Trump began hijacking coronavirus task force press conferences after seeing praise heaped on Pence

[left-of-center2012]

Appearing on CNN early Sunday morning, New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman claimed that Donald Trump’s only concern over the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic is how it reflects on him and his desire to take credit for any successes.

Speaking with host John King, Haberman stated that Trump’s obsession with how he is perceived is the animating reason why he shows up at Vice President Mike Pence’s task force press conferences and takes over — to show that he is in command.

“He tends to look at these things only through the lens of how it affects him and how it is being played in the media, those are his driving, animating impulses and forces and you see it every day,” she explained. “You see it in part by the fact he is now, since last Sunday, it’s only been a week, he comes to the briefing room podium every day because Mike Pence had been there prior to that and was getting praise for how he was at least speaking publicly about it.”

“None of this is what one would call ideal crisis leadership, but it is, I think, the best he can do,” she dryly added.

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/03/trump-began-hijacking-coronavirus-task-force-press-conferences-after-seeing-praise-heaped-on-pence-nyt-reporter/

[underpants]

1. That's what I took from the threads here tonight

We were watching a movie.

All him.

[gldstwmn]

2. I bet he'd really like to crash Cuomo's.

[captain queeg]

3. Why don't they turn off the cameras when he gets up there

Or at least mute him

[IcyPeas]

4. he really is diminishing pence's role as Chief

pence mostly just stands there - the only time he talks he says -- ...let me start by saying..... thank you to the president and the rest of the task group... he says nothing. Trump is doing pence's job. there is no need for them both to be on stage.

these really have replaced his rallies.

I only want to hear from doctors/medical experts.

[gulliver]

5. Trump was asked whether undocumented people would face problems if they sought care

Trump didn't know the answer so he turned it toward the FEMA guy or Navarro. They both punted or had half answers.

Then Pence jumped in and rattled off the answer in a definitive expert manner. The question had been resolved in previous days, and the answer was "No." No worries for the undocumented people seeking care.

So Trump didn't throw the question initially to Pence. He threw it to someone else. Pence then jumped in.

Trump immediately started to take over the lectern and said something like, "Yes that's right. And if it's not I'll make it that way."

As Trump said that, the reporter repeated the question for confirmation. Interestingly, behind Trump's back, Pence looked at the reporter (while Trump was talking), mouthed the word "Yes," and nodded to him. I've never seen Pence basically talk over Trump from behind his back before.

The body language from Trump wasn't good for Pence either. And Pence's butt kissing rate was way down it seemed to me.