White House has no plans to change Trump's coronavirus briefings as criticism mounts
The media complains when there are no White House press briefings. Now the media complains when there are daily briefings. Then the media complains when he talks about other things and yet don’t hesitate to ask him about other things. The media knows that the experts are going to speak each day and give important info and it’s not our problem if they cut away too soon on TV. These briefings are watched daily by millions from start to finish and it’s great that they will be happening at least until April 30.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
First came some discussion of a pardon for Joe Exotic, the star of Netflix ratings winner Tiger King . And then, President Trump hinted he had secret dirt that would bring down sleepy Joe Biden.
It was only after an hour and 20 minutes of Wednesday’s coronavirus briefing, when most channels had switched away, that the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took the podium to unveil new guidance on getting critical workers back to their jobs.
Such episodes have prompted a chorus of questions about whether Trump’s daily appearances in the briefing room are the best way to keep an anxious public abreast of an unfolding crisis.
Key aides say there is no plan to shake up a strategy that has seen the president’s approval rate climb, even as one noteworthy ally warned the briefings now amount to a “wasted opportunity.”
The editorial board of the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal said it was time for a rethink.
“The public doesn’t care who among the governors likes Mr. Trump, or whether the Obama Administration filled the national pandemic stockpile,” the board wrote on Wednesday evening.
“There will be time for recriminations. What the public wants to know now is what Mr. Trump and his government is doing to prevent the deaths of their loved ones or help the family breadwinner stay employed.”
It suggested reducing the sessions to 45 minutes, making Vice President Mike Pence the kickoff speaker, and reducing Trump’s appearances to twice a week.
[ Read more: Journalists to be tested for coronavirus ahead of Trump White House briefing ]
The piece was published minutes after Wednesday’s briefing had concluded.
Trump appeared for 57 minutes before leaving the briefing in Pence’s hands. During that time, he delivered a string of statistics on vital equipment sent to states and introduced Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who provided an update on the repatriation of Americans from overseas.
But a Q&A session veered on to other topics, such as a question about Tiger King and why former President Barack Obama had not endorsed Biden for Democratic presidential nominee.
“Why isn’t he? He knows something that you don't know, that I think I know, but you don't know,” said Trump. “So, it'll be interesting.”
At other times, the president has floated ideas (quarantining New York, ending domestic flights, and touting an unproven treatment ) that have blindsided aides or been contradicted by his own experts on the podium.
But despite occasional frustration, aides say there are no plans for a change.
A key Trump ally who is familiar with White House thinking said the briefings offered prime television time when other campaigns were silenced. The strategy would remain in place so long as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo continued his briefings and likely until social distancing restrictions were lifted.
“The base is very receptive to these briefings and want to see him go toe-to-toe with reporters and hear how things are going on a day-to-day basis,” said the ally.
“I don’t see any change coming in how these briefings are conducted or the frequency before the country starts opening up."
Jason Miller, communications adviser on Trump’s 2016 campaign and co-host of the War Room: Pandemic podcast, said journalists would regret complaining when the White House reverted to closed, scripted events whenever Trump leaves office. But he said there was room for a more nuanced approach.
“When President Trump has important news to announce, then he should be up there in the briefing to deliver it, and the networks should be covering it,” he said. “I don’t think President Trump needs to do it every day, but it is the most effective way for him to communicate how the government is working for the American people.”
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Keep talking. Your approval rating is plummeting.
Here's the problem: :The media" thinks that the purpose of the briefings is to ask questions of the president so that information will be provided.
But Trump thinks the purpose is to have people praise him (regardless of what he says or does)
So of course there's conflict.
Here's a perfect example. Here a reporter from a mainstream media outlet edia (in this case it happens to be from Fox news) questions him,. But he isn't interested in informing the public...rather he is expecting to be admired and praised. So he does what he usually does-- he attempts to derail by changing the subject!
You mean ask questions like what is the next step in his defense for the impeachment? Yes, on one of the few times I watched this was one of the MANY retarded questions ask by the idiot calling themselves reporters.
when has trump backed off because the left criticized him? and why would he start now?
"White House Has No Plans." Could have just let it go at that.
Trump just posted his highest approval rating ever.
In one outliner poll. He has never passed 50%...
More recent polls show his approval is tanking.
Even with Spicer and Rion throwing him softball questions, most Americans that have nothing better to do than watch the daily campaign spectacle of almost two hours of bad science and weak excuses.
And the ratings continue to dip.
Up to a few days ago, we watched and waited, every day, for the announced start time of the presser, come, and go.
When eventually, the POTUS would start speaking we mute the TV until Pence, Mnuchin, Fauci or Birx speak.
The last couple of days even Fauci & Birx are losing believability.
The evening news usually condenses the two hours of excuses, exaggerations and lies down to a few sound bytes.
Enough to get the gist of it.
Can't wait till he starts golfing again./s
Just the big lie that only the US is correctly and honestly reporting COVID19 deaths
when the same Administration and POTUS she defends daily,
adamantly refuses to count COVID deaths in nursing homes
( over 2600 as of today ) and our own military has used an OPSEC order on March 31,2020
to effect a complete blackout of COVID19 statics on any US base around the world.
The only statistics we are privy to are limited information about the USS Theodore Roosevelt
because of Captain Croziers actions.
...by using the "they were going to die anyway" rationale...
and now the “cover up “ conspiracy begins. You could see this one coming a mile away.
imagine believing all the other countries in the world aren’t having similar issues, but hate shine throughs. [deleted]
Just like far too many Americans place far too much faith in what polls tell them. Lately I have come to little or no faith in political polls as they are far too easily manipulated by those initiating and interpreting said polls. Does not matter whether the left or right does the polling as both are equally guilty of manipulating results for their own ends.
Fauci is on his way out.
Trump's "China ban"" was a joke. Over 300,000 people per month travele back and forth from China in November December & January before Trump banned Chinese nationals only. 40,000 Americans continued to fly back and forth.
Everyday, FedEx flights land in LA & SF filled with PPE. Up and down the West Coast, China flagged container ships, mannend by Chinese sailors, bring Chinese manufactured goods and medicines possibly contaminated with the virus, which are headed to every Lowes, Home Depot, Target and Walmart in the nation.
Trump did not ban trade with China...
The count on the confirmed coronavirus cases on board the AC is 585 and the sailor that was put in ICU died this morning.
The count on nursing home deaths is now over 3300.
is it true , neither of them are put into our official count ?
Nursing home deaths are not counted according to reports. Not sure about the military deaths.
sum obviousl prefer to be lied to about reality.
i don't believe that to be the majority of 'thinking'
Americans
[Deleted]
thanks for proving her point...
She, nor you....proved anything. I believe a point is needed before it is made.
And he is still below 50%. Fuck, he sucks.
His "briefings" are pointless. May as well not air them at all.
White House canceled virus briefing 2nd day in a row!
Said the liberal....
Oh my God, what's he trying to hide. We need an investigation.
Trump was busy at virtual church, cause he can't play virtual president every day!