'The authority is total': Trump lashes out at COVID-19 media criticism

US President Donald Trump, again defending his administration's early response to the coronavirus outbreak, lashing out at his critics during his daily briefing yesterday turned into what some called propaganda, but it was certainly an expression Complaints against journalists in the

media

, in particular, played an important role. video that attacked

media

coverage and featured clips of state governors praising their all-male administration and saying everything we did was good. He also denied rumors that he plans to fire his top coronavirus expert, Dr. Anthony Foutch II, what really stands out is his latest statement about the powers of the presidency in this time of crisis and our senior Washington editor, Lindsey Duncum, has more on that briefing yesterday.

Lindsey was extraordinary, so many things I and I were able to talk about. I know you'll address as many as we can, but the whole question about the president's

total

authority

, let's start there, yes, really, when you look at all the moments of Trump's presidency, this one certainly stands out, there are a couple of reasons, Heather. Why did we see Trump appear so angry both in terms of the media and state governors when it comes to the media? This briefing took place after several media outlets published a detailed report on Trump's lack of response at the beginning of this crisis and the consequences that has had and when it comes to the governor coming to the briefing room right After the governor in the United States in two groups one on the west coast and one on the east coast said they were joining forces to determine together with the help of experts, when the economy in their regions could safely open, but Donald Trump He said that that is his calling and that is how he expresses himself when someone is the president of the United States, the

authority

is

total

and that is why it has to be the president. of the United States makes the decisions if we were not here for the states, he would have had a problem in this country like he had never seen before.

We were here to support them and we supported them and we have supported them in spades. above we did a job that no one ever thought was possible this is the same president who says he is not responsible for what was happening in the country and diverted that responsibility to the governor the governor today is backing down rightly pointing out when As far as to the US Constitution, this is a power that the states have and it says that if the president gave an unsafe order, then they would not follow it. Here's to Governor Cuomo of New York if he ordered me to reopen in a way that would endanger the public health of the people of my state.

I wouldn't do it, so what does it all mean? Heather for Americans who are stuck inside their homes and want to know if it's safe to go out. There are some similarities in this power struggle between the two of them, both the White House and the state say they don't want to make any decisions about ending shutdown orders until it's safe to do so, so what we expect from the White House today It's an announcement of a new task force with doctors and business leaders to actually release that guidance and when it comes to the federal government, that's what they can do, they can release guidance from the CDC as we've seen with the orders that are in place in this moment. and that can guide governors as they make their decisions, so it's a little confusing in this confusing and anxious time for Americans to see their president get into a power struggle with the governor, but ultimately with the power to make decisions state by state.

Decisions rest with the states. Thanks Lindsey, appreciate you sorting that out for a senior Washington editor, Duncan.