During an interview on CNN on Sunday, Republican Sen. Joni Ernst (Iowa) criticized former President Barack Obama’s handling of Ebola, a viral disease that two Americans died from, but praised President Trump’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as cases surge in several cities and the death toll reaching nearly 130,000.
Pressed by CNN’s Dana Bash about whether she’d criticize Trump now that almost 130,000 Americans died from the coronavirus, given how she criticized Obama by accusing him of “failed leadership” on Ebola, Ernst dodged the question by saying that “we all have responsibility in stopping the spread” before emphasizing the importance of mask-wearing and social distancing.
“We all should do our part to make sure that we are protecting others as well. So this is a virus that’s not going to go away soon,” Ernst said. “We want to make sure that we are watching this and doing everything that we can as a federal government, including the research and development of therapeutics and vaccinations to make sure that we are doing the right thing as a nation.”
Bash continue to press on and asked Ernst whether Trump is exhibiting failed leadership himself on coronavirus. Ernst sidestepped the notion by arguing that Trump is “stepping forward” and pointing out that Vice President Mike Pence is “spearheading the task force efforts on the coronavirus.”
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Watch Ernst’s remarks below:
