Trump Blasts Fox News for Airing Obama's Speech on COVID and Taxes
President Donald Trump raged on Tuesday over Fox News airing the live speech of his predecessor, Barack Obama, who delivered a scathing critique of Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his personal finances, including a secret Chinese bank account. Trump took to Twitter to complain that Fox News was giving airtime to Obama's "no crowd, fake speech" for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Trump accused Obama of being jealous of COVID's media coverage and turned the White House into a "hot zone" due to his recklessness with the virus. Obama also took aim at Trump's taxes, declaring that he may be paying taxes to the Chinese government but not in the United States.
Key Takeaways:
- Trump's reaction to Fox News airing Obama's speech marked a new low in his ongoing feud with the network, which he has repeatedly criticized for not being sufficiently loyal and obsequious to him.
- Obama's speech focused heavily on prosecuting the case that Trump is unfit for a second term and is more concerned about personal grievances and his own personal media coverage.
- Trump's presidency has been marked by controversy over his taxes, including a New York Times report that revealed he has paid very little in U.S. income taxes in recent years, including his first years in the White House.
- Trump's secret Chinese bank account has raised questions about his loyalty to the United States and whether he may be paying taxes to the Chinese government.
- Obama's speech was widely covered by news networks, including CNN and MSNBC, and Fox News contributor Bill Bennett attempted to assuage Trump by blasting the former president and gushing over the size of Trump's rally crowds.
Statistics:
- Trump has paid $750 in federal income tax in his first year in the White House, according to a New York Times report.
- People are too focused on COVID, Trump said at a rally, as noted by Obama in his speech.
- Cases of COVID-19 are reaching new record highs across the country this week, according to Obama in his speech.
- The White House has had two outbreaks in a month, Obama said in his speech, referencing Trump's recklessness with the virus.
Sources:
- The Daily Beast
- The New York Times
- Fox News
- CNN
- MSNBC