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During the Monday coronavirus task force update, President Trump argued that ABC’s Jon Karl asked an unfair question.
Jon Karl asked President Trump to respond to a report about a survey of 300 hospitals saying there was a severe and widespread shortage of coronavirus tests.
In response, Trump asked when the author of the report was appointed. The report was authored by the Health and Human Services inspector general.
Karl continued, “A follow-up on the question of the HHS inspector general, and by the way her name was Christi Grimm, and it wasn’t so much her opinion but they interviewed 323 different hospitals.”
President Trump suggested that the report included her potentially bias opinion because she was appointed during the Obama administration.
“It still could have been her opinion. Uh, when was she appointed? When was she appointed?” Trump asked.
“I’m not sure when she was appointed,” replied Karl.
“Well, would you do me a favor and let me know?” said Trump.
“How long has that person been in government?” asked the president.
Karl admitted, “She did serve in the previous administration.”
“Oh! You didn’t tell me that, I see! You didn’t tell me that, Jon!” Trump mocked. “You didn’t tell me that! Did serve in the previous administration, you mean the Obama administration, thank you for telling me that!”
Karl said, “Well, you asked me when she was appointed.”
“See, there’s a typical fake news deal! No, look, look! You’re a third rate reporter, and what you just said is a disgrace!” said Trump.
“OK? You asked me, you said, ‘sir, just got appointed!'” he mocked Karl.
“Take a look at what you said, now I said, when did they, when did this person, how long in government? Well, it was appointed in the Obama administration!” Trump added.
“Thank you very much, Jon, thank you very much!” Trump said.
“You will never make it!” the president concluded.
Joe Scarborough of MSNBC wrote to Twitter, “Donald Trump’s treatment of Jonathan Karl is predictably disgraceful. Why is anyone carrying this farce live?”
