Trump lies about the Obama administration

He lies about how they handled the H1N1 swine flu outbreak. He’s trying to divert attention away from his failures.

CNN's fact-check team has thoroughly vetted Trump's previous false claims about the 2009 swine flu pandemic and about the Obama/Biden response. Here is one https://t.co/YFZL8otbod and here is the second https://t.co/R3MhcuKTru https://t.co/K5NNbqVngV
— Marshall Cohen (@MarshallCohen) April 17, 2020

Your dishonesty has no limits. H1N1 was an immediate top priority & handled decisively. FDA quickly approved testing kits, issued emergency authorizations & approved rapidly developed vaccines. Approval of Obama/Biden leadership was 66% at beginning of outbreak; 57% through fall. https://t.co/JNLgsxTKZm
— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) April 17, 2020

Facts on #H1N1: Within 2 wks of the id of the outbreak,@FDA approved CDC-created test kits. By September 2009 FDA had approved 4 influenza vaccines. During the crisis @CDCgov released 11 million treatment courses of Tamiflu & Relenza. #Obama led & USG agencies saved lives. https://t.co/4VL8C07o8u
— Samantha Power (@SamanthaJPower) April 17, 2020

icymi

[April 2009]

Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Obama administration is handling the swine flu situation?

Approve 66%
Disapprove 16%

(Gallup Poll, 4/28/09)
more: https://t.co/uWvCNHr6um
— PollingReport.com (@pollreport) April 17, 2020

The H1N1 flu killed 12,456 Americans, not 17K alleged here nor the more than 31K who already have perished in the pandemic @realDonaldTrump told us in February was a “hoax.”
The @BarackObama admin mobilized quickly and was consistently led by the science. It’s a good template. https://t.co/lbYjQyRrKv
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) April 17, 2020

Also, the rest of the world didn’t blame America despite the fact that the H1N1 swine flu came from overcrowded factory farmed pigs in North America and was first detected in California. Nobody called it the “American Pig Flu” or tried to punish America and blame the WHO.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) April 17, 2020

In the span of 7 minutes, @realDonaldTrump:

1) Claimed the federal response to H1N1 Swine Flu under a former 🇺🇸 President was a 'disaster'…

2) THEN told states the response is THEIR responsibility.

It would be helpful to clarify:

SO. WHO. IS. IN. CHARGE. OF. THE. RESPONSE? https://t.co/cf94yVEsXf pic.twitter.com/GYO0dejFeV
— Craig Spencer MD MPH (@Craig_A_Spencer) April 17, 2020

Approval of Obama's handling of H1N1 (@CNN Nov 2009): 57%

Approval of Trump's handling of coronavirus (@Reuters @ipsosus April 15): 48% https://t.co/3GVPdYBFRM https://t.co/PI3u7Xbrsx https://t.co/DTpvvmUaLs
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) April 17, 2020

Wonder if anyone will ask Dr. Fauci, who was there, if he viewed the Obama Admin’s handling of the H1N1 pandemic a “disaster?”
I also wonder whether @realDonaldTrump will let him answer?
Finally, I wonder why Trump feels this foolishness is helpful to him or the country? https://t.co/Jn0IAIkHBk
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) April 17, 2020

The official CDC number for the H1N1 swineflu was 12,000 American deaths after a year of the pandemic.

Current death toll of the coronavirus is 35,394 American deaths, and it is rising for every day that passes with the current incompetent handling of the pandemic.
— Morten Øverbye (@morten) April 17, 2020

This kind of denialism can be lethal. Pollsters found that people who watched Fox News in 2009 were less likely to say that they would get vaccinated against H1N1. Among those who advised against H1N1 vaccination on Fox News in 2009 was Donald Trump. https://t.co/CQDlO72xMb
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) April 17, 2020

The Obama administration was 3 months old when it called H1N1 a health emergency 6 weeks before WHO declared it a pandemic. The Trump administration was more than 3 years old when it botched the response for the coronavirus. https://t.co/22Z8sjqGeR
— Morten Øverbye (@morten) April 17, 2020

He's still comparing it to the 2009 swine flu, where a third as any people died over the course of a year? OK. https://t.co/7asu0ej6Z7
— Philip Bump (@pbump) April 17, 2020

Some things dont age that well. Tronald Dump tweeting in 2009 about Swine Flu. pic.twitter.com/xsKYcH3E3g
— Real_JasonJHunter (@JJHTweets) April 17, 2020

Another extremist protest in Minnesota

I’m sure Trump and Russia are happy.

