House Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to the coronavirus as the “Trump virus” on Tuesday as cases spike across the country,
The California Democrat did so as she criticized President Trump’s response to the pandemic.
“I think with the president’s comments today, he has recognized the mistakes that he has made by now embracing mask-wearing and the recognition this is not a hoax, it is a pandemic that has gotten worse before it will get better because of his inaction and, in fact, clearly, it is the Trump virus,” Pelosi told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.
“Well, what do you mean when you say the ‘Trump virus’?” Blitzer asked.
“The Trump virus,” Pelosi said. “If he had said months ago, ‘Let’s wear a mask, let’s socially distance,’ instead of having rallies or political whatever they were, then more people would have followed his lead. He’s the president of the United States, instead of being a bad example, making it like a manhood thing not to wear a mask.”
The White House held a coronavirus task force briefing on Tuesday after stopping a pattern of holding them regularly back in April. Trump urged citizens to wear face masks and warned the pandemic will likely “get worse before it gets better.”
“We’re asking everybody that when you are not able to socially distance, wear a mask. Get a mask, whether you like the mask or not,” Trump said. “They have an impact. They’ll have an effect, and we need everything we can get.”
Earlier this month, the president wore a face mask publicly for the first time during a visit to a military hospital.
