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Trump calls question about why he lied to Americans about Covid-19 a 'disgrace', Internet says 'give up'

'Why did you lie to the American people, and why should we trust what you have to say now?' ABC News correspondent Jon Karl asked

President Donald Trump on Thursday, September 10, scoffed at a question about why he lied to Americans about the severity of Covid-19 in the early stages of the pandemic, calling it "disgraceful" in a press conference amid his controversy over his comments to journalist Bob Woodward's leaked phone recording where he deliberately played down the virus.

"Why did you lie to the American people, and why should we trust what you have to say now?" ABC News correspondent Jon Karl asked during a news conference, referencing the president's comments in audio recordings from February that Covid-19 was "deadly" even as he publicly minimized the threat of the virus. "That's a terrible question and the phraseology. I didn’t lie. What I said is we have to be calm. We can’t be panicked. The way you phrased that is such a disgrace," Trump added. "It’s a disgrace to ABC Television Network. It’s a disgrace to your employer."

Karl pressed Trump, noting that he told Woodward in early February this year, that Covid-19 spread through the air and was more lethal than a "flu" even as he publicly compared the emerging outbreak to the common flu and encouraged people not to wear masks.

"What I went out and said is very simple. I want to show a level of confidence, and I want to show strength as a leader and I want to show our country is going to be fine one way or the other," Trump said. "There was no lie here. What we’re doing is we’re leading, and we're leading in a proper way."

As soon as the full video of the press briefing went viral, one user applauded Karl's question and said, "Thank you, Jon. I clapped out loud. His answers are NEVER satisfying." While another one said, "Badass! Thank you! I was hoping somebody would ask him why he still had his Tulsa rally if he knew it was airborne and deadly contagious"

And some targeted Trump supporters and said, "The Trump supporters here can’t defend his answers so they attack the person for asking the question. Seems like Biden doesn’t have trouble answering all reporters questions. MAGA just wants OAN reporters to ask him softballs." Another user accused Trump, saying, "You lied! People Died! It didn't have to be this way! You not only lied by omission, you lied by giving false information instead of information that could have prevented illness and death! All because you wanted to save your economy- now we also know why you go bankrupt so much!"

And one stated his experience saying, "I had a friend die of Covid. The week before he passed he told me “you worry too much. Trump said it will be over soon and it’s just like the flu”. One week later he was dead. Trump did say it knowing it was a lie. People died. Their blood is on his hands. The end.

"Trump lied, not to keep us from panic but to protect his re-election. He didn't set up mandatory masks to save lives or urge social distancing. Trump did the opposite, urged his followers to stand up for their rights not to wear masks. Trump had rallies, superspreader events," said another Internet user. One commented saying. "He needs to give it up and bow out gracefully."

Bob Woodward, who broke the 'Watergate scandal', interviewed Trump 18 times from December to July. Mr Trump is quoted as telling him the virus was "deadly stuff" before the first US death was confirmed. On Wednesday, some parts of his interview recordings between the President and the Woodward went viral, where he revealed on February 7, 2020, "It goes through the air" "That's always tougher than the touch. You don't have to touch things. Right? But the air, you just breathe the air and that's how it's passed," he added. And later, he said, "And so that's a very tricky one. That's a very delicate one. It's also more deadly than even your strenuous flu."