>>> WE HAD A REPORT TODAY THE GLOBAL DEATH RATE AT 3.4% AND A

GLOBAL DEATH RATE AT 3.4% AND A REPORT THAT THE OLYMPICS COULD

REPORT THAT THE OLYMPICS COULD BE DELAYED.

BE DELAYED. YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

YOUR REACTION TO THAT? >> WELL, I THINK 3.4% IS REALLY

>> WELL, I THINK 3.4% IS REALLY A FALSE NUMBER.

A FALSE NUMBER. NOW, THIS IS JUST MY HUNCH, BUT

NOW, THIS IS JUST MY HUNCH, BUT BASED ON A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS

BASED ON A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO

WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO THIS, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE

THIS, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL HAVE THIS AND IT’S VERY

WILL HAVE THIS AND IT’S VERY MILD.

MILD. THEY’LL GET BETTER VERY RAPIDLY.

THEY’LL GET BETTER VERY RAPIDLY. THEY DON’T EVEN SEE A DOCTOR,

THEY DON’T EVEN SEE A DOCTOR, THEY DON’T EVEN CALL A DOCTOR.

THEY DON’T EVEN CALL A DOCTOR. SO IF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE

SO IF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THOUSANDS OR HUNDREDS OF

THOUSANDS OR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT GET

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT GET BETTER, JUST BY, YOU KNOW,

BETTER, JUST BY, YOU KNOW, SITTING AROUND AND EVEN GOING TO

SITTING AROUND AND EVEN GOING TO WORK.

WORK. SOME OF THEM GO TO WORK, BUT

SOME OF THEM GO TO WORK, BUT THEY GET BETTER, AND THEN WHEN

THEY GET BETTER, AND THEN WHEN YOU DO HAVE A DEATH, LIKE YOU

YOU DO HAVE A DEATH, LIKE YOU HAD IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON,

HAD IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, LIKE YOU HAD ONE IN CALIFORNIA.

LIKE YOU HAD ONE IN CALIFORNIA. I BELIEVE YOU HAD ONE IN NEW

I BELIEVE YOU HAD ONE IN NEW YORK, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SEEMS

YORK, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SEEMS LIKE 3% OR 4% SEEMS LIKE A VERY

LIKE 3% OR 4% SEEMS LIKE A VERY HIGH NUMBER AS OPPOSED TO A

HIGH NUMBER AS OPPOSED TO A PRAKZ OF

PRAKZ OF FRACTION OF 1%.

FRACTION OF 1%. >> OH, MY GOD.

>> OH, MY GOD. A FALSE NUMBER.

A FALSE NUMBER. WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED THE

WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION’S

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION’S LATEST GLOBAL DEATH RATE OF THE

LATEST GLOBAL DEATH RATE OF THE CORONAVIRUS TALKING ABOUT A

CORONAVIRUS TALKING ABOUT A HUNCH WHAT HE HAS GOING ON.

HUNCH WHAT HE HAS GOING ON. >> INSTEAD OF THE SCIENTIFIC

>> INSTEAD OF THE SCIENTIFIC NUMBERS, HE HAS A HUNCH.

NUMBERS, HE HAS A HUNCH. >> WHEW.

>> WHEW. >> WILLIE, EVEN MORE STERNING

>> WILLIE, EVEN MORE STERNING THAN THAT IS THE FACT THAT THE

THAN THAT IS THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS TELLING PEOPLE THAT THEY’RE

IS TELLING PEOPLE THAT THEY’RE GOING TO GET BETTER BY SITTING

GOING TO GET BETTER BY SITTING AROUND AND "GOING BACK TO WORK"

AROUND AND "GOING BACK TO WORK" WITH THE CORONAVIRUS.

WITH THE CORONAVIRUS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS CAUSING

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS CAUSING RIGHT NOW CONSTERNATION UP IN

RIGHT NOW CONSTERNATION UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WHERE A DARTMOUTH

NEW HAMPSHIRE WHERE A DARTMOUTH HOSPITAL EMPLOYEE WAS TOLD TO

HOSPITAL EMPLOYEE WAS TOLD TO SELF-QUARANTINE AND INSTEAD WENT

SELF-QUARANTINE AND INSTEAD WENT OUT THAT NIGHT TO A SCHOOL

OUT THAT NIGHT TO A SCHOOL EVENT, AND NOW, WHO KNOWS HOW

EVENT, AND NOW, WHO KNOWS HOW FAR IT SPREAD.

