Donald Trump just held another daily press conference regarding the coronavirus, although there wasn’t really any new news today. Instead, Trump basically praised himself, and called others to the podium to praise him as well.
He did get into some scuffles with reporters, who were, thank goodness, calling Trump out on his many lies.
One of them was NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, who was the reporter from NBC who is apparently replacing Peter Alexander who got into another scuffle with Trump yesterday.
O’Donnell first asked about the Defense Production Act, and why isn’t wasn’t implemented, and why supplies weren’t getting to hospitals.
Kelly O'Donnell: On the Defense Production Act Power…governors can't find supplies, you've talked about the act, but not compelled companies. Why not?
trump says "we have the act to use in case we need it."
PRO TIP: WE FUCKING NEED IT. NOW.
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) March 21, 2020 [1]
There it is. Trump admits he has NOT used the Defense Production Act to get companies to produce the amount of protective equipment American health workers desperately need.
This is a complete failure of leadership. Period .#coronavirus [2] #GetMePPE [3] pic.twitter.com/10KiOxR43U [4]
— Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) March 21, 2020 [5]
Trump also got nasty with O’Donnell and told her to “be quiet” during the presser when another reporter was asking a question. Lots of reporters are shouting out questions, but O’Donnell was the only one Trump lashed out at.
Jenn Pellegrino from @OANN [6]:
“This morning the Washington Post ran a story suggesting that you delayed taking action on the virus in January and February”
Trump tells MSNBC activist Kelly O'Donnell to be “Quiet”. pic.twitter.com/LWAAqd98bM [7]
— Blake (@B7AKE) March 21, 2020 [8]
Then towards the end of the presser, Trump got nasty with O’Donnell again, this time mocking her and saying she was an “intelligent woman.”
In response to a Q about whether the govt has followed through on its promises to supply coronavirus tests, HHS official Brett Giroir tells a reporter he's going to "try to persuade you to stop asking about a specific number."
Trump eventually interjects & tries to blame Obama. pic.twitter.com/Epi8hvGHOL [9]
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 21, 2020 [10]
Trump then stormed off, after saying he was headed to Capitol Hill to work on the stimulus package.
Mike Pence remained after Trump left, and took a few questions. When he left, he did turn to O’Donnell, and give his condolences for the NBC News employee who died earlier this week from coronavirus.
As Pence leaves the briefing room, he says "sorry for your loss" to @KellyO [11] in reference to the death of longtime NBC employee Larry Edgeworth following his positive test for coronavirus pic.twitter.com/wzbc0Py7I1 [12]
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 21, 2020 [13]
.@vp [14] @Mike_Pence [15] just said to me as he left the briefing room, “Sorry for your loss” in apparent reference to the death of our @NBCNews [16] colleague Larry Edgeworth who tested positive . On behalf of NBC and Larry’s family, I said thank you in return.
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) March 21, 2020 [17]