When Meet the Press host Chuck Todd today repeatedly challenged Vice President Mike Pence to “name some names” of Democrats or media figures politicizing the coronavirus to damage President Trump, Pence gave just one example before he was cut off.
CHUCK TODD: Because this is just — it just feels like gas-lighting. Please name some names. I’m — we’re all big — we’re all big people here. Name some names.
VP MIKE PENCE: There was a column in the New York Times by a prominent liberal journalist that said, “We should rename it the Trump virus.” —
TODD: Okay, that is — does that apply, does that apply to all people …
Thread.
NBC’s Chuck Todd is misleading the American people.
It’s Democrats & the MSM who are politicizing coronavirus, not Republicans.
So @chucktodd, you asked for it, I’ll name some names of Democrats and the media who are trying to score political points with coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/irL26YtP2O
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) March 1, 2020
Under fire all day in the media for its handling of the coronavirus, a plan put in place six weeks ago that has included flight bans from infected areas, the Republican National Committee late today fired back with a list of at least 14 examples of prominent media and Democrats using the virus to hit the president.
Tonight, I am addressing the nation regarding COVID-19 and the steady leadership America needs and deserves during this growing crisis. pic.twitter.com/obll5YBt2O
— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) March 1, 2020
“While President Trump has directed the full resources of the federal government to combat Coronavirus, Democrats and the Sunday shows have not followed President Trump’s call to not incite panic. For President Trump’s opponents, Coronavirus is sadly their latest cudgel to hit President Trump. It’s disgraceful and must end immediately,” said Steve Guest, the RNC’s rapid response director.
White House: Media hope virus will ‘bring down’ Trump https://t.co/xnQZL4kYit
— Paul Bedard (@SecretsBedard) February 29, 2020
Throughout the day, he kept adding to a Twitter thread with examples from Politico, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Todd, State of the Union host Jake Tapper, and 2020 candidates Joe Biden and Michael Bloomberg.
The fight has been escalating all week but took off when acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said that the media and Democrats hope that the virus will end the Trump presidency.
People are disgusted and embarrassed by the Fake News Media, as headed by the @nytimes, @washingtonpost, @comcast & MSDNC, @ABC, @CBSNews and more. They no longer believe what they see and read, and for good reason. Fake News is, indeed, THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 1, 2020
“The reason they are paying so much attention to it today is that they think this is going to bring down the president, that’s what this is all about,” said Mulvaney at last week’s Conservative Political Action Conference.
Trump later expanded on that theme, calling the effort to hit him over the virus the latest “hoax” to take him down.
Pence did not back off in his interview.
TODD: This doesn’t help. This does not help us no?
PENCE: This is decisive action to protect the American people. And when you see voices on our side pushing back on outrageous and irresponsible rhetoric on the other side, I think that’s important.
CNN’s Stelter Rips Fox News Hosts, Limbaugh for Creating ‘Partisan War’ Over the Coronavirus https://t.co/JvmeaNYgSe
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) March 1, 2020
TODD: Do you think this rhetoric from your side helps?
PENCE: I, I never begrudge people responding to unwarranted, unjustified attacks. But I promise you, we’re going to continue to focus on the mission the president’s given this taskforce and given this government. And that is, we’re going to bring the full resources of the federal government to bear. And the American people, the American people can be confident that we’re going to continue to work this issue. We’re going to work with leaders in both parties in Congress to make sure that not only our federal agencies have all the resources they need, but our state and local governments, healthcare providers have the resources and the support to provide the care that every American would want. Remember, Chuck, this is about the lives of the American people.
