Tag: Trump press briefings

Trump rips media after taking criticism over coronavirus briefings

The Hill logoPresident Trump on Monday ripped the media’s coverage of his administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, returning to a familiar theme as the White House canceled its coronavirus briefing — another signal is it changing its strategy on messaging.

“There has never been, in the history of our Country, a more vicious or hostile Lamestream Media than there is right now, even in the midst of a National Emergency, the Invisible Enemy!” Trump tweeted Monday morning.

Trump’s attacks on the media are old news at this point, but the new tweet came amid changing circumstances at the White House. Continue reading.

Why won’t Trump practice social distancing at his daily briefings?!

Washington Post logoThe president and his task force give their daily briefings on the coronavirus pandemic huddled together — shoulder to shoulder, behind a single lectern in the White House press room. President Trump stands at the center of this essential group with Vice President Pence to his left. On Wednesday afternoon, there were four other officials in this task force cluster — all standing within sneezing, coughing and spitting distance of one another.

The briefing room scene Wednesday was not an anomaly of togetherness. This is the White House routine in these unparalleled times.

When the world has been told to maintain six feet of personal space, the sight of these VIPs snuggled up next to one another is jarring. For a president skilled in stagecraft, it speaks volumes about his message — which is both self-centered and aggressively confident. Continue reading.