At least eight New York Times authors shared a deceptively edited quote Monday from President Donald Trump’s recent call with state governors, creating the false impression that the president is denying federal support for ventilators that are needed in hospitals treating coronavirus patients.
In his message, the president recommended that states procure respirators and ventilators because it would be faster — but added that the federal government “will be backing you.”
The Times journalists omitted the bulk of the president’s statement as they shared the story on social media. The misleading, partial quote was also boosted by a CNN correspondent and became the lead headline at the left-wing Huffington Post.
Despite growing online backlash to this misinformation, the journalists have yet to delete or retract their comments.
The eight journalists tweeted a link to a Times article published Monday that contains President Trump’s full statement to state governors in which the president recommended that they shouldn’t wait for the federal government to fill the growing demand for respirators needed to treat people with coronavirus.
Nicki Minaj urges young Americans to ‘vote red’ in 2026 midterms while doubling down on Trump support
Florida man, 76, with suspended license allegedly admits to driving under the influence of rum, cocaine
Hiker falls up to 1,000 feet to his death day after another body found on same mountain
Four Americans dead after building collapses near the Acropolis in Athens
So-Called Moderate Governor Candidate Wants More Trans Books in Elementary Schools
Leading Democrat Official Resigns After Probe Uncovers Sexual Harassment of Young Female Staffer
Civilian detained after ‘violently engaging’ security personnel at Florida Air Force base: report
‘Tremendous Heresy’: CS Lewis’ Family Confirms He’d Be ‘Turning Over in His Grave’ Over Netflix’s Aslan Casting
During Shawn Ryan’s Podcast the British Government Slaps SAS Legend with Legal Notice
How Ukraine’s 40-day summer drone campaign to end the war with Russia backfired
Trump stumps for Protect College Sports Act at Texas-Tennessee game: ‘Bipartisanship for the first time in a while’
Applause Erupts as Crowd of Over 100,000 Sees Trump on the Jumbotron at Major SEC Showdown
They Told Us Trans People Are Dying Everywhere – Turns Out the Few Deaths That There Are Decreased Under Trump
Georgia man, 18, charged with murder after dismembered human remains found in car trunk
Trump claims stunning casualty numbers in Russia-Ukraine war
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” President Trump told the governors during the Monday conference call. “We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself.”
But in the body of their posts, the Times journalists left out most of what the president said.
Times national correspondent Julie Bosman tweeted only the first third of the president’s statement, leaving out the part where he said the federal government will back the states.
Wow.
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump told the governors during the conference call. via @jmartNYT https://t.co/RKZusLK5oY
— Julie Bosman (@juliebosman) March 16, 2020
Nicki Minaj urges young Americans to ‘vote red’ in 2026 midterms while doubling down on Trump support
Florida man, 76, with suspended license allegedly admits to driving under the influence of rum, cocaine
Hiker falls up to 1,000 feet to his death day after another body found on same mountain
Four Americans dead after building collapses near the Acropolis in Athens
So-Called Moderate Governor Candidate Wants More Trans Books in Elementary Schools
Leading Democrat Official Resigns After Probe Uncovers Sexual Harassment of Young Female Staffer
Civilian detained after ‘violently engaging’ security personnel at Florida Air Force base: report
‘Tremendous Heresy’: CS Lewis’ Family Confirms He’d Be ‘Turning Over in His Grave’ Over Netflix’s Aslan Casting
During Shawn Ryan’s Podcast the British Government Slaps SAS Legend with Legal Notice
How Ukraine’s 40-day summer drone campaign to end the war with Russia backfired
Trump stumps for Protect College Sports Act at Texas-Tennessee game: ‘Bipartisanship for the first time in a while’
Applause Erupts as Crowd of Over 100,000 Sees Trump on the Jumbotron at Major SEC Showdown
They Told Us Trans People Are Dying Everywhere – Turns Out the Few Deaths That There Are Decreased Under Trump
Georgia man, 18, charged with murder after dismembered human remains found in car trunk
Trump claims stunning casualty numbers in Russia-Ukraine war
Bosman, reacting to intense backlash, defended herself by inaccurately claiming that “the second part of the quote repeats the first part, twice.” In fact, the second part of the president’s statement says that the federal government “will be backing you [the states].”
because the second part of the quote repeats the first part, twice.
— Julie Bosman (@juliebosman) March 16, 2020
Mara Gay, a member of the Times editorial board, also left out most of what the president said. She also falsely accused the president of telling governors that “they are on their own.” In actuality, the president said in his full quote that the federal government “will be backing you.”
