President Trump issued a rebuke of Sen. Chuck Schumer over his actions to help his home state of New York amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump accused the New York Democrat of providing “incorrect soundbites,” which he claimed were “wrong in every way,” in a letter he sent Thursday.
Schumer, who has appeared on television multiple times this week, urged Trump to establish a czar with a military background to oversee the production of medical equipment. Trump responded on social media shortly thereafter, saying that the administration already has “a military man in charge of distributing goods, a very talented Admiral.”
Trump made reference to Schumer’s comments in the letter as well, defending Rear Adm. John Polowczyk, who is heading the supply chain task force at FEMA. The president, in the letter, said that the admiral is “working 24 hours a day, and is highly respected by everyone.”
Trump also praised the federal government’s response in New York, saying that they have provided “hospitals, medical centers, medical supplies, record numbers of ventilators, and more” while also arguing that he “should have had New York better prepared.”
The president also brought up his impeachment in the House and ultimate acquittal in the Senate in the letter.
“If you spent less time on your ridiculous impeachment hoax, which went haplessly on forever and ended up going nowhere (Except increasing my poll numbers), and instead focused on helping the people of New York, then New York would not have been so completely unprepared for the ‘invisible enemy.’ No wonder AOC and others are thinking about running against you in the primary. If they did, they would lively win,” Trump wrote.
The president subsequently touted his work with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
New York has been the hardest-hit state from the coronavirus as the pandemic continues to spread. The state has more than 90,000 confirmed cases, according to the New York Times, which is slightly less than 10% of all cases worldwide. More than 2,300 New Yorkers have died after contracting the virus.
