Trump Attacks NBC Reporter Over Coronavirus Question

In a jaw-dropping exchange between President Donald Trump and NBC News White House Correspondent Peter Alexander, Trump lost it over what Alexander later called a “simple” question.

The tense moment happened during the White House coronavirus task force briefing Friday. Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters “there is no magic drug” for coronavirus. Moments later, Trump contradicted Fauci and said he felt “good” about unapproved drug treatments.

Alexander then asked Trump what his message would be to Americans who are scared about the coronavirus pandemic. The journalist also asked the president if he was giving Americans “false hope” by touting unproven coronavirus drugs prematurely.

[Watch the video below]

Clearly bothered by the question, Trump ripped into Alexander. “I say that you are a terrible reporter,” he replied. “That’s what I say.”

The president then launched into an extended rant against Alexander, saying he asked a “nasty question” before blasting NBC and its parent company, Comcast.

“The American people are looking for answers and they’re looking for hope, and you’re doing sensationalism,” Trump said. “And the same with NBC and con-cast. I don’t call it Comcast. I call it con-cast.”

“Let me just tell you something,” Trump added. “That’s really bad reporting. And you ought to get back to reporting instead of sensationalism.”

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When CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins asked a follow up question about the appropriateness of tirades against members of the media during a public health crisis, Trump refused to back down.

“You said you see yourself as a wartime president right now, leading the country through a pandemic that we are experiencing,” Collins said. “Do you think going off on Peter, going off on a network is appropriate when the country is going through something like this?”

Trump continued his assault and made it personal. “Peter is not a good journalist,” he insisted. “Coming together is much harder when we have dishonest journalists.”

Alexander later took to Twitter to say, “I offered both Pres Trump and VP Pence an opportunity to reassure Americans. Simple question: ‘What do you say to Americans who are scared?’ Trump, to me: ‘I say, you’re a terrible reporter.’ Pence, an hour later: ‘Don’t be afraid. Be vigilant.'”

I offered both Pres Trump and VP Pence an opportunity to reassure Americans.

Simple question: “What do you say to Americans who are scared?”

Trump, to me: “I say, you’re a terrible reporter.”

Pence, an hour later: “Don’t be afraid. Be vigilant.”

— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) March 20, 2020

Fellow journalists rallied behind Alexander on Twitter. Still, Trump’s supporters accused the reporter and weekend Today co-anchor of “blowing” the coronavirus pandemic completely of proportion, “creating fear” and being a “partisan reporter.”