'It's a peaceful protest' Trump tells reporter who accused unmasked supporters of breaking the law

During a press conference at President Donald Trump's New Jersey resort Friday evening, a reporter attempted to corner the president while suggesting attendees who weren't wearing masks were breaking the law under the state's COVID-19 restrictions.

But the president drew cheers and applause when he assured the journalist that the invited guests were well within compliance, explaining, "It's a peaceful protest."

What are the details?

President Trump announced with a few hours notice that he would hold a press conference at his private club in Bedminster, so several members filed in to witness the event.
As it was wrapping up, a reporter addressed the president, saying, "You said that the pandemic is disappearing, but we lost 6,000 Americans this week and just in this room you have dozens of people who are not following the guidelines in New Jersey." The crowd reacted with boos.
"You're wrong on that because it's a political activity," the president replied. "They have exceptions, political activity and it's also a peaceful protest."

As the audience cheered, Trump continued, "You know, to me they look like they all pretty much have masks on, but you know, you have an exclusion in the law that says 'peaceful protests or political activity.'"
He continued, "You can call it political activity but I would call it peaceful protest because they heard you were coming up, and they know the news is fake. They understand it better than anybody."
Social distancing and mask mandates have become a political issue in an already-contentious climate.
Democrats criticized President Trump for resisting to wear a mask in photos during the early days of the coronavirus crisis, but several Democratic politicians have faced accusations of hypocrisy for giving a pass to massive crowds at Black Lives Matter protests while implementing stringent guidelines and even prohibitions for other activities in their jurisdictions.

So, what was the press conference about?

President Trump announced plans to issue an executive order requiring health insurers to cover all preexisting conditions, saying it "has never been done before."
"Over the next two weeks I'll be pursuing a major executive order requiring health insurance companies to cover all preexisting conditions for all companies," the president said, according to The Hill. "That's a big thing. I've always been very strongly in favor. We need to cover preexisting conditions."
The outlet reported that "insurance companies are already required to cover patients with preexisting conditions" under Obamacare.The bizarre incident occurred at Ricky T's Bar & Grille on Sunday, according to police.
According the arrest affidavit, 47-year-old Jason Copenhaver approached the child and asked him if he was wearing a mask. When the child said he was, the man told him to take it off and shake his hand.
Copenhaver then allegedly grabbed the child's hand when he refused and said, "You now have coronavirus."
"Victim stated that (Copenhaver) was in such close proximity that spit particles from (Copenhaver's) mouth landed in his face," wrote an officer.
Restaurant workers said that the man wasn't wearing any shoes and tried to hit an employee twice. They also said that he appeared to be drunk.
The same employee took control of Copenhaver and held him to the ground until police arrived, according to WTVT-TV.
Authorities did not release the age of the child.
Copenhaver was arrested and charged with simple battery and disorderly conduct. He was released on $650 bail.
Police say he told them that he didn't know if he had coronavirus and had never been tested for the virus.

Americans fed up with masks

Disputes over masks have made headlines across the country and are likely to increase as local governments respond to a spike in coronavirus cases.
In Michigan a local commissioner blamed the mask mandate on "them n****** down in Detroit," which occasioned lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to call for his resignation.
In Washington state, a man was caught on video viciously beating a partially disabled elderly veteran, allegedly because he had made a comment to the attacker's girlfriend about wearing mask.
Another incident in Jacksonville, Florida, involved a woman purposely coughing on another woman who was recording her heated interaction with employees at a Pier 1 store. The victim was wearing mask because she was receiving treatment for a brain tumor, and the aggressor was later charged with assault.
A poll in July found that 75% of Americans supported orders for people to wear masks in public around other people. Another 13% said they opposed the orders.

No comments:

Powered by Blogger.