New White House press secretary downplayed pandemic threat and said Democrats were rooting for coronavirus
CNNCNN — New White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany repeatedly downplayed the threat of the coronavirus in comments made in February and March, a CNN KFile review has found. In radio and television appearances, McEnany, in her role as spokeswoman for President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign, said the administration had the rapidly spreading coronavirus “under control” and said that because of travel restrictions enacted by the President, “we will not see diseases like the coronavirus come here.” She also said Democrats were “actively rooting against what’s in the best interest of America,” including rooting for coronavirus to take hold. And isn’t that refreshing when contrasting it with the awful presidency of President Obama?” McEnany defended her comments over the weekend in a series of tweets, saying, “Context matters, I was asked about travel restrictions and stated the intent of those restrictions.” Speaking on Fox Business a day later on February 26, McEnany said the President had coronavirus under control. “And he’s doing everything right.” Attacks on Democrats McEnany sharply criticized Democrats critical of the White House’s response to coronavirus, saying they were rooting for coronavirus and the stock market to tank. And you’ll take precautions as I said, but not panic because we have a president leading on this.” The same day, in a contentious interview on Fox Business with Stuart Varney, McEnany was confronted by the news of Fauci saying on Capitol Hill there should be no large crowds Varney said “Dr.