A New York Times Editorial Board member came under fire on Monday for a tweet in which she truncated and mischaracterized President Donald Trump’s comments on the coronavirus.
Social media users slammed Mara Gay as “irresponsible,” “malicious” and a “liar” for tweeting that Trump “told governors this morning they are on their own.”
Gray provided a partial quote of Trump’s remarks: “Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves.”
But the full quote makes clear that Trump was telling state officials they had his full backing.
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves. We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself,” the president said during a conference call at the White House. “We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself.”
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A recording of the call was shared with the New York Times.
Gay’s characterization of the conversation and failure to include the whole quote drew backlash from conservative commentators.
Michael Knowles mocked her by saying her “reading comprehension is no better than her math.”
It seems @MaraGay's reading comprehension is no better than her arithmetic.
Here's the full quote: “…the equipment—try getting it yourselves. We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself.” https://t.co/D0cyjE2VhN
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) March 16, 2020
The dig was a reference to a glaring math error Gay made during an interview with MSNBC host Brian Williams on March 5.
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Jonah Goldberg, editor of The Dispatch, joined in on the criticism of gay, calling her “irresponsible.”
Erin Perrine, the principal deputy communications director for Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign, was even harsher.
Any reporter using half of a quote and refusing to use appropriate context is doing so maliciously.
Here's the rest of @realDonaldTrump's quote : "We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself.” https://t.co/qdeWKTVaxE
— Erin Perrine (@ErinMPerrine) March 16, 2020
“Any reporter using half of a quote and refusing to use appropriate context is doing so maliciously,” she said in a tweet.