In a combative press conference on Friday, President Trump lashed out at a reporter asking for a message to Americans frightened by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, declaring his question "nasty."
Trump took a question from NBC's Peter Alexander, who asked what he'd say to "Americans who are watching you right now who are scared."
But Trump didn't take the opportunity to offer a reassuring message to those Americans, instead shooting back to Alexander, "I say that you're a terrible reporter." Before moving on, he scolded Alexander for his "very nasty question" and accused him of putting out a "very bad signal" to public.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"The American people are looking for answers, and they're looking for hope, and you're doing sensationalism," Trump told Alexander. "Let me just tell you something, that's really bad reporting."
Alexander had first asked Trump if he might be giving Americans a "false sense of hope" during the crisis, with Trump sarcastically calling this "such a lovely question."
Trump just a few days ago actually found himself complimenting the press for their coverage, saying on Monday "the media has been very fair" during the coronavirus pandemic. But by Thursday, he was saying the "media has not treated it fairly." The New York Times' Maggie Haberman observed Friday that Trump "started out better earlier this week and has gotten more combative with reporters doing this for over an hour every day," even in response to what Haberman noted was "not exactly a tough question."
Later, Alexander asked the same question of Vice President Mike Pence, who offered an actual answer, telling Americans, "Do not be afraid. Be vigilant." Brendan Morrow
-
Marisa Silver’s 6 favorite books that capture a lifetimeFeature The author recommends works by John Williams, Ian McEwan, and more
-
Book reviews: ‘We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution’ and ‘Will There Ever Be Another You’Feature The many attempts to amend the U.S. Constitution and Patricia Lockwood’s struggle with long Covid
-
Philadelphia’s Calder GardensFeature A permanent new museum
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to ChicagoSpeed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in OregonSpeed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denialSpeed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartelsspeed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feudSpeed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protestersSpeed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoffSpeed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
