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.
Trump admin’s fraud crackdown targets foreigners accused of infiltrating U.S. federal programs
Giuliani blasts Mamdani’s 9/11 toxic air blame as buried city records come to light
In pictures: Trump, Bush, and more pay their respects at 9/11 ceremonies across three sites on 25th anniversary
WATCH LIVE: Trump, first lady, Hegseth, and more attend 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon
Sept. 11 in photos: Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings shares his images from the aftermath of 9/11
The Ghouls Come Out After Erika Kirk Breaks Her Silence on Anniversary of Charlie’s Death
We Forgot 9/11: Then We Swore a Mayor In on the Qur’an – Part Two
25 years later, 9/11 memories endure as nation gathers to honor nearly 3,000 lives lost
Ontario premier wants Republicans to lose House and Senate over Trump’s trade war
The unlucky 13: States bordering Canada are particularly hard-hit by trade war
Wendell Berry, 1934-2026
Trump admin’s list of US-designated ‘foreign terrorist’ groups in Latin America expands to 21
‘I’m coming home’: Last words haunt a 9/11 daughter 25 years later as she builds a legacy in his honor
Hasan Piker, cowboys, Charlie Kirk, and more: Top six takeaways from Republican midterm convention Night 2
Vance describes his hopes for baby son as he lays down a marker for 2028 with the speech of his life
“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
Trump admin’s fraud crackdown targets foreigners accused of infiltrating U.S. federal programs
Giuliani blasts Mamdani’s 9/11 toxic air blame as buried city records come to light
In pictures: Trump, Bush, and more pay their respects at 9/11 ceremonies across three sites on 25th anniversary
WATCH LIVE: Trump, first lady, Hegseth, and more attend 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon
Sept. 11 in photos: Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings shares his images from the aftermath of 9/11
The Ghouls Come Out After Erika Kirk Breaks Her Silence on Anniversary of Charlie’s Death
We Forgot 9/11: Then We Swore a Mayor In on the Qur’an – Part Two
25 years later, 9/11 memories endure as nation gathers to honor nearly 3,000 lives lost
Ontario premier wants Republicans to lose House and Senate over Trump’s trade war
The unlucky 13: States bordering Canada are particularly hard-hit by trade war
Wendell Berry, 1934-2026
Trump admin’s list of US-designated ‘foreign terrorist’ groups in Latin America expands to 21
‘I’m coming home’: Last words haunt a 9/11 daughter 25 years later as she builds a legacy in his honor
Hasan Piker, cowboys, Charlie Kirk, and more: Top six takeaways from Republican midterm convention Night 2
Vance describes his hopes for baby son as he lays down a marker for 2028 with the speech of his life
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.”
Trump admin’s fraud crackdown targets foreigners accused of infiltrating U.S. federal programs
Giuliani blasts Mamdani’s 9/11 toxic air blame as buried city records come to light
In pictures: Trump, Bush, and more pay their respects at 9/11 ceremonies across three sites on 25th anniversary
WATCH LIVE: Trump, first lady, Hegseth, and more attend 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon
Sept. 11 in photos: Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings shares his images from the aftermath of 9/11
The Ghouls Come Out After Erika Kirk Breaks Her Silence on Anniversary of Charlie’s Death
We Forgot 9/11: Then We Swore a Mayor In on the Qur’an – Part Two
25 years later, 9/11 memories endure as nation gathers to honor nearly 3,000 lives lost
Ontario premier wants Republicans to lose House and Senate over Trump’s trade war
The unlucky 13: States bordering Canada are particularly hard-hit by trade war
Wendell Berry, 1934-2026
Trump admin’s list of US-designated ‘foreign terrorist’ groups in Latin America expands to 21
‘I’m coming home’: Last words haunt a 9/11 daughter 25 years later as she builds a legacy in his honor
Hasan Piker, cowboys, Charlie Kirk, and more: Top six takeaways from Republican midterm convention Night 2
Vance describes his hopes for baby son as he lays down a marker for 2028 with the speech of his life
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
Trump admin’s fraud crackdown targets foreigners accused of infiltrating U.S. federal programs
Giuliani blasts Mamdani’s 9/11 toxic air blame as buried city records come to light
In pictures: Trump, Bush, and more pay their respects at 9/11 ceremonies across three sites on 25th anniversary
WATCH LIVE: Trump, first lady, Hegseth, and more attend 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon
Sept. 11 in photos: Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings shares his images from the aftermath of 9/11
The Ghouls Come Out After Erika Kirk Breaks Her Silence on Anniversary of Charlie’s Death
We Forgot 9/11: Then We Swore a Mayor In on the Qur’an – Part Two
25 years later, 9/11 memories endure as nation gathers to honor nearly 3,000 lives lost
Ontario premier wants Republicans to lose House and Senate over Trump’s trade war
The unlucky 13: States bordering Canada are particularly hard-hit by trade war
Wendell Berry, 1934-2026
Trump admin’s list of US-designated ‘foreign terrorist’ groups in Latin America expands to 21
‘I’m coming home’: Last words haunt a 9/11 daughter 25 years later as she builds a legacy in his honor
Hasan Piker, cowboys, Charlie Kirk, and more: Top six takeaways from Republican midterm convention Night 2
Vance describes his hopes for baby son as he lays down a marker for 2028 with the speech of his life
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.
Trump admin’s fraud crackdown targets foreigners accused of infiltrating U.S. federal programs
Giuliani blasts Mamdani’s 9/11 toxic air blame as buried city records come to light
In pictures: Trump, Bush, and more pay their respects at 9/11 ceremonies across three sites on 25th anniversary
WATCH LIVE: Trump, first lady, Hegseth, and more attend 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon
Sept. 11 in photos: Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings shares his images from the aftermath of 9/11
The Ghouls Come Out After Erika Kirk Breaks Her Silence on Anniversary of Charlie’s Death
We Forgot 9/11: Then We Swore a Mayor In on the Qur’an – Part Two
25 years later, 9/11 memories endure as nation gathers to honor nearly 3,000 lives lost
Ontario premier wants Republicans to lose House and Senate over Trump’s trade war
The unlucky 13: States bordering Canada are particularly hard-hit by trade war
Wendell Berry, 1934-2026
Trump admin’s list of US-designated ‘foreign terrorist’ groups in Latin America expands to 21
‘I’m coming home’: Last words haunt a 9/11 daughter 25 years later as she builds a legacy in his honor
Hasan Piker, cowboys, Charlie Kirk, and more: Top six takeaways from Republican midterm convention Night 2
Vance describes his hopes for baby son as he lays down a marker for 2028 with the speech of his life
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.
