Donald Trump is using the coronavirus daily briefings as a chance to push his reelection campaign. On Monday, the White House inserted a campaign-style video during the briefing at an attempt to bury the criticism that the president has received over his response to the outbreak.
The video appeared to have been copied from a montage used on Sean Hannity’s show.
“It’s very sad when people write false stories,” Trump said after the video finished. “We have hundreds of statements, including from Democrats and Democrat [sic] governors.”
Trump played an extended clip of @maggieNYT talking pic.twitter.com/jCoLrZx4L1
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 13, 2020
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People on social media commented on Trump’s attempt to run a press briefing as if it were one of his rallies. They weren’t happy. Take a look at some responses below:
President Trump just showed a video in the WH briefing room defending this response to the coronavirus.
The video was essentially a campaign video with cherry picked cable videos aimed at only telling the president's side.
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) April 13, 2020
This is a campaign ad. It’s an effective one, but it’s a campaign ad.
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) April 13, 2020
WH just played what appeared to be a campaign video defending Trump. In the briefing room. Just like a rally
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) April 13, 2020
This video montage at Trump's press conference…is actually part of the same exact video montage that Hannity ran on his tv show recently.
— Angelo Carusone (@GoAngelo) April 13, 2020
Finally someone sobers up and stops the propaganda Trump defense video — but only after they aired most of it. The producers at @MSNBC should be ashamed. https://t.co/BgWo47MSBj
— HawaiiDelilah™ (@HawaiiDelilah) April 13, 2020
I’ve defended broadcasting Trump’s pressers but there is literally no reason to broadcast a propaganda ad. It’s absurd.
— Sam Stein (@samstein) April 13, 2020
There are people dying.
The President is spending his time from the podium airing propaganda because his feelings are hurt.
— Sam Vinograd (@sam_vinograd) April 13, 2020
White House reporter Jon Karl also called out the president for playing a “campaign ad” during the briefing.
JON KARL: That video looked a bit like a campaign ad. Who put that together for you?
TRUMP: "A group in the office"
KARL: That was produced here in the White House?
TRUMP: "Yeah" pic.twitter.com/rYRFn4KTco
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 13, 2020
