Trump’s inconsistent coronavirus messaging ‘compromises public trust,’ former surgeon general says
CNNNew York CNN Business — A version of this article first appeared in the “Reliable Sources” newsletter. On Thursday Trump said he disagreed with Fauci’s assessment that the US needs to “significantly ramp up” testing. Practically every public health expert agrees with Fauci, but Trump said at Thursday’s briefing, “I don’t agree with him on that, no, I think we’re doing a great job on testing.” Fauci wasn’t in the briefing room. CNN’s fact-checking team said the sunlight idea is the “latest example of Trump grasping for a quick fix for the pandemic, after he previously suggested it might ‘go away’ in warm weather and that anti-malaria pills could be a ‘game-changer.’” He’s going beyond wishful thinking – he’s engaging in magical thinking. These are just four examples of what I’m hearing all over the place… everywhere, it seems, except from Trump admin officials: – Infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm on “The Lead with Jake Tapper” Thursday: “We have to have, as a population, the same discussions about not just how we’re going to die with this virus, but how we’re going to live with it for the next 16 or 18 months.