Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) criticized President Donald Trump’s remarks where he suggested he did not want to cause panic amid the coronavirus pandemic.
As the top-ranking Democrat noted Trump’s repeated warning to suburban housewives, he suggested during a Thursday morning appearance on MSNBC that Trump only believes in inciting panic when it serves his personal interest.
“[He] is busy panicking America right now, telling women in the suburbs that your safety is at risk when the suburbs are not in any risk at all that way,” Schumer said. “He doesn’t mind panicking people when it serves his interest.”
The New York lawmaker also expressed concern from the opposite side of the spectrum as he explained another instance where Trump might make negligent remarks in favor of his own interest.
Schumer added, “What’s worse is that he will not tell the truth when it serves his interest and then people are so badly hurt. It’s a despicable incident.”
Sen. Schumer: "This time he said he didn't want to panic people. Really? Is this the same president who's busy panicking America right now? Telling women in the suburbs that your safety is at risk … he doesn't mind panicking people when it serves his interest." pic.twitter.com/y6kjpxgcHw
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 10, 2020
Schumer’s latest remarks come amid the media firestorm surrounding the release of audiotapes confirming Trump was aware of how deadly the coronavirus actually is.
The president was recorded admitting that he intentionally downplayed the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to keep people from panicking, as previously reported on IJR.
“I wanted to always play it down,” Trump told Woodward on March 19, just days after he declared COVID-19 a national emergency. “I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”
Although Trump has opposed mask-wearing throughout the pandemic, even he admitted on February 7 that he was aware the coronavirus could be spread through airborne transmission.
As of Thursday morning, there are more than 6.5 million coronavirus cases that have been reported in the United States since the beginning of the pandemic. The death toll now stands at 195,590.