often be in the Oval Office late into the night & read & see that I am angrily eating a hamburger & Diet Coke in my bedroom. People with me are always stunned. Anything to demean!”
At his previous pace, Trump was on track to hold more press conferences than any modern president.
