Earlier we told you how well the stock markets received the news that President Trump was enlisted private enterprise in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic:
Bringing in the CEOs was a particularly intelligent touch. Vast majority of Americans live within 20 minutes of a CVS, Target, Walmart, or Walgreens. Makes the response real to them. https://t.co/eu9mAyIFiQ
— John Noonan (@noonanjo) March 13, 2020
But to many blue-checks, all they had to say was how mad they were at the president shaking hands with said CEOs at the Rose Garden press conference:
WHY IS THE PRESIDENT ON THE NATIONAL STAGE SHAKING THE HAND OF EVERY BUSINESS LEADER? THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT WE, THE PEOPLE, ARE BEING TOLD NOT TO DO BY EVERY EXPERT AND THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF. WE NEED LEADERS WHO LEAD AND DO SO BY EXAMPLE, BY WORD AND BY DEED. #COVID19
— Erin Schrode (@ErinSchrode) March 13, 2020
As we told you earlier, the press was sitting shoulder to shoulder in defiance of social-distancing protocols, but it’s only the president who gets called out:
Shake hands to own the Coronavirus
— David B. Larter (@DavidLarter) March 13, 2020
And then they all touched the same mic when coming up to give their remarks:
Why are they all touching the same mic and then shaking hands???
— Liz Cho (@LizCho7) March 13, 2020
Relax, everyone:
Chances every one of these CEOs tests positive for COVID-19 in the next week after interacting with Trump?
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) March 13, 2020
And here’s a wish for President Trump to spread the virus to the CEOs:
Let him. https://t.co/TPAqsCv66e
— kristen johnston (@thekjohnston) March 13, 2020
Even Dr. Fauci touched the mic:
Watching everyone, including Anthony Fauci, touch the microphone and podium after Trump, who has come in contact with confirmed #Covid19 cases, is making me scream inside.
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) March 13, 2020
Dr. Fauci needs a lesson, maybe?
OMG NOW HE'S TOUCHING THEM
I CAN'T
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) March 13, 2020
OOPS!
— Michele Dauber (@mldauber) March 13, 2020
Only one CEO declined to shake hands, opted for an elbow bump:
Trump offered to shake hands with one participant at news conference but that man opted for the elbow bump. pic.twitter.com/KqRnJ2n0b2
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) March 13, 2020
Watch here:
a minute's worth of footage of trump and health-care execs fondling the same mic and touching each other. reassuring presser, overall! pic.twitter.com/T3Zjw0IXqB
— Andrew Kirell (@AndrewKirell) March 13, 2020
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