CNN does it again. Rather than rally together in a time of crisis, the liberal cable network is trying to score cheap political points. The latest example came as Donald Trump held a call with the nation's governors on Monday to address procurement concerns surrounding vital medical equipment that people may require when getting treatment for COVID-19. Afterwards, CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins joined CNN Newsroom host Brooke Baldwin to talk about it, but left out crucial context of Trump's remarks.
Regarding the purchase of respirators and ventilators, Collins reported, "He essentially told the states they need to work on getting this additional medical equipment that they're saying they need before the federal government is going to try to intervene."
Collins then read a quote from Trump, "Now, he did say the federal government would try to help them, would -- let me read you the quote we got from this he said, 'we will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves.'"
This quote has been widely circulated, but the New York Times added crucial context that Collins and others have omitted. After telling states to try to get the equipment themselves, Trump added a reason as to why, "Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself,” which makes sense as it removes a layer of bureaucracy.
Unfortunately, Collins focused more on the "getting it yourselves" part of Trump's comments than the "we will be backing you up" part as she called out Trump for tweeting at New York Governor Andrew Cuomo after Cuomo implored the feds to do more.
Collins wrapped up by declaring, "That comes as there has been some criticism of the way the Trump Administration has been slow to respond to things that people need like testing. So, of course, that's the only governor the president singled out in the tweet, we're waiting to learn more about what it was he said on the call."
Maybe things are slow, because of the many layers of bureaucratic red tape, which Collins could have referred to, if she reported on Trump's full quote, rather than uncritically repeating Democratic criticisms.
CNN
CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin
2:02 PM ET
KAITLAN COLLINS: Reporter: Yeah so they had this call, it was the president and all these governors on this telecall and one thing that he did say, according to someone who is familiar with that call, Brooke is that he essentially told the states they need to work on getting this additional medical equipment that they're saying they need before the federal government is going to try to intervene. Now, he did say the federal government would try to help them, would -- let me read you the quote we got from this he said, “we will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves.” Now, of course, this equipment is going to become incredibly important if it is not already in the next few days as we're moving from this phase where you saw people calling for these demands and increased testing to now figuring out what they're going to do with all these patients who have coronavirus. And how they are going to likely overwhelm the health system as people are trying to really limit that. So it is notable that is something that – that was essentially his message to these state officials on this call, urging them to try to take action first, because remember, Brooke, on Friday, we saw that statement that letter, from Democratic governors urging the president to invoke this mandate where essentially the federal government could help speed up the supply of creating ventilators, respirators, things the hospitals are going to need in the coming weeks.
BROOKE BALDWIN: Yeah
COLLINS: Now, we haven't heard anything else about what exactly was said on this call, we're still waiting to learn that, but we should note that the president just tweeted a few moments ago, talking about this call and he didn't single out anyone except for one governor, of course, that's Andrew Cuomo of New York where the president said “just had a very good tele-conference with the nation's governors” it “went very well” and then he said “Cuomo of New York has to ‘do more.’” It is notable president only singled out that one governor, the one governor that held a very lengthy press conference earlier today. And of course, they're one of several states making these decisions, closing gyms, restaurants, bars, all these places starting Monday night, tonight, of course. And so, the president is urging him to do more, we have certainly seen Governor Cuomo out there not only saying -- talking about what New York is going to do and what he's doing but also urging the federal government to get more involved and that comes as there has been some criticism of the way the Trump Administration has been slow to respond to things that people need like testing. So, of course, that's the only governor the president singled out in the tweet, we're waiting to learn more about what it was he said on the call.
