Very publicly contradicting the nation’s top health official, President Donald Trump said the head of the Centers for Disease Control had wrongly stated how long it will take to get a vaccine to the general public for the Coronavirus, and disputed a call for Americans to wear masks as a highly effective way to slow the spread of the virus.
“He sort of maybe misunderstood a question,” the President said of Dr. Robert Redfield, who had testified hours earlier before a U.S. Senate committee.
It was very clear that Redfield’s suggestion that most Americans would not see a virus vaccine until next year was not well received by Mr. Trump.
“I think he made a mistake,” the President said. “I believe he was confused.”
“I think he made a mistake when he said that.”
— Bloomberg QuickTake (@QuickTake) September 16, 2020
Trump says CDC Director Robert Redfield was “confused” when he said November/December would be when a vaccine could be available and that general public won’t get it til next year. pic.twitter.com/jvt6Y98wEV
JUST IN: CDC Director Robert Redfield says at a Senate hearing he sees a #Covid19 vaccine being "generally available to the American public" in the "late second quarter, third quarter 2021" pic.twitter.com/8w2904TGhN
— Bloomberg QuickTake (@QuickTake) September 16, 2020
The President was also not pleased with another part of Redfield’s testimony, where Redfield strongly urged Americans to wear masks, saying it could even be more powerful than a vaccine.
“When I called up Robert today, I said, ‘What’s with the mask?’” the President recounted to reporters.
At a White House news conference, the President repeatedly made clear he does not believe masks are helpful to stop the virus.
“The mask is a mixed bag,” Mr. Trump said, again indicating that Redfield must have misunderstood the question asked of him by Senators.
“Masks have problems,” the President added, while Redfield had told Senators that masks “are our best defense.”
"I believe if you asked him, he would probably say he didn't understand the question."⁰⁰Trump also said CDC director Redfield is mistaken in claiming masks would do more to protect against coronavirus than a vaccine pic.twitter.com/N7Guy8UJGn
— Bloomberg QuickTake (@QuickTake) September 16, 2020
.@CDCDirector Dr. Robert Redfield: "These face masks are the most important, powerful public health tool we have...I might even go so far as to say that this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine." pic.twitter.com/yPdsSSQAbr
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 16, 2020
Redfield’s testimony was clear on masks.
“We have clear scientific evidence that they work,” the CDC chief testified.
Going on Twitter soon after the President’s statements about him, Redfield stood by his testimony that masks are effective.
“The best defense we currently have against this virus are the important mitigation efforts of wearing a mask, washing your hands, social distancing, and being careful about crowds,” Redfield tweeted.
Democrats immediately rushed to Redfield’s defense.
“Dr. Redfield meant exactly what he said earlier today when he testified to the enormous importance of vaccines AND wearing facemasks,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL).