CLEAN BREAK
Trump cuts short virus update following detergent backlash – as White House plans the ‘end of daily press briefings’
DONALD Trump reportedly plans to scale back his daily coronavirus press conferences following his abrupt exit from Friday's briefing after just 22 minutes.
The president could stop daily briefings as early as next week, and they will be much shorter when he does appear, sources told
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Several of 's closest advisers inside and outside of the White House have said his "overexposure" is hurting his polling numbers against Democratic rival , the outlet reports.
"I told him, it's not helping him," one of the president's advisers reportedly said.
"Seniors are scared. And the spectacle of him fighting with the press isn't what people want to see."
The briefing scale back comes after:
- A new study from the Department of Homeland Security suggested
- Donald Trump and using UV light to treat the illness
- The president walked back his radical suggestions after facing backlash, saying
- British cleaning supplies company after Trump's comments
- CNN journalist Chris Cuomo's wife Cristina bizarrely
But Trump has defended the routine by telling critics that his briefings get good ratings.
Friday's briefing was cut short after Vice President Mike Pence gave updates on testing and cases in the US, with the president abruptly walking out of the room after just 22 minutes.
He refused to answer any questions after his comments about injecting detergent to cure the virus during Thursday's briefing led to a huge backlash.
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A White House released Friday evening didn't include any forthcoming COVID-19 briefings by Trump.
Another source told the news outlet there isn't enough new material to justify Trump's daily appearances before the press.
"I mean, you wonder how we got to the point where you're talking about injecting disinfectant?" they reportedly said.
The president's abrupt briefing exit came hours after he said his .
He made the claim during a White House news conference on Friday as he signed a $484 billion bill to aid employers and hospital workers during the pandemic.
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"I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen," Trump said.
"I was asking a sarcastic and a very sarcastic question to the reporters in the room about disinfectant on the inside.
"But it does kill it and it would kill it on the hands, and that would make things much better."
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany earlier called media coverage of his remarks "irresponsible."
"President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterday's briefing," she said in a statement shared by .
"Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines," she added.
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Since Thursday, Trump has faced a backlash from the media, the medical community and the pharmaceutical industry, many of whom .
He after a new study by the Department of Homeland Security found that direct sunlight, bleach, and isopropyl alcohol kill the virus.
Experts warn that cleaning products can be dangerous and potentially fatal if ingested or put into the body.
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MOST READ IN NEWS
Although the president plans to scale back his appearances, a source said decisions like this are never truly final.
"He should keep everyone guessing as to whether he appears day by day," a senior administration official said.
"And leave the technical briefings to others. Be there to announce victories."
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FDA and docs warn do NOT inject yourself with disinfectant to cure coronavirus after Trump floated idea
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