said he’d met Epstein child trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell numerous times and wished her well?

In a July 21, 2020 press conference, Trump answered a question about Ghislaine Maxwell by saying,

I don’t know, I haven’t really been following it too much. I just wish her well, frankly. I’ve met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach, and I guess they lived in Palm Beach. But I wish her well, whatever it is.

The week prior, Maxwell was denied bail as she awaited trial for recruiting underage girls for billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein allegedly killed himself in prison after being charged with sex trafficking.

From left, American real estate developer Donald Trump and his girlfriend (and future wife), former model Melania Knauss, financier (and future convicted sex offender) Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Fla., Feb. 12, 2000.
Trump and Melania with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, FL, Feb. 12, 2000. Davidoff Studios / Getty Images

Trump again said he wished her well in an August 4 interview.

She’s now in jail. Yeah, I wish her well. I’d wish you well. I’d wish a lot of people well. Good luck. Let them prove somebody was guilty.

In 2002, Trump referred to Epstein as “a terrific guy,” explaining that he “likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”

By contrast, Trump referred to NFL player Colin Kaepernick as a “son of a bitch” for taking a knee to protest police violence. He also based a great degree of his 2016 campaign on promising to lock up political opponent Hillary Clinton for alleged crimes, though he explained he didn’t mean it after winning the election.

Associated Press – Trump says of Ghislaine Maxwell, ‘I wish her well’
Time – ‘I Wish Her Well,’ Trump Says of Ghislaine Maxwell, Who Stands Accused of Facilitating the Abuse of Girls by Jeffrey Epstein
Axios – Trump defends wishing Ghislaine Maxwell “good luck” in prison

said he wouldn’t accept 2020 election results?

During an interview with Chris Wallace, Trump claimed that Fox News polls showing him losing to Biden were fake, and declined to answer definitively if he would accept the 2020 election results if he lost.

I have to see. Look, you – I have to see. No, I’m not going to just say ‘yes.’

Trump has repeatedly attacked mail-in voting despite the worsening COVID-19 pandemic, though he used mail-in voting himself. In the lead up to the 2016 campaign, Trump similarly declined to say whether he would accept the election results. Even though he ultimately won, he blamed the loss of the popular vote on mass voter fraud.

During the same interview, Trump bragged about completing a basic cognitive function test.

Business Insider – Trump foreshadows that he could refuse to accept the results of the 2020 election if he loses
Time – ‘I Have to See.’ President Trump Refuses to Say If He Will Accept the 2020 Election Results
Forbes – Pelosi Slams Trump’s Suggestion He Won’t Accept Election Results: ‘He Will Be Leaving’

blocked Dr. Fauci from testifying to Congress amid the COVID-19 pandemic?

On May 1, 2020, the White House announced that they would prevent top health official Dr. Anthony Fauci from testifying to a congressional committee examining the administration’s pandemic response. the White House called it “counterproductive” to have individuals involved in the response testify. White House spokesman Judd Deere said that the administration was “committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time.”

At the time, the US totaled 1,136,266 cases and 67,031 deaths. The White House later also blocked the CDC from testifying to Congress about school re-openings.

Reuters – White House blocks Fauci from testifying to Congress on coronavirus response
The Hill – White House blocks Fauci from testifying before Congress
NPR -White House Denies Congressional Request For Dr. Anthony Fauci’s Testimony
Worldometer – Coronavirus, United States

blocked the CDC from testifying to Congress about school re-openings amid the COVID-19 pandemic?

In July 2020, officials from the Center for Disease Control were blocked by the White House from testifying to the House Education and Labor Committee about school re-openings. The move came amid record-breaking spikes in COVID-19 cases.

The same week, hospitals were ordered to circumvent the CDC and report patient data to a new database controlled by the Department of Health and Human Services. The White House also previously prevented top health official Dr. Anthony Fauci from testifying to Congress.

Fox News – White House blocks CDC boss from testifying on reopening schools amid coronavirus
CNN – White House blocks CDC from testifying on reopening schools next week
USA Today – Reports: White House blocked CDC Director Redfield and other officials from testifying on school reopenings

ordered hospitals to bypass the CDC and report COVID-19 information directly to his administration?

As of July 15, 2020, the Trump administration issued an order demanding hospitals to report COVID-19 patient data directly to the Department of Health and Human Services, rather than the Center for Disease Control.

The White House claimed that the CDC’s collection and reporting system, which has historically been used for the collection of disease data, was too slow and ineffectual for COVID-19 reporting. CDC Director Robert Redfield has also asserted that the move would streamline data collection and reporting.

Other senior CDC officials, hospital epidemiologists, and Democrat Senators have raised concerns over the move, alleging that it puts the transparency and legitimacy of the reported numbers into question. It was considered especially alarming, as Trump previously said he asked officials to slow down testing to keep COVID-19 cases artificially low. The private company managing the new collection system, TeleTracking Technologies, Inc., was awarded the $10 million contract in a non-competitive bid.

The change came amid new record-breaking spikes in US COVID-19 cases. On the day of the change, the US totaled 3,621,637 cases and 140,155 deaths. The same week, the White House also blocked the CDC from testifying to Congress about school re-openings.

The New York Times – Trump Administration Strips C.D.C. of Control of Coronavirus Data
NPR – White House Strips CDC Of Data Collection Role For COVID-19 Hospitalizations
USA Today – Trump administration cuts CDC out of data collection on hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The move has immediate effect
Worldometer – Coronavirus, United States

bragged about completing a cognitive test?

