President Donald Trump delivered a powerful message on Sunday, as the nation continues to reel from the sudden and devastating effects of the China Virus pandemic.

“This is a challenging time for all Americans,” Trump solemnly said. “We’re enduring a great national trial, and we will prove that we can meet the moment. I want to assure the American people that we’re doing everything we can each day to confront and ultimately defeat this horrible, invisible enemy. We’re at war. In a true sense, we’re at war and we’re fighting an invisible enemy.”

But sounding a note of hope, he added, “For those of you who are feeling alone and isolated, I want you to know that we’re all joined together as one people, eternally linked by our shared national spirit. We love our country — the spirit of courage and love and patriotism. No American is alone as long as we are united, and we are united. We’re very united. People are saying things now that three weeks ago — they didn’t talk that way. We’re very united. No force is equal to the strength of a unified America, united America, an America like we have it right now.”

“For those worried and afraid,” Trump concluded, “please know as long as I am your president, you can feel confident that you have a leader who will always fight for you and I will not stop until we win. This will be a great victory. This is going to be a victory, and it’s going to be a victory that in my opinion will happen much sooner than originally expected.”

President @realDonaldTrump: “We’re enduring a great national trial, and we will prove that we can meet the moment … No American is alone as long as we are united.” pic.twitter.com/MbdWe6zoQx

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 22, 2020

Perhaps Trump thought it necessary to offer these comments because Friday’s White House briefing included a tiff between him and NBC correspondent Peter Alexander. “What do you say to the Americans who are scared?” Alexander asked. “Nearly 200 dead, 14,000 who are sick, millions, as you witnessed, who are scared right now. What do you say to Americans who are watching right now who are scared?”

Trump unloaded: “I say that you’re a terrible reporter, that’s what I say.” He accused Alexander of “doing sensationalism,” and scolded, “You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Trump’s assessment of the Leftmedia talkingheads has been correct since day one, and particularly so in this exchange. We are fighting two warfronts — one the China Virus and the other “journalists” who ask questions as if they are part of China’s state-run media.

Veteran journalist Brit Hume likewise unloaded on Alexander. “Legitimate question my a**,” Hume wrote. “It was the kind of bullsh*t gotcha question which hack WH reporters have been asking for decades. But instead of going off on the reporter, Trump should have said the whole briefing in all its particulars was a message to people who are scared.”

Clearly, Trump decided it was wise to offer a message of hope and encouragement. His actions, too, have been measured and taking in the full counsel of advisers.

One of his recent actions includes giving the green light to Ford, General Motors, and Tesla to use their manufacturing capability to make ventilators, though he will not nationalize any business. He also declared that the federal government would fund “100%” of National Guard activation and deployment in California, New York, and Washington, all states that he says “have been hit the hardest.” Words paired with action — that’s what the American people should expect from their chief executive.