Paula Reid, a CBS News White House Correspondent, has managed to get a lot of attention on Monday after a tense exchange with President Donald Trump during the latest press briefing about the coronavirus.
The lawyer and journalist started by telling the leader of the free world: “The argument is that you bought yourself some time (with the travel restrictions). You didn’t use it to prepare hospitals. You didn’t use it to ramp up testing. Right now, nearly 20 million people are unemployed.”
The statement came after the former reality TV star bragged about his China travel ban and its role in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.
Reid persisted and delivered a harsh assessment of the president’s handling of the crisis, and she continued: “Tens of thousands of Americans are dead. How is this … rant supposed to make people feel confident in an unprecedented crisis?”
Trump did not like what Reid said and hit back with: “You’re so disgraceful. It’s so disgraceful the way you say that.”
The president added: “You know you’re a fake, your whole network, the way you cover it is fake.”
Trump brought the exchange back to the travel restrictions for China. After the briefing, Reid tried to take the high road on social media with this tweet: “Uber driver tonight: “If this virus doesn’t unite us, nothing will. This virus is not racist; it’s coming after everyone.” #coronavirus.”
Uber driver tonight: “If this virus doesn’t unite us, nothing will. This virus is not racist, it’s coming after everyone.” #coronavirus
— Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCBS) April 14, 2020
The moment went viral, and many experts in the media say they have never seen anything like this at the White House. People on the left applauded the journalist, and right-wing commenters backed the president for being strong against the press.
One person wrote: “GREAT JOB TODAY NOT LETTING THE POTUS WALK ALL OVER YOU AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!!! THE BLOOD OV EVERY AMERICAN WHO DIED FROM THIS VIRUS IS ON HIS HANDS!!! THANK YOU FOR NOT LETTING UP!!!!”
A critic replied: “You remind me of an elephant at the circus! Just a one-trick pony! #clown.”
.@PaulaReidCBS presses Pres. Trump about his administration's early actions on the coronavirus, after he spent the beginning of his press conference complaining about his media coverage https://t.co/ySmFq3sUis pic.twitter.com/iKuTfTqg4I
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 13, 2020
FOX News and CNN even had a battle of chyrons. CNN called the briefing propaganda, while FOX said Trump was “keeping the media honest.” #TrumpMeltdown was a trending topic on social media, and supporters of the president eventually responded with #CNNMeltdown.
After Trump said he has “Total Authority” to reopen the economy without the support of mayors and governors, the phrase also dominated social media.
According to recent polls, most Americans no longer approve of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