I’m sure all those Republican Minnesota State lawmakers who offered up their anti-protest bill are ready to fine the shit out of these patriots. https://t.co/OoStiVvSmA
— D.A. Bullock (@BullyCreative) April 17, 2020

Minutes after a Fox News segment on a protest against social distancing measures outside the Minnesota governor's office, by conservative "Liberate Minnesota" group, Trump tweets "LIBERATE MINNESOTA!"

Left, Fox's America's Newsroom, 11:19 a.m.
Right, Trump, 11:21 a.m. pic.twitter.com/RvFV68oOCb
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) April 17, 2020

Just a reminder that in 2016, when Minnesotans occupied this space to protest police violence after the murder of Philando Castile, the Minnesota GOP leaned even harder into their attempts to criminalize protest. https://t.co/uGCTgyZPLJ
— hodel in the streets, chava in the sheets (@mrotzie) April 17, 2020

A group of Minnesotans is protesting Gov. Tim Walz’s stay-at-home order, calling it unwarranted. https://t.co/IGzz0oR54F
— WCCO – CBS Minnesota (@WCCO) April 16, 2020

Trump's call to LIBERATE Minnesota and out of The entire state of Minnesota- over 5 million people- only a few hundred showed up for a protest. Looking more and more like this November we will LIBERATE AMERICA From Trump and the virus known as Trumpism https://t.co/khEF4ef16D
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) April 17, 2020

Flags, horns, and Donald Trump were on display outside the Minnesota Governor's Residence Friday afternoon during ongoing Liberate Minnesota protest pic.twitter.com/uPeInh9vOB
— Glen Stubbe (@gspphoto) April 17, 2020

Don't even know what to say…

Protest happening now at the MN Gov residence organized by Marty Hackenburg with support from the Minnesota Proud Boyshttps://t.co/MKP3E15OS3
— Naimah Petigny (@NaimahPetigny) April 17, 2020

Video of an ongoing protest outside the Governor of Minnesota's home.

Noting that the Governor has today relaxed some restrictions around outdoor recreation, boating, golfing and the like. https://t.co/ogM3TBrUiZ
— COVID Perspective (@covidperspectiv) April 17, 2020

It appears Jason Lewis for US Senate in Minnesota is connected to this out of control and reckless protest. https://t.co/TX7sHQuIPE
— Peter Morley (@morethanmySLE) April 17, 2020

“Liberate Minnesota” is not only being chickenshit and staying in their cars for their protest tomorrow, they’re making it abundantly clear they don’t give a rip about the health of attendees. pic.twitter.com/GbzaGdrpQ2
— J-Mo. 🇵🇷🏳️‍🌈 (@javimorillo) April 16, 2020

Walz on Minnesota protests against Stay At Home order: "I will never stop dissent but when you are advocating for really reckless behavior, that's a different thing."
— Patrick Kessler (@PatKessler) April 17, 2020

Hedge funds are getting money meant for small businesses

This is disgusting and immoral. They don’t need the money.

Billionaire bankers just love socialism for the rich.

Greedy hedge fund managers are now calling themselves "small businesses" to apply for government handouts. That is wrong.

This aid is desperately needed to help Main Street, not Wall Street. https://t.co/x73kh9TaSB
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) April 14, 2020

Get this, some hedge fund managers have declared themselves "small businesses" to qualify for emergency loans and bailouts.