Nicki Minaj urges young Americans to ‘vote red’ in 2026 midterms while doubling down on Trump support
Florida man, 76, with suspended license allegedly admits to driving under the influence of rum, cocaine
Hiker falls up to 1,000 feet to his death day after another body found on same mountain
Four Americans dead after building collapses near the Acropolis in Athens
So-Called Moderate Governor Candidate Wants More Trans Books in Elementary Schools
Leading Democrat Official Resigns After Probe Uncovers Sexual Harassment of Young Female Staffer
Civilian detained after ‘violently engaging’ security personnel at Florida Air Force base: report
‘Tremendous Heresy’: CS Lewis’ Family Confirms He’d Be ‘Turning Over in His Grave’ Over Netflix’s Aslan Casting
During Shawn Ryan’s Podcast the British Government Slaps SAS Legend with Legal Notice
How Ukraine’s 40-day summer drone campaign to end the war with Russia backfired
Trump stumps for Protect College Sports Act at Texas-Tennessee game: ‘Bipartisanship for the first time in a while’
Applause Erupts as Crowd of Over 100,000 Sees Trump on the Jumbotron at Major SEC Showdown
They Told Us Trans People Are Dying Everywhere – Turns Out the Few Deaths That There Are Decreased Under Trump
Georgia man, 18, charged with murder after dismembered human remains found in car trunk
Trump claims stunning casualty numbers in Russia-Ukraine war
Trump told governors this morning they are on their own:
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump told the governors during the conference call, a recording of which was shared with The New York Times. https://t.co/K0sont7MBc— Mara Gay (@MaraGay) March 16, 2020
Just ten days ago, Gay was involved in another embarrassing episode for corporate media, where she and MSNBC anchor Brian Williams horribly botched basic math to claim that billionaire Michael Bloomberg could have “given every American a million dollars.” In reality, the amount he spent amounts to less than $2 per person.
Other Times journalists who tweeted out only the first part of the president’s quote include chief White House correspondent Peter Baker, Northwest reporter Mike Baker, arts reporter Michael Cooper, investigative reporter Sharon LaFraniere, editor Clifford Levy, and contributor Aaron E. Carroll.
Trump tells governors not to wait for federal government to look for needed medical equipment on their own. “Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment—try getting it yourselves,” he told them on the call, according to recording obtained by @jmartNYT https://t.co/vlOR08SeXK
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) March 16, 2020
Nicki Minaj urges young Americans to ‘vote red’ in 2026 midterms while doubling down on Trump support
Florida man, 76, with suspended license allegedly admits to driving under the influence of rum, cocaine
Hiker falls up to 1,000 feet to his death day after another body found on same mountain
Four Americans dead after building collapses near the Acropolis in Athens
So-Called Moderate Governor Candidate Wants More Trans Books in Elementary Schools
Leading Democrat Official Resigns After Probe Uncovers Sexual Harassment of Young Female Staffer
Civilian detained after ‘violently engaging’ security personnel at Florida Air Force base: report
‘Tremendous Heresy’: CS Lewis’ Family Confirms He’d Be ‘Turning Over in His Grave’ Over Netflix’s Aslan Casting
During Shawn Ryan’s Podcast the British Government Slaps SAS Legend with Legal Notice
How Ukraine’s 40-day summer drone campaign to end the war with Russia backfired
Trump stumps for Protect College Sports Act at Texas-Tennessee game: ‘Bipartisanship for the first time in a while’
Applause Erupts as Crowd of Over 100,000 Sees Trump on the Jumbotron at Major SEC Showdown
They Told Us Trans People Are Dying Everywhere – Turns Out the Few Deaths That There Are Decreased Under Trump
Georgia man, 18, charged with murder after dismembered human remains found in car trunk
Trump claims stunning casualty numbers in Russia-Ukraine war
NEW: “Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump told governors during a conference call this morning, according to a recording shared with The New York Times.https://t.co/TjEeqqAysu
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) March 16, 2020
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump told the governors during the conference call, a recording of which was shared with The New York Times https://t.co/loOEN0LpUa
— Michael Cooper (@coopnytimes) March 16, 2020
Some governors were surprised to get this message from Trump, @jmart reports: “Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump told the governors during the conference call. https://t.co/x5T6Oril13
— Sharon LaFraniere (@SharonLNYT) March 16, 2020
Trump told governors they should not wait for the federal government to fill growing demand for respirators.
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump said.https://t.co/A14I2TiTvZ— Cliff Levy (@cliffordlevy) March 16, 2020
The official Times twitter account also omitted the majority of the president’s quote when it pushed out the article on Monday.
CNN’s Oliver Darcy also shared the incomplete quote and has not addressed the dozens of fact checks in response.
Nicki Minaj urges young Americans to ‘vote red’ in 2026 midterms while doubling down on Trump support
Florida man, 76, with suspended license allegedly admits to driving under the influence of rum, cocaine
Hiker falls up to 1,000 feet to his death day after another body found on same mountain
Four Americans dead after building collapses near the Acropolis in Athens
So-Called Moderate Governor Candidate Wants More Trans Books in Elementary Schools
Leading Democrat Official Resigns After Probe Uncovers Sexual Harassment of Young Female Staffer
Civilian detained after ‘violently engaging’ security personnel at Florida Air Force base: report
‘Tremendous Heresy’: CS Lewis’ Family Confirms He’d Be ‘Turning Over in His Grave’ Over Netflix’s Aslan Casting
During Shawn Ryan’s Podcast the British Government Slaps SAS Legend with Legal Notice
How Ukraine’s 40-day summer drone campaign to end the war with Russia backfired
Trump stumps for Protect College Sports Act at Texas-Tennessee game: ‘Bipartisanship for the first time in a while’
Applause Erupts as Crowd of Over 100,000 Sees Trump on the Jumbotron at Major SEC Showdown
They Told Us Trans People Are Dying Everywhere – Turns Out the Few Deaths That There Are Decreased Under Trump
Georgia man, 18, charged with murder after dismembered human remains found in car trunk
Trump claims stunning casualty numbers in Russia-Ukraine war
Trump to governors: “Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves" https://t.co/E3Y24vhxot
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 16, 2020
All of the posts were still up at the time of this writing, despite mounting criticism about their accuracy.
Story cited here.
