What the media is saying about T’s actions now during today’s press conference when T tells us we are in shut down until April 30th. He’s in his bullying mode, and denying things he has said.
No words.
Haberman’s reporting
"I think the president is doing very little other than watching media coverage right now," the NYT’s Maggie Haberman told me on Sunday’s “Reliable Sources.”
“He doesn’t have the rallies for the feedback. He’s just watching television and having meetings about this issue, and I think he’s more sensitive to negative coverage than he normally is… so what he’s doing is lashing out.”
–> The bottom line re: his recent spate of anti-media attacks: "He doesn’t want people to believe real time accounts that they are seeing…"
– The New Yorker editor David Remnick said Trump’s “lies,” narcissism, and “lack of empathy” have “led to disaster. Has led to delay. And this will be – and I think history will prove this – this will be something that’s paid in human lives. And that’s an enormous tragedy…”
Trump lashes out at Alcindor, demands she "be nice"
Oliver Darcy writes: Amid a global pandemic killing thousands of Americans, Trump disparaged CNN, NYT, and PBS at his press conference on Sunday, while saving his praise for a fringe right-wing network that has a history of peddling conspiracy theories.
Trump lashed out at PBS correspondent Yamiche Alcindor and said she should be friendlier toward him. Trump’s outburst came after Alcindor noted that Trump had previously told Sean Hannity he was not sure if states would actually need the total number of ventilators they have requested.
"Why don’t you act a little more positive?" Trump asked. He added, “Be nice. Don’t be threatening. Be nice.” Alcindor pushed back, noting she was effectively repeating what he had previously told Hannity, but Trump wasn’t having it. When Alcindor came to ask her second Q, Trump cut her off and the microphone was taken away from her…
Diamond gives back the mic
Darcy continues: When Trump called on him later in the press conference, CNN’s Jeremy Diamond instead handed Alcindor the mic so that she could ask her second question**. Alcindor asked which health experts Trump had spoken to that had said more people could die from an economic recession than the virus. Trump didn’t directly answer.**
After the press conference, Alcindor tweeted, "I’m not the first human being, woman, black person or journalist to be told that while doing a job. My take: Be steady. Stay focused. Remember your purpose. And, always press forward."
"These are direct quotes, sir."
Darcy adds: When Diamond got a chance to ask his question, he pressed Trump on last Friday comments about not phoning governors who are not “appreciative.” Trump accused Diamond of lying and taking him out of context, but Diamond pointed out that he was reading “direct quotes.” As Daniel Dale put it, “Reporters read Trump quote back to him, Trump denies and attacks.” Check out Dale’s fact-check here, titled “Trump falsely denies saying two things he said last week…”
Trump praises OANN
Darcy sends one more note: At the presser, Trump lavished praised on a personality from the far-right cable channel One America News . The attendee asked Trump for a response to networks that are wary of airing his lengthy press conferences in full. "Boy that’s a nice question," Trump said. “Thank you very much.” When Trump called on her for a second time, she bizarrely asked the same question again… which is quite revealing, when you think about it…