The greed and hypocrisy of some people never ceases to amaze me.
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) April 17, 2020

Free money for hedge funds—not our goal for PPP. This is exactly why tough oversight & transparency are vital. https://t.co/DNWtqgDzbv
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) April 17, 2020

You know who doesn’t see this screen?
Hedge funds, lobbying firms, yacht owners & their llcs that were able to use their accounts & lawyers to get the applications in first! https://t.co/VnL8ZxHxa4
— Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) April 16, 2020

4. For those who say, "we don't have any more money."

The same relief act designed to save small businesses provided $90 billion a year for millionaire real estate and hedge fund business owners. There's always money, it's just a matter of priorities https://t.co/9jTbR8sAFY
— Dan Price (@DanPriceSeattle) April 16, 2020

Trump may challenge the election results if he loses

He is casting doubt on the validity of the election. This is disgraceful. The 2020 election was going to be a fiasco before the pandemic.

The latest Trump campaign email is just a remarkable amount of fear mongering, misdirection and disinformation, all laying the predicate for challenging the election results if they don’t go Trump’s way. pic.twitter.com/znpkiJParo
— Sam Stein (@samstein) April 17, 2020

Ugly. The Willie Horton ad is going to look subtle by November. pic.twitter.com/mKV0LK9sCn
— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) April 17, 2020

There’s no bottom for the Trump campaign.

Trump's Super PAC just bought $2.7 million in ads in Wisconsin, $2m in MI, $5.5m in PA to push an ad attacking Biden as pro-China—on same days as Fox reports "sources" saying China created COVID-19 in a gov lab. Their 2020 Big Lie strategy, fully visible.https://t.co/PADE7zbv9Y
— Ben Wikler (@benwikler) April 16, 2020

While we focus on the 1000s of #coronavirus deaths caused by Trump's ineptitude, it's important to think about the integrity of the 2020 election. @RepAdamSchiff tells me Russia is still interfering AND Trump is covering this up. Please read & share.https://t.co/EknrzAVEVR
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) April 15, 2020

Trump is calling for insurrection with reference to guns at the same time his campaign is falsely claiming that Democrats are trying to “steal” the election. This is what despots do. It’s dangerous. He’s laying the groundwork for his supporters to reject results and use violence. pic.twitter.com/pNCeqq0Phz
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) April 17, 2020

More bad behavior by Fox News

Notice something in common with Fox Newsers pushing to open economy over advice of Drs?! Hannity salary $40 million. Tucker Carlson salary $6 million. Dr Oz net worth $100 million. Dr. Phil $80 million a year. GOP Sen Kennedy worth $6 million. Rich want to sacrifice your family
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) April 17, 2020

1. Fox News is promoting protests against social distancing measures. This is really bad.https://t.co/5qTG9uNoFv
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) April 16, 2020

Fox News and Fox Business have been talking about China (in the context of the virus) and WHO more than coronavirus testing. https://t.co/4z54Z9yGDS
— Philip Bump (@pbump) April 16, 2020

Fox banner: "TRUMP SAYS HE HAS AUTHORITY TO REOPEN STATES."

Fox guest @JudgeNap: The governors have the authority. Tenth Amendment, constitutional law, etc.

Fox adjusts the banner: "WHO HAS AUTHORITY TO REOPEN STATES?"
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 14, 2020

Out of her mind. https://t.co/Mg1jVuWPcj
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) April 17, 2020

Trump's dangerous "LIBERATE" tweets represent the views of a small minority, but one that's being actively promoted by Fox News https://t.co/2y5KNPxAvW
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 17, 2020

Big Fox promoting 2009 tea parties energy. https://t.co/RR4edxBH53 https://t.co/X2sQP9Tuw3
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) April 17, 2020

Trump’s new ‘liberate’ meltdown appears to have been provoked by a Fox News segment https://t.co/ZXwPtk9yQp
— Raw Story (@RawStory) April 17, 2020

Trump irresponsibly incites protests

He sides with the protesters against their elected governors. Of course, he’s only encouraging protests against Democratic governors. I thought Trump left it up to the states. People will get sick from these rallies if they don’t observe social distancing and use masks. Sad!

If Trump had actually learned how to do his job, and then actually performed it, America wouldn't be in this situation with the pandemic. There wouldn't be any (Democratic-led) states that his goons would need to "liberate.” And perhaps that's the point. https://t.co/tYW1kOZwx0
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) April 17, 2020

By tweeting LIBERATE MICHIGAN, Trump knows what he's doing. He's encouraging his fans to gather, spread a virus, & possibly die: all to make life difficult for a governor he hates.

