FormerPresident Donald Trump's comments surrounding potential treatments forCOVID-19 during his tenure came under scrutiny and have been brought up againby White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
The trip down memorylane from the early days of the pandemic began when Pete Doocy, a reporter fromFox News, questioned Psaki during a White House briefing on Wednesday (11August).
Doocy asked whetherBiden might have caused vaccine hesitancy in the past when, during Trump'stenure, he said: "I trust vaccines, I trust scientists, but I don't trustDonald Trump, and at this moment, the American people can't either."
Psaki shut downDoocy’s argument by stating the White House hadn’t seen any data supporting theidea that Biden’s remarks about Trump increased vaccine hesitancy in theAmerican population.
During aback-and-forth, Psaki went on to add: "I would note that at the time, justfor context, the former president was also suggesting people inject versions ofpoison into their veins to cure COVID. So I think that's a relevantpoint."
For four years theWhite House must have felt like home turf for Fox News. President Donald Trumpwas a regular interviewee on the network while describing other media as theenemy of the people. His press secretaries Sean Spicer, Sarah Sanders and KayleighMcEnany duly took a combative approach to the briefing room, tossing outverbal grenades that usually failed to explode.
Now the shoe is onthe other foot and Fox News finds itself as a leading voice of dissent at thedaily press briefing, asking some of the bluntest questions as it tries to pickholes in the Biden administration.