Pelosi: Trump inaction cost American lives
Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, has just delivered a devastating critique of Donald Trump on CNN’s State of the Union, accusing him directly of costing American lives through his
constant denials and delays.
“The president’s denial at the beginning was deadly,” she said. “His delay in getting equipment to where it’s needed is deadly … As the president fiddles, people are dying.”
Asked by host Jake Tapper if she was saying Trump’s early downplaying of the severity of the coronavirus crisis “cost American lives” Pelosi replied: “Yes I am. I’m saying that.”
She said that after the crisis was over, there would need to be an investigation into Trump’s handling of the pandemic.
“What did he know?” Pelosi asked. “When did he know it?”
But for now it was a question of making sure he stopped failing to act.
“We still don’t have adequate testing,” Pelosi said, “and we still don’t have protective equipment for our health workers who are risking their own lives to save lives.”
Pelosi ended on this note: “Don’t fiddle while people die, Mr President.”
Such a direct accusation is certain to inflame Trump. Expect fireworks later.
