Trump Says He’s Been Treated ‘Worse’ Than Lincoln

TOPLINE

In a prolonged, televised Q&A with Fox News Sunday night at the Lincoln Memorial, President Trump criticized the “hostile press” before pointing up at the memorial and saying that he has been treated “worse” as president than Lincoln.

KEY FACTS

Crucial quote

During the Q&A, Trump also said that he believes there will be a vaccine by the end of the year: “I think we’ll have a vaccine by the end of the year,” Trump told the moderators, before adding he was “very confident” with the prediction. “We’ll have a vaccine much sooner rather than later.”

Experts maintain it could take 12-18 months for a vaccine to be developed.

Surprising fact

Vice President Mike Pence joined the second hour of the Fox News Town Hall and said he “should have” worn a mask when he went to the Mayo Clinic last week. Pence was sharply criticized for not wearing a mask and defying clinic guidelines when he visited the Minnesota-based clinic. A few days later, Pence made an appearance at a General Motors plant and wore a mask. 

“I didn’t think it was necessary but I should have worn the mask at the Mayo Clinic,” Pence said, explaining that he didn’t feel it was needed because he is regularly tested for the virus. 

Big number

90,000. Trump’s estimate for how many people could ultimately die from the coronavirus has continued to climb, and on Sunday the president said it could reach “80-90 thousand.” 

Trump said this could be called a “success…if you call losing 80-90 thousand people successful.” The president said that this is because the death total would be on the low end of experts’ death toll estimates. 

Further reading

Trump plans to cut daily coronavirus briefings (Axios)

Voters Want To See More Biden And Less Trump, Poll Finds (Forbes)

Trump’s Wasted Briefings (Wall Street Journal)

‘I Will Never Lie to You,’ McEnany Says in First White House Briefing (New York Times)