Donald Trump opens his latest press conference with disastrous news which makes clear he shouldn’t keep having them
Donald Trump finally kicked off today’s coronavirus press conference a few minutes ago, with the White House having apparently given up on any semblance of a scheduled starting time. Right off the bat, Trump noted that the number of press members in attendance was down, while acknowledging the late breaking reports that an unnamed member of the White House Press Corps is suspected of having the coronavirus.
This raises an obvious question: why is Trump still having these stupid press conferences? Why is he asking reporters to continue cramming into a press briefing room so they can listen to him blather and lie, while they potentially expose each other? So much for social distancing.
We’re not blaming the reporters in attendance. They face a tough decision about whether to show up when the President of the United States is giving them an opportunity to ask questions. But these press briefings could easily be done via videoconference. Trump is clearly only continuing to hold these debacles in person because it feeds his ego, at a time when he can’t hold campaign rallies.
This should be the last straw when it comes to these press conferences. News outlets need to stop sending their reporters, now that their safety is being put in danger. More importantly, the TV networks need to stop airing this nonsense, so reporters will feel less pressure to show up.
