Trump to hold White House presser on coronavirus, amid criticism of his handling

Frustrated by the news media and rival Democrats saying he’s mishandling the coronavirus, President Trump on Wednesday staged an all-day rejoinder, starting with morning tweets and scheduling a televised, evening press conference on the deadly virus. 

“Low Ratings Fake News MSDNC (Comcast) & @CNN are doing everything possible to make the [sic] Caronavirus look as bad as possible, including panicking markets, if possible," Trump tweeted. 

"Likewise their incompetent Do Nothing Democrat comrades are all talk, no action. USA in great shape! @CDCgov … I will be having a News Conference at the White House, on this subject, today at 6:00 P.M. CDC representatives, and others, will be there. Thank you!”

Criticism about the administration’s handling of the virus kicked in Monday night, after the White House asked Congress to appropriate $1.25 billion in emergency money to help fund its existing $2.5 billion prevention and treatment program. 

Congressional Democrats complained that the requested amount was insufficient to address the spreading problem and criticized the administration for also asking for roughly $500 million from the federal government’s Ebola prevention and treatment program. 

New York Rep. Nita Lowery, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, called the request “woefully inadequate” and accused the administration of wanting to “raid” the Ebola fund. 

There are 80,2339 reported coronavirus cases worldwide and 2,700 virus-related deaths, according to the most recent World Health Organization report.

The U.S. has 53 confirmed cases. No deaths in the country have been attributed to the virus. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday said that a domestic outbreak is inevitable. 

Trump said Tuesday while in India that the coronavirus is “very well under control in our country.” 

At about the same time, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar briefed Congress on the administration’s response to the virus, which resulted in at least one news outlet suggesting that Azar hasn't fully grasped the severity of the situation.

In recent weeks, the administration has closed U.S. borders to some foreign nationals who have recently traveled to China, where the virus was first reported, and has limited inbound flights from China to 11 U.S. airports with advance-screening procedures in place. 

Azar said Tuesday that HHS estimates the country will need about 300 million masks to help prevent the virus from spreading in the country. 

Reports of the virus spreading and having the potential to disrupt the global economy also roiled the financial markets earlier this week, with the Dow temporarily losing as many as 800 points.