Fake News on New York Vaccine Distribution
The media twisted Trump’s remarks to suggest he was attempting to get revenge on Governor Cuomo.
You’ll recall that Governor Andrew Cuomo, along with other liberal governors, has repeatedly said that he will not authorize the distribution of any vaccine in New York state that was developed under Donald Trump until New York bureaucrats determine that it is safe.
On Friday, the president conducted a major briefing detailing the vaccine distribution plan. Trump said we will distribute the vaccines appropriately to all the states, but we won’t give it to New York until state officials request it and are willing to distribute it.
“We can’t be delivering it to a state that won’t be giving it to its people immediately… So the governor will let us know when he’s ready,” Trump said, adding, “I hope he doesn’t handle this as badly as he’s handled the nursing homes.”
The president’s statement was completely logical and fair, but the media twisted Trump’s remarks to suggest he was attempting to get revenge on Cuomo by giving the vaccine to every state except New York. Even Fox News distorted the president’s statement.
It would be malpractice to send the initial vaccine doses meant for the elderly and first responders to a state that won’t use them immediately. But that’s exactly what Governor Cuomo has said.
He called Pfizer’s vaccine announcement “good and bad news.” It was good news because “the tests look good.” The bad news is that “it’s about two months before Joe Biden takes over.”
And now the governor is threatening to sue the president to get access to a vaccine he seemingly didn’t want.