MSNBC’s Chris Hayes was blasted for suggesting the White House coronavirus task force released a high number of expected deaths in order to take a “victory lap” when the final number was really anticipated to come in far less.
Hayes made his comments in a Wednesday tweet.
He wrote: “The most cynical interpretation of all this, one I can't quite bring myself to accept, is they rolled out the model showing 100k deaths after they knew it would be less than that so they could anchor everyone to that # and take a victory lap when ‘only’ tens of thousands died.”
Newsday noted that President Donald Trump said Wednesday: "If we could stay substantially under the 100,000, which was the original projection, I think we all did a very good job – even though it’s a lot of people.”
New models now suggest, however, the U.S. death toll may actually total 60,000. Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the task force, said he thinks the nation is experiencing the “beginning” of the flattening of the curve.
Meanwhile, Hayes was the target of criticism for his comments.
The Daily Caller’s Chuck Ross tweeted to Hayes: "The ‘they’ you are impugning in this quack tweet includes (Dr. Deborah) Birx and Fauci.”
And journalist Guy Benson tweeted: *Fauci* announced it. Birx echoed it. Experts.”
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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