The Washington Post is criticizing President Donald Trump for inaccurate blame aimed at the Obama administration over coronavirus testing.
In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the Trump administration has been criticized for its countermeasures. The administration is also accused of failing to quickly expand testing of the virus nationwide.
Aside from administration scrutiny, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) have also come under fire for delivering flawed tests which has created a domino effect of slow responses from health departments on state and local levels.
Compared to other countries like South Korea—which has conducted thousands of tests— there is speculation that the United States’ statistics on the spread of the coronavirus may be deeply flawed due to the slow efforts to expand testing.
However, Trump offered an explanation for the debacle.
On Wednesday, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence held a briefing with airline CEOs to discuss the potential pandemic and measures being taken to combat it.
In response to the slow expansion of testing on the coronavirus, Trump appeared to place blame on an “Obama Rule” he claims his administration recently overturned.
“The Obama administration made a decision on testing that turned out to be very detrimental to what we’re doing. And we undid that decision a few days ago so that the testing can take place in a much more accurate and rapid fashion,” Trump explained.
“That was a decision we disagreed with,” he added. “I don’t think we would have made it, but for some reason, it was made. But we’ve undone that decision.”
In case you missed it:
REPORTER: What was this Obama-era rule that you are blaming for the coronavirus testing problems?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 4, 2020
PENCE: "The last administration asserted FDA jurisdiction over testing, and the development of tests like this. The president changed that on Saturday." pic.twitter.com/S3EOycBS6B
Trump went on to say that the changes to Obama’s rule now give his administration the flexibility to move expeditiously.
However, the Post suggests otherwise. The publication has blasted and accused Trump of simply defaulting to one explanation when things go awry in his administration — blame former President Barack Obama.
The Post writes:
“When things get tough in the Trump administration, the president has a default position — blame former President Barack Obama.”
In response to Trump’s explanation for coronavirus testing, the publication offered “four Pinocchios” and actual facts to refute his claims.
It has been reported that the Obama rule, in question, wasn’t an actual rule but rather “guidance” never implemented because Congress intervened with alternative legislation.
“Draft Guidance” was only a recommendation released by the FDA in 2014. However, it was never acted upon. In fact, each page is labeled with a disclaimer that reads, “Contains Nonbinding Recommendations Draft — Not for Implementation.”
The proposed recommendation drew heightened criticism and was ultimately withdrawn in November of 2016 less than two months before Obama left office.
As the Post writes, “Trump is looking for scapegoats to excuse his administration’s sluggish efforts to expand testing. But he cannot blame Obama.”