After taking the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA, Trump claimed that his doctors were “very surprised” at the results of his test, which he said he “aced.” However, the White House has not released any details about the results of the exam.

In a July 19, 2020 Fox News interview with Chris Wallace, Trump also challenged Biden to take the exam. He said that the questions “get very hard,” and didn’t think Wallace would be able to answer them.

However, the creators of the exam have themselves described it as simple, intended only to test basic cognitive function rather than as any measure of intelligence. The one-page test can be easily found online.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

During the same interview, Trump declined to answer if he would accept the 2020 election results.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment – MoCA Test
The New York Times – Trump Says He ‘Aced’ Cognitive Test, but White House Won’t Release Details
The New York Times – Trump Says He ‘Aced’ a Cognitive Test. What Does That Really Mean?
Market Watch – The doctor behind a cognitive test Trump took says ‘it’s supposed to be easy’
Forbes – Trump Says He Recently ‘Aced’ This Test: What Exactly Does That Mean?
Fox News – Trump challenges Biden to mental exam, says Chris Wallace would not score as high as he did

toured a Maine factory without a mask, which then discarded the day’s production?

On June 5, 2020, Trump toured a production facility for medical swabs in Maine amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump and his entourage wore no mask or protective covering. The workers present wore extensive personal protection equipment, including lab coats, masks, gloves, goggles, hair coverings and plastic booties.

Trump visits Maine production facility on June 5, 2020. AP

The company, Puritan Medical Products, said it would discard the swabs that were being manufactured at the time of Trump’s visit. The company’s press release clarified that a limited production was run for the visit, and that it was always intended that what was produced that day would be discarded.

At that time, nasal swabs for specimens were in low supply, and a third of Maine nursing homes reported having none. Sarah Gideon, Democratic candidate for US Senate, criticized any disruption of production for critical medical supplies.

On the day of Trump’s visit, the United States totaled 1,967,359 cases and had suffered 113,798 deaths.

Trump had drawn criticism for visiting medical production facilities in May without a mask. During one he said he wanted to avoid giving the press “the pleasure,” while “Life and Let Die” played over loudspeakers during the other.

USA Today – As Trump touts increased production, coronavirus swabs made during his Maine factory tour will be tossed in the trash
Business Insider – A Maine factory says it will have to discard all coronavirus swabs made during Trump’s factory tour
Snopes – Did a Medical Manufacturer Destroy Swabs After Trump’s Visit?
Worldometer – Coronavirus Cases, United States

toured a factory without a mask while “Live and Let Die” played?

On May 5, 2020, Trump toured a Honeywell International plant in Phoenix to visit a Honeywell International plant that manufactured N95 masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump and his entourage did not wear masks, despite workers being required to, and signs directing them to be worn at all times. He later said that he consulted with the CEO ahead of his visit to avoid using one.

Trump’s visit became especially notable when it was pointed out that the Guns N’ Roses song “Live and Let Die” was blaring over the speaks during his visit.

Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses had previously demanded that the Trump administration stop using their music for events.

It’s unknown whether it was chosen by Trump’s entourage, played as an act of rebellion by someone present, or simply came on the radio.

On the day of Trump’s visit, the United States totaled 1,242,114 confirmed cases and suffered 73,691 deaths.

In later tours of factories, Trump also refused to wear a mask. In one instance, he said it was because he didn’t want to “give the press the pleasure.” In another, the facility discarded the day’s product.

The New York Times – Trump Gives Phoenix Mask Factory Visit a Campaign Feel
Reuters – Trump says he did not wear mask at Honeywell facility after consulting CEO
The Guardian – Live and Let Die plays as Trump visits mask factory without a mask
Worldometer – Coronavirus Cases, United States

toured a medical device factory without a mask because he didn’t want “to give the press the pleasure”?

On May 21, 2020, Trump toured the Michigan Ford Motor factory, which had been repurposed to manufacture ventilators and other medical devices amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite it being policy that a mask was mandatory in the factory by both the company and the state, Trump emerged in front of cameras without one.

When asked why he didn’t wear a mask, Trump explained that he had earlier, but “did not to want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it.”

On the day of his visit, the United States had totaled 1,633,721 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and suffered 98,764 deaths.

Without a mask, Trump previously toured a factory manufacturing COVID-19 related equipment while the song “Live and Let Die” played over the loudspeaker. He again later toured a factory without a mask, which then discarded the day’s product.

Chicago Tribune – Maskless Trump visits Michigan Ford plant, despite state and company policy
US News & World Report – Pandemic Politics: Maskless Trump Tours Michigan Ford Plant
Business Insider – Trump wore a mask at a Ford plant behind the scenes but ‘didn’t want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it’
Worldometer – Coronavirus Cases, United States

said again that COVID-19 would “disappear” during a record resurgence?

On July 1, 2020, Trump repeated past claims that COVID-19 would “at some point just sort of disappear.”

Trump also claimed in the interview that he had “always been for” masks. However, he long refused to wear a mask, even when touring medical device facilities where it was required. In one such instance, he told the media he purposefully avoided wearing one because he didn’t want “to give the press the pleasure.”

He commented further that he liked how he looked in them, likening it to “the lone ranger.”

On that day, the United States totaled 2,779,719 cases and 130,761 deaths.

Trump downplayed concerns over COVID-19 as it first spread within the United States and throughout the following months.

Axios – Trump says he still thinks coronavirus will “just disappear” at some point
The Independent – Trump again claims coronavirus is ‘going to just disappear’ as US sees record number of new cases
Worldometer – Coronavirus Cases, United States

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