There is massive outrage as many are hearing President Donald Trump telling Fox News host Sean Hannity that New York City hospitals usually just have two ventilators while he mocked Governor Andrew Cuomo's request – based on scientific models – for 30,000 to 40,000 of the life-saving units. That outrage is growing as more and more read The New York Times article revealing FEMA is refusing to place an order for ventilators fearing the pricetag is too high.
"I have a feeling that, a, a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than they are going to be," Trump told Hannity Thursday night.
"I don't believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators," he said. Gov. Cuomo has asked the federal government for up to 40,000 ventilators.
"You know you go into major hospitals sometimes they'll have two ventilators," Trump continued. "And now, all of a sudden they're saying, 'Can we order 30,000 ventilators?' so it's a very bad situation, we haven't seen anything like it, but the end result is we gotta get back to work."
On Hannity, Trump says he doesn't believe NY Gov. Guomo actually needs the ventilators he's asking for. TRUMP: "I… https://t.co/29VKVfZh7Y— Pod Save America (@Pod Save America) 1585273808.0
Meanwhile, The New York Times' devastating report: "After Considering $1 Billion Price Tag for Ventilators, White House Has Second Thoughts" is getting tremendous attention.
"A deal with General Motors and Ventec Life Systems to produce tens of thousands of the critical lifesaving devices seemed imminent. Then the announcement was pulled back," the Times reported. "The decision to cancel the announcement, government officials say, came after the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it needed more time to assess whether the estimated cost was prohibitive."
President Trump just days ago had bragged about the deal, demanding the work be done immediately:
Ford, General Motors and Tesla are being given the go ahead to make ventilators and other metal products, FAST!… https://t.co/hqCXVN7cGK— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1584887116.0
The outrage online is palpable.
Debating whether to spend $1 billion on breathing machines at the same time you give billionaires $175 billion is p… https://t.co/OX97Jsudl0— ilyseh (@ilyseh) 1585311461.0
Can you imagine FDR saying, during WWII, No, the price of these bullets is too high. https://t.co/jWSSi8Jl1O— Richard Stengel (@Richard Stengel) 1585309384.0
GM should just make the ventilators anyway, the states should scramble the money together, and Biden should promise… https://t.co/XxZL0A7xfC— David Atkins (@David Atkins) 1585276725.0
According to Johns Hopkins, we are now at 85,000 cases and the idea of Trump talking down the virus, not giving ven… https://t.co/icbOXSDxiE— Neera Tanden (@Neera Tanden) 1585277578.0
They are worried the ventilators cost too much at $1 billion, but They Spent $2 Trillion on a Tax Cut for the Rich.… https://t.co/4SetPQiHmn— Neera Tanden (@Neera Tanden) 1585273662.0
There is a term for this and it’s negligent homicide https://t.co/Zd58qWjSRU— Ben Wexler (@Ben Wexler) 1585277826.0
Dear @realDonaldTrump: It’s possible we have enough ventilators. Or not. For every ventilator we are short, a patie… https://t.co/zS5YEO8iI8— Ted Lieu (@Ted Lieu) 1585280828.0
According to the New York Times, FEMA was still weighing competing offers in order to make a recommendation to *MR.… https://t.co/bkzui2OD5p— Shannon Watts (@Shannon Watts) 1585280171.0
@MiriamElder @seanhannity you know he doesn't get it. He doesn't care either. And people are dying because of this.… https://t.co/g46l4RgHOP— Kathy Buckley (@Kathy Buckley) 1585274363.0
This from the man who told us it would go from 15 to 0 patients, that the virus would go away like a miracle, it wo… https://t.co/E9FZ3KqiXn— Glenn Kirschner (@Glenn Kirschner) 1585311438.0
Attention lawyers: I think there's a class action lawsuit shaping up. The families of every person denied… https://t.co/8NCtjc6MUc— Politics In Pink (@Politics In Pink) 1585315708.0
Too much money, but was fine to give billions in tax cuts to wealthy and corporations. After Considering $1 Billio… https://t.co/ZaDJVWlMqU— Michelangelo Signorile (@Michelangelo Signorile) 1585314318.0
Donald Trump demanded a $500 BILLION slush fund last week to give out to corporate cronies. Yesterday he thought $… https://t.co/9BxTFlKB6B— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel Jollett) 1585312382.0