Somehow "petty" doesn't do it justice.

Trump is walking people off a cliff; the GOP shrugs.
— Dave Wagner (@Dbwagner104) April 17, 2020

So, the president is apparently encouraging protesters who are gathering in public to defy the actions of their governors. pic.twitter.com/icrltmpSU5
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) April 17, 2020

It’s not every Friday that the president* takes to the electric Twitter machine to foment insurrection. https://t.co/FxHrvl7eOG
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) April 17, 2020

If I didn’t know better, I’d think Trump was channeling Jim Jones in leading his flock to self-destruction https://t.co/XU6INTFiNd
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) April 17, 2020

By the way, Republican elected officials and candidates in VA, MI, and MN should be asked whether they approve of Trump's tweets, which endanger not just the citizens of their states in general but law enforcement officers trying to enforce the law in particular.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) April 17, 2020

Trump inciting people to violate stay-at-home orders will cause many deaths, and deepen the economic downturn. He has done many irresponsible things, but this ranks right up there.
— Topher Spiro (@TopherSpiro) April 17, 2020

Trump encouraging protesters in blue states – a development we foreshadowed earlier this week – could create immense volatility if the governors hold the line. Combine that with conservative talk radio, deepening economic desperation, and outside big $$ funding… https://t.co/6q8uRWYNDe
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) April 17, 2020

The president appears to be encouraging uprisings (and armed ones at that?) against Dem governors and the measures they have adopted to slow the spread of covid. https://t.co/tbd7lXqkhR
— Greg Miller (@gregpmiller) April 17, 2020

State protests aren’t irrelevant, but they’re not at all in line with polling or the pretty broad bipartisan consensus among state officials, public health experts, and even economists. Fanning them into a flame is a choice.
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) April 17, 2020

There were people, alarmists I called 'em, who said that the president would try to foment insurrection rather than giving up office. To each of them I say…"I apologize."
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) April 17, 2020

"liberate the country from the will of the majority" is a pretty good summary of where the republican party is these days pic.twitter.com/LjUDzSZMOV
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) April 17, 2020

In a disturbing new series of tweets, Trump urged Americans to “liberate” three U.S. states that are run by Democratic governors amid protests over coronavirus shutdownshttps://t.co/KGXI5tucs3
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) April 17, 2020

I try to never tweet about this particular account but LOL there are armed groups bearing flags w/his name on them marching on the capitols of these states, & it's not even clear that the governors can just flip a switch & turn the economies back on like they're demanding. Wow. pic.twitter.com/IRo0ACWFRB
— Jon Stokes (@jonst0kes) April 17, 2020

"The social-distancing deniers have arrived," @zbyronwolf writes https://t.co/u7Bznwjd2Q
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 17, 2020

Trump plays politics with PPE

He’s using it to support Republican politicians. The most obvious example is Colorado. This is wrong. It should be based on need. Everything is political to Trump.

President Trump has made a show of giving vulnerable Republican lawmakers the equipment their states need to fight the virus, and some Democrats are crying foul https://t.co/lq1h3xK2hR
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) April 16, 2020

Distributing life saving equipment based on electoral politics is really dark. https://t.co/OHL9eamuWw
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) April 8, 2020

How is this not impeachable, or even criminal? How? https://t.co/E0mbe3xIyW
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) April 5, 2020

After states were told to procure their own ventilators, Colorado ordered 500, but FEMA cancelled the order to buy them itself. THEN Trump says CO can have 100 “at the request of Sen. Gardner”, a politically endangered Republican. Fmr. Gov. @Hickenlooper joins me @TheLastWord 10p
— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) April 11, 2020

This is some fucked up shit right here. https://t.co/CJWdzbVXmq
— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@MollyJongFast) April 11, 2020

Trump's tweet about "immediately sending 100 Ventilators to Colorado at the request of Senator Gardner!" seemed innocuous on its face. But the backstory illustrates how he's turned live-saving medical gear into a form of patronage. https://t.co/IVA8BHDyxY
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 10, 2020

First it was Colorado's Cory Gardner. Now, another vulnerable GOP senator gets to brag to her constituents that she secured ventilators from the president: https://t.co/Z0QD7H3Vaj
— Blake News (@blakehounshell) April 10, 2020

Ivanka Trump’s hypocrisy

Do as I say, not as I do.

