Trump Walks Out After Question From CNN During Briefing, and Ted Cruz Introduces Bill That Rescinds Coronavirus Relief Funds.
President Donald Trump ended a briefing early following a question from a CNN correspondent. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins questioned Trump’s tweets that continue to support the highly controversial drug, hydroxychloroquine.
Trump doubled down on his defense of using the drug despite substantial medical evidence that disproves its effectiveness. He said he believed the debate about it had become “very political.”
During the briefing he also spoke warmly of a doctor featured in a video he retweeted on Monday night. In the video, the doctor makes false claims regarding the coronavirus. It was removed from a number of platforms for violating policies about spreading misinformation.
Trump defended his tweets and then abruptly ended the coronavirus briefing following the question from CNN.
One can’t help but wonder what Trump might post next on Twitter. Trump recently promoted Goya Foods, which raised hackles among anti-corruption experts. What’s next, an adidas promo code?
Related: Pelosi Calls Trump ‘Morbidly Obese’, Says Taking Hydroxychloroquine ‘Not a Good Idea’
Sen. Ted Cruz introduced a new bill on Tuesday. The bill could cause some local governments to become ineligible for federal coronavirus relief funds. And how? The attorney general would determine if those governments have been discriminating against religious institutions or individuals.
Attorney General Bill Barr has repeatedly claimed that he believes religious freedom is foundational to American liberty.
The proposed bill, Safeguarding Americans from Coronavirus and Religious Exercise Determination Act, says its goal is to ensure a State or local jurisdiction is ineligible to receive funds if they “discriminate against religious individuals or religious institutions.”
The bill goes on to stipulate that a government is ineligible for relief funds if it:
“(1) enforces, or announces the intent to enforce, any law, regulation, policy, order, proclamation, or decree related to COVID-19 that discriminates against religious individuals or religious institutions.”
They are also ineligible if they show an intention to share their funds with another State or local jurisdiction that violates that first rule:
“(2) provides, or shows an intention to provide, covered funds to a separate State or local jurisdiction that is ineligible to receive or use those funds because the State or local jurisdiction has committed a violation described in paragraph (1).”
Related: Coronavirus Scams: What You Need to Know to Avoid Them