FAR IT SPREAD. YOU LOOK AT THE NEW YORK CASE TO

YOU LOOK AT THE NEW YORK CASE TO SEE THAT ONE MAN HAS INFECTED

SEE THAT ONE MAN HAS INFECTED HIS ENTIRE FAMILY, INFECTED THE

HIS ENTIRE FAMILY, INFECTED THE MAN WHO DROVE HIM TO THE

MAN WHO DROVE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL, WHO THEN AFFECTED HIS

HOSPITAL, WHO THEN AFFECTED HIS FAMILY.

FAMILY. THIS SPREADS QUICKLY AND EASILY.

THIS SPREADS QUICKLY AND EASILY. SO FOR DONALD TRUMP TO BE

SO FOR DONALD TRUMP TO BE SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN JUST

SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN JUST SIT AROUND AND GET BETTER AND,

SIT AROUND AND GET BETTER AND, HEY, YOU CAN EVEN GO BACK TO

HEY, YOU CAN EVEN GO BACK TO WORK IS ABOUT AS RECKLESS AND

WORK IS ABOUT AS RECKLESS AND IRRESPONSIBLE.

IRRESPONSIBLE. YOU CAN IMAGINE, LET’S HOPE THE

YOU CAN IMAGINE, LET’S HOPE THE WHITE HOUSE CLARIFIES THAT LATER

WHITE HOUSE CLARIFIES THAT LATER ON TODAY.

ON TODAY. >> IT’S TOTALLY RECKLESS.

>> IT’S TOTALLY RECKLESS. IT’S NOT A TIME FOR DONALD

IT’S NOT A TIME FOR DONALD TRUMP’S HUNCHES.

TRUMP’S HUNCHES. IT’S A TIME FOR SCIENCE.

IT’S A TIME FOR SCIENCE. IT’S A TIME FOR DOCTORS.

IT’S A TIME FOR DOCTORS. IT’S NOT A TIME FOR DONALD TRUMP

IT’S NOT A TIME FOR DONALD TRUMP TO BE CALLING INTO CABLE SHOWS

TO BE CALLING INTO CABLE SHOWS AND RIFFING ON THINGS HE DOESN’T

AND RIFFING ON THINGS HE DOESN’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.

KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT. IT’S NOT A TIME FOR HIM TO TELL

IT’S NOT A TIME FOR HIM TO TELL PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO WORK WHEN

PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO WORK WHEN EVERY SCIENTIST AND EVERY DOCTOR

EVERY SCIENTIST AND EVERY DOCTOR HAS SAID JUST THE OPPOSITE.

HAS SAID JUST THE OPPOSITE. IT’S A TIME FOR THE CDC, IT’S A

IT’S A TIME FOR THE CDC, IT’S A TIME FOR THE WORLD HEALTH

TIME FOR THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION TOEXPLAINING TO THE

ORGANIZATION TOEXPLAINING TO THE WHAT THIS IS, HOW THIS PANDEMIC

WHAT THIS IS, HOW THIS PANDEMIC IS TAKING HOLD AND WHAT

IS TAKING HOLD AND WHAT AMERICANS SHOULD DO ABOUT IT AND

AMERICANS SHOULD DO ABOUT IT AND WENT SO FAR YESTERDAY, JOE, AS

WENT SO FAR YESTERDAY, JOE, AS TO BLAME THE OBAMA

TO BLAME THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, VERY VAGUELY.

ADMINISTRATION, VERY VAGUELY. HE SAID, WE HAD TO UNDO A

HE SAID, WE HAD TO UNDO A DECISION THEY DID.

DECISION THEY DID. WHY OUR RESPONSE HAS BEEN SO

WHY OUR RESPONSE HAS BEEN SO SLOW.

SLOW. NO ONE SEEMED TO KNOW EXACTLY

NO ONE SEEMED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. THERE WAS NO DECISION TO BE

THERE WAS NO DECISION TO BE UNDONE.

