President Spurns Open Briefing with Serious Reporter Questions for Softballs on Cable News Station That Spreads Coronavirus Misinformation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in lieu of a standard White House task force briefing, President Trump is holding a town hall to discuss the COVID-19 crisis on Fox News — a TV network that spreads rampant disinformation about the virus and encourages actions that would cause serious health hazards to its own viewers. 

Dr. Marc Siegel, a Fox News correspondent, is participating in the town hall after downplaying the virus in an Los Angeles Times op-ed which said that COVID-19 is “something that does not currently pose a threat [to people in America] and may well never do so.”

“Fox News has spent the last few weeks spreading false and potentially dangerous information about the crisis — the fact that President Trump is dodging questions from serious reporters for a town hall with this propaganda outlet is shameful,” said Kyle Herrig, president of Accountable.US. “Just last night, the Fox News hosted an elected official who said older people, who are at heightened risk of death and serious illness from the virus, should be willing to die to protect our economy. Forcing the American people to watch this network to hear from the nation’s leader during a public health emergency is plain dangerous.”

Additional misinformation Fox News spread over the past two weeks about COVID-19:

  • Fox News Host Sean Hannity suggested that COVID-19 could be a “fraud” by the deep state to spread panic in the U.S. populace.
  • Fox Business Anchor Trish Regan expressed concern for the nation’s economy at the expense of public health, calling the coronavirus “yet another attempt to impeach the president.”
  • On March 13th, despite warnings from the CDC against traveling abroad and President Trump declaring a national emergency, Fox News Host Ainskley Earhardt said it was “actually the safest time to fly.”

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