Trump Denies Downplaying Virus, Questions Masks During TV Town Hall in ‘Hostile Territory’

(Photo by Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – President Donald Trump is denying he played down the threat of the coronavirus earlier this year, although in recent audio recordings, he says that he did purposely to prevent panic.

Trump is also continuing to cast doubt on the widely accepted scientific conclusions of his own administration strongly urging the use of face coverings.

He says, “There are people that don’t think masks are good.” The president participated in a televised town hall Tuesday with uncommitted voters, hosted by ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos. In an exchange with one voter, Trump said he actually “up-played” the virus threat.

Scott Jennings a former special assistant to President George W. Bush and a former campaign adviser to Sen. Mitch McConnell.

Jennings, in his opinion, the town hall did not to well. Jennings says that he gives Trump credit for agreeing to a road game in a hostile gym.

The event was billed as a conversation with “uncommitted” voters, which is, charitably, baloney. Most of the questions were hostile, and several of the questioners quite clearly have no intention whatsoever of voting for Trump.

See full townhall here.

 

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