
President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at the White House. (AFP / Roberto SCHMIDT)
At Friday's White House coronavirus task force briefing, President Donald Trump gave very brief remarks, turned it over to Vice President Mike Pence and FDA Commissioner Steve Hahn, and then left without taking any questions — in what some reports suggest might be a longer-term format change.
The unusually short nature of the press conference was not lost on commenters on social media. Some connected it to the president's remarks the previous day about using sunlight and household cleaners in the human body, and speculated whether Trump was avoiding follow-up on that controversy.
The briefing is over. Trump, Hahn and Pence spoke, the end.— Daniel Dale (@Daniel Dale)1587765751.0
WOW. And it's over. Shortest Press Conference EVER since #coronavirus task force began. You hear one reporter SHOUT… https://t.co/BKYsjykqKC— Peter Morley (@Peter Morley)1587765817.0
Wow. WH briefing is over. That was much shorter than usual. Today's lasted 21 minutes. President Trump took no qu… https://t.co/rTcFqmMWgC— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche Alcindor)1587765856.0
@Yamiche He knew he was going to get grilled!— Gabrielle Gozo (@Gabrielle Gozo)1587765878.0
@Yamiche Best one yet.— TheBadNewsB (@TheBadNewsB)1587765886.0
@Yamiche Ran out of sarcasm?— nancy cronvich (@nancy cronvich)1587765926.0
@Yamiche He has NO answers!!!— Madhumita Jana (@Madhumita Jana)1587765884.0
@Yamiche #COWARD https://t.co/xalaP19Ggz— Nicole Reeves (@Nicole Reeves)1587765926.0