White House Holds First Formal Press Briefing In Over A Year

The briefing kicked off with McEnany announcing a plan by the administration to provide $12 billion to hospitals treating more than 100 coronavirus patients, with the most funding going to New York, New Jersey and Illinois.

Asked about the President’s statement Thursday that he’s seen evidence coronavirus originated in a Chinese lab, which contradicted a statement earlier in the day by his intelligence chief, McEnany said Trump’s belief is “consistent with what some analysts believe is the epicenter of where the virus began.”

McEnany told reporters “I pledge never to lie to you, I do promise you that,” and said the White House plans to continue conducting regular briefings.

She also took aim at the World Health Organization, accusing it of having “a very clear China bias,” listing instances in which the administration believes the WHO misled the public, and slamming it for opposing the administration’s travel restrictions, which she said “Dr. Fauci praised as saving lives.”

Shifting away from coronavirus, McEnany slammed the FBI’s treatment of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, saying there was an “unfair target” on him and that it should “concern every American any time there’s a partisan pursuit of an individual.”