Trump responds to question about coronavirus fears by bashing the media

Updated

President Donald Trump lambasted an NBC reporter who asked what he would say to Americans who are fearful of the coronavirus pandemic, calling the question “nasty” and telling the reporter he should be “ashamed.”

On Friday, Trump addressed the nation in a press briefing about COVID-19 and the administration’s efforts to stop its spread.

Upon opening the floor for questions, NBC’s Peter Alexander asked the president, “What do you say to Americans who are watching you right now who are scared?”

“I say that you are a terrible reporter, that’s what I say. It’s a very nasty question. It’s a very bad signal that you’re putting out to the American people,” Trump responded. “The American people are looking for answers and looking for hope. You’re doing sensationalism.”

He then criticized NBC and Comcast, telling Alexander, “You might want to get back to reporting” and “You ought to be ashamed of yourself.” (NBC is a subsidiary of Comcast.)

Moments later, another reporter asked the question again and Trump offered a more measured response:

“My message to the American people is that there is a very low incidence of death ― you understand that ― and we’re going to come through this stronger than ever before,” he said.

“If you happen to get it, it is highly unlikely ― it’s looking like it’s getting to a number that is much smaller than people originally thought in terms of the ultimate problem, which would be death. My message to the American people is number one, you’ve done an incredible job. ... There is tremendous hope.”

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  • This article originally appeared on HuffPost.

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