tRump claims "the shelves were empty" when his administration started

[aka-chmeee]

Three years ago.
So, rather than fill the shelves, he threw 2 trillion dollars to his rich friends. Half of that would purchase (retail):
55,000,000,000 N95 masks or 4,000,000 hospital ventilators.


EVERY year for 10 years.

[Siwsan]

1. I have no doubt, that's just another of his many, many, MANY lies.

Lying is pretty much his only skill. Well, that and bankruptcy. Oh, and infidelity. I'm going to stop, now.

[mnmoderatedem]

4. I'd push back on the notion that lying is his "skill"

He's so incredibly bad at lying. Easily debunked statements nearly every damn time. Problem is, his idiot followers believe every thing he says.

You'd think he would be a better liar, with all the practice he gets.

[Siwsan]

5. The 'skill' part is how easily they roll out of his mouth

No hesitation, just an endless stream of prevarication. He can even lie about his lies.

[aka-chmeee]

8. I agree, I know some skilled liars

They are not easily detected and maintain a consistent narrative. Trump just doesn't care. Every question or opportunity to speak presents a blank slate, uncluttered by previous utterances or reality, freeing him to churn out whatever fresh bullsh*t he thinks will get him out of the current spot.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. When your information comes from the likes

of Bannon,Miller,Scavino,Limbaugh,Hanniety,Levin,Ingraham and that ilk,what could just go wrong. The whole friggin story goes wrong.

[subterranean]

3. He also says the states are responsible for filling their own shelves.

And the Federal government is just there as a "backup." But no one could have predicted this.

And by the way, WE HAD NO AMMUNITION.

He'll use any and every excuse to deflect blame for his incompetent response to the situation.

[stillcool]

6. if the shelves were empty...

where'd they get all this..?

Trump administration sent protective medical gear to China while he minimized the virus threat to US
Opinion by Dean Obeidallah

Updated 7:53 AM ET, Mon March 30, 2020
Doctors and nurses alarmed about lack of supplies

Concerns about a dwindling supply of PPE are not new. Back on February 7, the World Health Organization sounded alarm bells about "the limited stock of PPE," noting demand was 100 times higher than normal for this equipment.
Yet the same day as the WHO warning, the Trump administration announced that it was transporting to China nearly 17.8 tons (more than 35,000 pounds) of "masks, gowns, gauze, respirators, and other vital materials." As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo noted in the press release announcing this shipment, "These donations are a testament to the generosity of the American people."
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As a reminder, the first known case of coronavirus case on US soil was confirmed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on January 21, 2020.
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By February 6, the United States had 12 known confirmed cases in Wisconsin, California, Washington, Arizona, Massachusetts and Illinois — and with mass testing not yet begun the number of infected was likely far higher.
It was in this climate that the Trump administration announced its aid transport to China. Pompeo bragged on Twitter that the administration had "coordinated with U.S. organizations to transport" goods to China including, "Personal protective equipment."
Now compare that to March 18, when Trump defiantly told governors pressing him to help their states obtain similar equipment: "The federal governments not supposed to be out there buying vast amounts of items and then shipping," adding, "We're not a shipping clerk."
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/29/opinions/coronavirus-personal-protective-equipment-obeidallah/index.html

PRESS STATEMENT
MICHAEL R. POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE
FEBRUARY 7, 2020


This week the State Department has facilitated the transportation of nearly 17.8 tons of donated medical supplies to the Chinese people, including masks, gowns, gauze, respirators, and other vital materials. These donations are a testament to the generosity of the American people.

Today, the United States government is announcing it is prepared to spend up to $100 million in existing funds to assist China and other impacted countries, both directly and through multilateral organizations, to contain and combat the novel coronavirus. This commitment – along with the hundreds of millions generously donated by the American private sector – demonstrates strong U.S. leadership in response to the outbreak.

[jeffreyi]

7. Buttwarble is lying again.