GOP chair defends Trump messaging on masks: ‘To say that he should have known then what we know now isn’t really fair’

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel on Sunday defended President Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, including his contradictory remarks on masks.

McDaniel defended Trump’s earlier remarks casting doubt on the effectiveness of masks, noting that Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, advised against wearing them earlier in the pandemic.

“I think 20/20 vision in hindsight is always perfect, but as a new pandemic hit our shores we were all being told by Dr. Fauci, the scientists that we shouldn’t wear masks,” McDaniel said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “It’s a new virus … to say that he should have known then what we know now isn’t really fair.”

NBC’s Chuck Todd noted that Trump “waited months” after health experts reached a consensus on masks to encourage their use. Since tweeting his support for masks, the president has mocked Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for wearing them.

“Do you not see a direct correlation between the president not encouraging mask-wearing and the fact that fewer Republicans wear masks than independents or Democrats?” Todd asked.

“I don’t think that it’s politically dividing at all, I wear a mask, my kids wear a mask, my husband wears a mask… the president wears a mask too,” McDaniel replied. “It’s sad that it’s become political.”

McDaniel went on to say the U.S. is “in the right space and moving forward with a vaccine” and accused Democrats of politicizing the crisis.

“Is there any way to look at this and compare it to the western world and say that we’ve done better than other countries?” Todd countered.

McDaniel responded by pointing to Biden accusing Trump of “xenophobia” in January.

“He’s not the president,” Todd replied.

“I think it’s disgusting to take a crisis in this country and try to lay it at the feet of the president, where’s the outrage at China?” McDaniel asked.

Todd also noted reports that political appointees are manipulating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance on the virus and asked whether that could be considered politicizing the virus.

“I don’t know anything about that” McDaniel responded before attacking Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for calling the virus “the Trump virus.”

TODAY on #MTP: @ChuckTodd: Political operatives are reportedly manipulating CDC guidance to fit “the president’s positions.” Isn’t that politicizing the pandemic?@GOPChairwoman: “I don’t know anything about that. But I do know Nancy Pelosi has called it the Trump virus.” pic.twitter.com/1ptoHycL1D

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 13, 2020