Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) is facing backlash for his remarks about schools closing for the rest of the year amid the spread of the coronavirus.
Nunes appeared on “The Ingraham Angle” with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham on Wednesday evening where he expressed disapproval of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-Calif.) decision to close schools in light of the accelerated spread of the coronavirus.
In fact, Nunes considers the decision to be “way overkill.”
That part of the conversation began with Ingraham citing the opinion of a former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.
The Fox host noted that Gottlieb — whose opinion is highly respected by Dr. Anthony Fauci and the White House — suggested schools shouldn’t reopen until there is a vaccine. Ingraham noted how Americans might react to that type of extended time.
“Which if parents across the country are hearing that, and workers, they are going to be showing up in Washington, even if you all aren’t here,” Ingraham said. “They’re going to be coming to Washington to send you a message.”
In response to Ingraham’s statement, Nunes argued that long-term economic stalls would not work.
“That’s not going to work. I mean, look, the schools were just canceled out here in California, which is, you know, way overkill,” Nunes said. “I mean, you know, it’s possible kids could’ve went back to school in two weeks to four weeks, but they just canceled the rest of the schools.”
Check out Nunes’ interview:
Shortly after the interview aired, Nunes was met with opposition.
Viewers took to Twitter with their reactions to Nunes remarks, labeling his stance as an attempt to further downplay the dangers of the coronavirus.
Check out some of the reactions:
Someone didn't send him the memo.
— Michelangelo Signorile (@MSignorile) April 1, 2020
Nunes: California canceling school year is 'way overkill' https://t.co/TodjWVyCyq via @politico
Still downplaying: "The schools were just cancelled here in CA, which is WAY overkill,'' @DevinNunes tells @IngrahamAngle. "If we don't start to get people back to work in the next week or 2 weeks…I just don't know any economy that's ever survived'' being unplugged like this.
— Carla ‘Bluechecked’ Marinucci (@cmarinucci) April 1, 2020
Devin Nunes doesn't care if your children get sick or worse if they infect parents and grandparents who then die: Devin Nunes Says Closed Schools Are 'Overkill' During Coronavirus Pandemic https://t.co/Yb84GeMmJD via @mediaite
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) April 1, 2020
Despite Nunes’ claims about school closures, the coronavirus is continuing to spread throughout the states across the country.
There were more than 190,000 coronavirus cases — including over 8,500 positive cases in California — as of Wednesday morning.