President Donald Trump faced criticism after being caught swearing into a ‘hot mic’ before his speech on the United States’ response to the global health crisis concerning the coronavirus.
Before the address, a C-SPAN camera captured the president dealing with a stain, during which a voice can be heard saying, “Oh, f*** – Uh-oh, I got a pen mark. Anybody have the white stuff … Do you see it? Which side is it on?”
It appeared that he was asking his staff whether anyone had any ‘white stuff,’ which some speculated could refer to correction fluid like Tip-Ex or Wite-Out, to hide the stain. Others suggested he may have been requesting anything white to cover the ink.
In his speech, Trump declared a 30-day travel prohibition for people coming from Europe, including briefly mentioning that “cargo” would be banned, which he later clarified on Twitter to reduce confusion and concerns over what was perceived as a shipping ban.
In a tweet, he stated: “Hoping to get the payroll tax cut approved by both Republicans and Democrats, and please remember, very important for all countries & businesses to know that trade will in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction on travel from Europe. The restriction stops people not goods.”
Despite Trump’s efforts to clarify on Twitter, the initial announcement was criticized as confusing, and the White House later explained that many would be exempt from the travel ban. Vice President Mike Pence defended the decision, stating that the epicenter of the coronavirus had shifted to Europe, and the decision was made after hearing input from the health team.