White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany says Robert Redfield, director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was quoted out of context when discussing a possible second wave of coronavirus, combined with a seasonal flu outbreak in the winter.
Her comments were backed up by President Donald Trump.
She made her remarks during a Wednesday interview on the Fox News’ show, “Outnumbered Overtime.”
"First, let me address that comment from the CDC director, Dr. Redfield,” she said. “I was on the phone with him just before I walked out here. The mainstream media has been taking him out of context, as they so often do to Trump administration officials. He was trying to say this: 'Everyone, get your flu shots. The flu comes back in the fall. Be smart American people.' That's what he was saying. Leave it to CNN or some of the other networks to really take those comments out of context."
And Trump, in a Wednesday tweet added: “CDC Director was totally misquoted by Fake News @CNN on Covid 19. He will be putting out a statement.”
The story, which originated in The Washington Post and was picked up by CNN and other news outlets, said a second, deadlier coronavirus pandemic could hit the U.S. this winter at the same time the flu season hits, bringing with it an even worse result than the current outbreak.
"There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through," Redfield was quoted in the story published Tuesday.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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