House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Tuesday that the “Trump virus” was made “worse” by Donald Trump’s inaction.
“With the president's comments today, he recognized the mistakes that he has made by now embracing mask-wearing and the recognition that this is not a hoax; it is a pandemic that has gotten worse before it will get better because of his inaction, and in fact clearly it is the Trump virus,” Pelosi said in the interview.
When Pelosi was asked whether she was blaming Trump for the death of “thousands of Americans” she replied, “Yes, that’s what I’m saying.”
She said that fewer Americans would have died if Trump implemented mask-wearing and social distancing sooner.
Pelosi claimed that Trump made wearing a mask “a manhood thing” and ignored the reality of science. She also said that Trump allowed the economy to reopen too quickly, noting that we are still months from a vaccine.
Her comments come after Trump said in a coronavirus briefing Monday for everyone to get a mask. The President told reporters, “Whether you like the mask or not, they have an impact. They will have an effect and we need everything we can get.”
Trump tweeted an image of himself wearing a mask on July 20, saying, “We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus, and many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can’t socially distance. There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President!”
We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus, and many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can’t socially distance. There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President! pic.twitter.com/iQOd1whktN
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2020