Senate Republicans Praised Trump’s Pandemic Response While He Downplayed the Threat of Coronavirus. They’re Still Defending Him.

Senate Republicans praised President Trump’s failed coronavirus response while he was “intentionally misleading Americans” about the threat of the pandemic and are still defending him now – despite new audio recordings that reveal he knew how dangerous the pandemic was but “admitted he kept that knowledge hidden from the public.”

GOP Senators have refused to hold the Trump administration accountable for botching the response, ignoring warnings, failing to ramp up testing, and allowing the coronavirus to “silently spread” throughout the United States for weeks while telling Americans the virus will just “go away.” With Senate Republicans confirming that they’ve worked “hand in glove” with the White House, they also own the mismanagement of this crisis.

“Senate Republicans are still praising and defending a president who deliberately misled Americans and downplayed the threat of a deadly pandemic,” said DSCC spokesperson Helen Kalla. “Their refusal to hold Trump accountable is indefensible and has made this public health and economic crisis worse.”

Here is what Senate Republicans have said:

• Senator Martha McSally (AZ): “He is out in front and leading on this.”

• Senator Cory Gardner (CO): “The president took unprecedented action at the very front end of coronavirus.”

• Senator David Perdue (GA): “He exhibited tremendous leadership in this whole process, looking to people who are the experts and acting accordingly.”

• Senator Kelly Loeffler (GA): “Thank you, Mr. President, for your strong leadership!”

• Senator Joni Ernst (IA): “Generally, I feel [Trump’s] done a very good job. He was right on it from day one”

• Senator Mitch McConnell (KY): “I think the president is doing very, very well…and I’m proud of the way he’s been handling it.”

• Senator Susan Collins (ME): “The president did a lot that was right in the beginning” 

• Senator Steve Daines (MT): “I think he’s done a good job, I do.” 

• Senator Thom Tillis (NC): “I think the president is taking every step he can to help the health and safety of the people of the United States.”

• Senator Lindsey Graham (SC): “I think he’s done a really good job”

• Senator John Cornyn (TX): “I think certainly he’s given it his all, and I don’t know what else to ask.” 

• Failed politician John James (MI): Trump has “done everything that he has thought was best”

• Congressman Doug Collins (GA): “I think the president has handled it well. I think, as you look at it, it’s been a good response as it goes on.”

• Congressman Roger Marshall (KS): “Look, we had a great response.”

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