CNN host Brianna Keilar stunningly CUT OFF Kayleigh McEnany for “lying” about Trump’s COVID-19 response during a Wednesday briefing.
The news network abruptly switched from a livestream of the press secretary speaking at the White House, to Keilar, followed by a series of clips of President Trump’s comments about coronavirus in February.
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Kayleigh McEnany speaks at a White House press conference on WednesdayCredit: The Mega Agency
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CNN host Brianna Keilar cut off McEnany’s conference, as she claimed the White House Press secretary was ‘lying’Credit: CNN
McEnany’s briefing occurred the same day reports emerged about Watergate journalist Bob Woodward’s upcoming book, Rage, including Trump recorded saying he knew the virus was “deadly stuff” during an interview on February 7.
A reporter asked McEnany how President Trump took “no responsibility” for nearly 200,000 coronavirus deaths despite “downplaying” the virus in early days.
“The president never downplayed the virus,” McEnany said.
“The president expressed calm. The president was serious about this when Democrats were pursuing their sham impeachment.”
“He was expressing calm and he was taking early action and his actions are reflective of it.”
The reporter further pressed McEnany, asking if Trump “regrets” his early approach.
McEnany continued saying that Trump “took this seriously, but still expressed calm.
“He has always taken this seriously,” she said.
As another reporter started to ask a question, CNN cut away from the press conference and to host Keilar.
“Alright. That was the press secretary at the White House lying,” Keilar said.
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McEnany said Trump has ‘always taken’ the coronavirus pandemic ‘seriously’Credit: The Mega Agency
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‘That was the press secretary at the White House lying,’ Keilar said, followed by cips of Trump’s comments on coronavirus back in FebruaryCredit: CNN
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Trump speaks in the Diplomatic Room at the White House on WednesdayCredit: The Mega Agency
“She said the president never downplayed the coronavirus. This is what the president said at the time,” Keilar said.
CNN then showed a reel of clips dating back to the days when COVID-19 first began to spread in the US.
“And again, when you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero,” the president said during a clip shared from a news conference.
In another clip, Trump said of the virus: “It’s going to disappear one day. It’s like a miracle. It will disappear.
“And from our shores, we’ve – you know, it could get worse before it gets better and maybe go away. We’ll see what happens, “he added.
CNN then showed a third video snippet.
“Stay calm. It will go away. You know it is going away. And it will go away and we will have a great victory,” Trump said.
Keilar then said McEnany was “lying” about how Trump described COVID-19.
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Trump told reporters when asked of downplaying virus concerns that he is a ‘cheerleader’ and does not ‘want to create panic’Credit: Reuters
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It was reported that Woodward’s new book details how Trump was allegedly recorded saying he knew the virus was ‘deadly stuff’ during a February 7 interviewCredit: EPA
On Wednesday, Trump himself admitted to downplaying the coronavirus – but said it was in order to “reduce panic.”
When asked about the claims, Trump told reporters he downplayed the virus “in order to reduce panic, perhaps that’s so.”
“You have to show leadership, and leadership is confidence in our country,” Trump said.
He added that he is a “cheerleader” and does not “want to create panic.”
Trump did take action in January, including instituting a travel ban from China – then the virus’ epicenter – and weeks later, from the European Union.
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It was alleged in April that Trump ignored warnings in early days – including memos from White House trade adviser Peter Navarro in January that the virus could kill as many as two million Americans.
Trump denied the claims, however.
As of Wednesday, US coronavirus cases continued to climb past 6.35million, with more than 190,000 deaths.
