In response to growing media criticism that his administration did not act quickly enough to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, President Trump on Monday treated the White House press corps to a video highlighting his media critics’ blasé attitude toward the threat early on.
During the coronavirus task force press briefing, the lights in the briefing room dimmed for a video montage of media personalities downplaying the threat and governors praising the president.
Brutal beating @realDonaldTrump gave the leftist media here.
And it was glorious.
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) April 13, 2020
“I’ve think I’ve educated a lot of people as to the press,” Trump declared following the airing of the video.
“It’s very sad when people write false stories,” Trump added after the video ended. The president noted that there was much more that could have been included in the video.
“I would love to be able to say that we have a very honest press,” he lamented. “And I don’t mind being criticized, but not when they’re wrong, not when people have done such a great job.”
The president told reporters that the montage was put together by White House staff, including social media director Dan Scavino.
Not surprisingly, the video was not a hit with the media, including CNN’s chief media correspondent Brian Stelter, who called it “anti-media propaganda.”
The White House's anti-media propaganda video was disgraceful. It also showed us where Trump's head is at. At the briefing he was fixated on the PAST — not the present or the future pathway out of this emergency. pic.twitter.com/5Cvb15425i
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 14, 2020
CNN actually cut to a commercial rather than play the White House video calling out the media’s hypocrisy.
CNN cuts away from "propaganda" briefing as Trump plays video attacking press https://t.co/TBMgtvUqdZ pic.twitter.com/86zeptBnJy
— The Hill (@thehill) April 14, 2020
“To play a propaganda video at taxpayer expense in the White House briefing room is a new — you can insert your favorite word here in this administration,” CNN anchor John King said as the network cut away.
During the briefing, CNN aired a chyron saying, “Angry Trump turns briefing into propaganda session, “Trump refuses to acknowledge any mistakes,” “Angry Trump uses propaganda video produced by government employees at taxpayers expense,” and “Trump falsely claims media ignored coronavirus in Jan., Feb. Go to CNN.com for full archive.”
CNN reporter Jim Acosta called the montage a “campaign style video.”
CNN can't handle the truth.
After CNN cuts away from @realDonaldTrump's press briefing, Jim @Acosta says, "What we just saw a few moment ago & it's a good thing we cut out of it, is that the White House essentially tried to play a campaign style video" in the briefing room. pic.twitter.com/ppdyzgDosO
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) April 13, 2020
MSNBC also stopped its live broadcast of the briefing when Trump began airing the video.
“We are cutting into what was not a White House coronavirus briefing,” MSNBC host Ari Melber informed viewers.