Sen. Ted Cruz slammed CNN’s coronavirus coverage in a tweet calling presumed President-elect Joe Biden’s declared victory a “miraculous” coronavirus cure.
“Miraculous,” the Texas Republican tweeted Tuesday in response to a tweet from Steve Guest, President Trump’s campaign rapid response director. “COVID cured, the very instant the networks called the race for Biden.”
Miraculous. COVID cured, the very instant the networks called the race for Biden. https://t.co/YcYeIolilZ
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) November 10, 2020
Many responded to Cruz and Guest positively and slammed the network, while others, including CNN Communication Director Matt Dornic, defended it.
“Misleading people hasn’t been a winning tactic for you lately, Steve,” Dornic tweeted. “Time to try something new? We used the tracker when discussing pandemic-related topics last week. Just as we did today.”
Misleading people hasn’t been a winning tactic for you lately, Steve. Time to try something new?
We used the tracker when discussing pandemic-related topics last week. Just as we did today… pic.twitter.com/a5FyGxvlHE
— Matt Dornic (@mdornic) November 9, 2020
“Here are screenshots of CNN’s coronavirus death tracker during four separate hours of coverage yesterday, even as we tracked the election too,” CNN reporter Daniel Dale tweeted. “The RNC’s Steve Guest has a consistently dishonest Twitter account.”
Ted Cruz amplified Guest’s dishonest tweet, adding his own snarky comment. It’s entirely baseless. Here are four additional screenshots from CNN coverage yesterday: https://t.co/8SwHBbMhCT pic.twitter.com/KtsuqlwBPl
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) November 10, 2020
CNN’s Jake Tapper also responded to Cruz’s tweet, saying the network is still covering the coronavirus pandemic that “our public officials are not doing enough to stop.”
Cruz then asked Tapper about recent news that a coronavirus vaccine had been deemed 90% effective and wondered why the news broke after the presidential election.
“Jake, why didn’t Pfizer announce their vaccine until 48 hours — literally — after the networks called the race for Biden?” Cruz asked Tapper. “They didn’t know about it last week?”
Jake, why didn’t Pfizer announce their vaccine until 48 hours—literally—after the networks called the race for Biden?
They didn’t know about it last week? https://t.co/ZAfIknelmx
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) November 10, 2020
“Literally in the tweet you responded to (but obviously didn’t watch) Sanjay asks the CEO of Pfizer that exact question and he answers,” Tapper responded.
Literally in the tweet you responded to (but obviously didn’t watch) Sanjay asks the CEO of Pfizer that exact question and he answers.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 10, 2020
“Seems like Sen. Cruz hit a nerve with the Democrats’ press team,” a Cruz spokesperson told Washington Examiner.
CNN has been often criticized by Republicans over its coverage of the coronavirus, including for perceived double standards, with reporters slamming Trump for holding rallies during the pandemic but taking a more relaxed tone when Biden supporters hit the streets in large groups.
