MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” is comparing comments from two leaders regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
In the show’s opening, clips of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President Donald Trump were played against one another.
The segment comes after the U.K. issued an order for people to stay at home in an effort to curb the coronavirus outbreak, Johnson said on Monday evening. This follows as the United States has taken efforts to address the outbreak, including encouraging social distancing. Additionally, several states in the U.S. have implemented stay-at-home orders.
In the segment on “Morning Joe,” the British prime minister is heard saying, “The coronavirus is the biggest threat this country has faced for decades.”
The video then turns to Trump saying, “We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem.”
Johnson then declares, “It’s time for us to do more” and instructs the British people to stay at home. It is followed by a clip of Trump speaking about the “timing of the opening … of our country.”
The segment then compares the British prime minister strongly saying that if the rules are not followed then “police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.”
Trump then continues, “We have almost 160 million jobs in this country, the most ever, by far. By far, the most ever, the number of jobs, almost 160 million. We can’t just turn that off and think it’s going to be wonderful.”
MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski called the compilation of videos “a tale of two leaders.”
Watch the video below:
The 7am open on @Morning_Joe pic.twitter.com/teo2Uo2NV5
— Daniel Norwick (@danielnorwick) March 24, 2020
As of Tuesday morning, there were over 46,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. In the U.K., there were at least 6,700 cases.
Trump said on Monday that he is considering reopening the economy next Tuesday, at the end of the 15-day period, as IJR reported.
“America will again and soon be open for business,” Trump said, adding, “We are not going to let it turn into a long-lasting financial problem.”
When asked about the idea of “easing” social distancing “sooner rather than later” on the “TODAY” show Tuesday morning, Dr. Deborah Birx responded, “I think we’re looking very closely around the world, specifically Italy right now because they’re reaching their two weeks of clear social distancing and look at the impact … Now we’re confronting a real epidemic and we have to be willing to adjust our plans as we see impact.”
On Tuesday, the World Health Organization said that the United States has the “potential” to become the new epicentre for the coronavirus as “we are now seeing a very large acceleration in cases in the U.S.,” as IJR reported.