Jared and Ivanka are deeply involved with the government’s response to coronavirus.

Jared and Ivanka ignored federal guidelines to travel to a Trump golf course in New Jersey last week.

Don't be like Jared and Ivanka. https://t.co/MIysXIHgST
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) April 18, 2020

Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner traveled from DC to NJ despite federal guidelines to avoid travel @jaketapper reports pic.twitter.com/2NZaRs3hsf
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) April 16, 2020

A White House official confirms to @cnn's @betsy_klein that, despite federal guidelines, @IvankaTrump and Jared Kushner and their children, left DC for their country home at Trump's private Bedminster, NJ, club, as first reported by the @nytimes. “Ivanka, with her immediate (1/4)
— Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) April 16, 2020

those lucky enough be in a position to have a taxpayer-funded Secret Service detail drive them hundreds of miles to their second homes at their father’s golf club, please, please do so https://t.co/vd03u5PHl6
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) April 16, 2020

Ivanka Trump, Disregarding Federal Guidelines, Travels to N.J. for Passover

by @anniekarni: https://t.co/1AweJ4DHxA
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) April 16, 2020

Newest coronavirus polls

Chart: About half of U.S. adults say Donald Trump is making the coronavirus situation seem "better than it really is" https://t.co/18KNSaSODm pic.twitter.com/FEMeNuu7HA
— Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) April 18, 2020

icymi

Please tell me if each of the following has done a good job or bad job dealing with the coronavirus outbreak:

President Trump
Good job 46%
Bad job 49%

Your state's governor
Good job 72%
Bad job 21%

(Monmouth U. Poll, 4/3-7/20)
more: https://t.co/hzOsaj0DDY
— PollingReport.com (@pollreport) April 17, 2020

Nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) say Trump was slow to respond to the coronavirus, including a majority of moderate Republicans, per ⁦@pewresearch⁩ poll. https://t.co/1ciQ6DCztF
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) April 18, 2020

New polling from PEW: 65% of Americans say Trump was *too slow* to take major steps to address the threat to the United States when cases of the disease were first reported in other countries.

73% say the worst is yet to come.

66% worry restrictions will be lifted too soon.
— James Hohmann (@jameshohmann) April 16, 2020

By a 2-to-1 margin, Americans are more worried about reopening the country too soon than too late.

Perhaps that's related to Americans thinking Trump undersold the pandemic and acted too slowly to address it. https://t.co/KV1cA0TKuu
— Philip Bump (@pbump) April 16, 2020

NEW @DataProgress/@crookedmedia poll:

– 71% very/somewhat concerned Trump Administration hasn’t provided enough testing

– 69% concerned Trump was warned in January but didn’t act til March

– 69% concerned Trump sent 2 million masks and medical equipment to China in Feb https://t.co/VAYO0kzmZI
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) April 16, 2020

icymi

CDC, Dr. Fauci and WHO most trusted to tell the truth about coronavirus pandemic (@NavigatorSurvey) Details: https://t.co/kzLySpaqzr pic.twitter.com/FUKizD3mvW
— OpinionToday.com (@OpinionToday) April 16, 2020

United gets bailout, lays off workers

This is what happens when you pay companies, not workers.

Surprising no one, United will lay off its workers after receiving a $5 billion taxpayer-funded bailout.

Bail out people. Not corporations.
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) April 17, 2020

The airline is precluded from laying off staff for the next six months under terms of a federal financial assistance package that will provide it with about $5 billion, but it's preparing to cut staff as soon as Oct. 1, according to a letter sent to staff. https://t.co/KrNW1Bl7fE
— CNN Business (@CNNBusiness) April 16, 2020