Donald Trump responds to claim that family got sick because he downplayed the coronavirus threat

Donald Trump has been criticized for what critics describe to be his slow response to the coronavirus crisis in the U.S. as many believe he initially tried to downplay the virus’s threat. In a recent White House briefing, the President gave his comment on claims that a family might have gotten the virus because he downplayed the threat.

“Are you concerned that downplaying the virus maybe got some people sick?” PBS NewsHour‘s Yamiche Alcindor asked President Trump during Monday’s briefing. Alcindor said that she interviewed a man who claimed his family got sick and did not take precautions “mainly because the president wasn’t taking it seriously,” according to a report by Deadline.

“And a lot of people love Trump,” the President replied. “A lot of people love me. You see them all the time. I guess I am here for a reason, and for the best of my knowledge I won. And I think we are going to win again. I think we are going to win in a landslide.

“But just so you understand – you’re talking about March right?” Trump continued, as shown in a clip posted on Twitter. “And yet in January, at a certain date – you know the date better than I do, we put on a ban of China, which China can’t come in. And before March, we put a ban on Europe where Europe can’t come in.”

“So how can you say that I wasn’t taking it seriously?” Trump questioned Alcindor. “You know I put on a ban on China before anybody in this country died.”

However, Alcindor was still unconvinced with Donald Trump’s explanation. She then asked him why he still held rallies in February and March, where large numbers of people gathered, if he took the coronavirus threat seriously.

“I don’t know about rallies,” Trump responded. “I know one thing. I haven’t left the White House in months except for a brief moment to give a ship the Comfort.”

However, the journalist noted that President Trump held a rally last month. “You held a rally in March,” Alcindor pointed out.

“I don’t know? Did I hold a rally? I’m sorry. I hold a rally,” Trump said. “Let me tell you. In January, when I did this, there were virtually no cases and no deaths.”