UNDONE. JOINING US NOW FROM THE WHITE

JOINING US NOW FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, NBC NEWS WHITE HOUSE

HOUSE, NBC NEWS WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT GEOFF BENNETT.

CORRESPONDENT GEOFF BENNETT. GEOFF, GOOD MORNING.

GEOFF, GOOD MORNING. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENT

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENT CALLING INTO HANNITY LAST NIGHT

CALLING INTO HANNITY LAST NIGHT AND THE RIFFING ON A GLOBAL

AND THE RIFFING ON A GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT DR. FAUCI HAS SAID

PANDEMIC THAT DR. FAUCI HAS SAID WILL BECOME A PANDEMIC AT SOME

WILL BECOME A PANDEMIC AT SOME POINT.

POINT. IS THERE ANY STRATEGY?

IS THERE ANY STRATEGY? IS THERE ANYONE IN THE WHITE

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHO CAN SAY TO DONALD

HOUSE WHO CAN SAY TO DONALD TRUMP, IT’S SORT OF BECOME A

TRUMP, IT’S SORT OF BECOME A MOOT QUESTION OVER THE YEARS,

MOOT QUESTION OVER THE YEARS, BUT ANYONE WHO CAN SAY, THIS IS

BUT ANYONE WHO CAN SAY, THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE

TOO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE RIFFING OFF THE TOP OF YOUR

RIFFING OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD?

HEAD? >> IF SOMEONE IS TELLING THE

>> IF SOMEONE IS TELLING THE PRESIDENT THAT IT’S CLEAR HE’S

PRESIDENT THAT IT’S CLEAR HE’S NOT LISTENING.

NOT LISTENING. REMEMBER LAST WEEK WE REPORTED

REMEMBER LAST WEEK WE REPORTED THE VICE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE WAS

THE VICE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE WAS GOING TO USE A HEAVIER HAND IN

GOING TO USE A HEAVIER HAND IN CONTROLLING ALL OF THE

CONTROLLING ALL OF THE CORONAVIRUS MESSAGING COMING OUT

CORONAVIRUS MESSAGING COMING OUT OF THIS WHITE HOUSE.

OF THIS WHITE HOUSE. WELL, THEN, AS IT IS NOW IT

WELL, THEN, AS IT IS NOW IT APPEARS PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF

APPEARS PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF IS THE MAIN ONE SPREADING

IS THE MAIN ONE SPREADING DISINFORMATION.

DISINFORMATION. COMPLETELY CONTRADICTING THE

COMPLETELY CONTRADICTING THE INFORMATION AND THE DATA PUT OUT

INFORMATION AND THE DATA PUT OUT BY PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS.

BY PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS. THE PRESIDENT DISPUTING THE 3.4%

THE PRESIDENT DISPUTING THE 3.4% DATA-DRIVEN ASSESSMENT OF THE

DATA-DRIVEN ASSESSMENT OF THE OVERALL CORONAVIRUS DEATH RATE

OVERALL CORONAVIRUS DEATH RATE SAYING IT’S A FALSE NUMBER, NO

SAYING IT’S A FALSE NUMBER, NO EVIDENCE TO BACK IT UP ONLY

EVIDENCE TO BACK IT UP ONLY SAYING IT’S A HUNCH AND

SAYING IT’S A HUNCH AND COMPLETELY DISCARDING, YOU

COMPLETELY DISCARDING, YOU RIGHTLY POINT OUT, ADVICE FROM

RIGHTLY POINT OUT, ADVICE FROM PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS TO PEOPLE

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS TO PEOPLE SAYING, IF YOU FEEL SICK, STAY

SAYING, IF YOU FEEL SICK, STAY AT HOME.

AT HOME. PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING PEOPLE

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING PEOPLE HAVE GONE TO WORK AND SOMEHOW

HAVE GONE TO WORK AND SOMEHOW HAVE GOTTEN BETTER AND ALSO SAID

HAVE GOTTEN BETTER AND ALSO SAID THERE’S BEEN A DEATH REPORTED IN

THERE’S BEEN A DEATH REPORTED IN NEW YORK.

NEW YORK. THERE HAD BEEN NO DEATHS

THERE HAD BEEN NO DEATHS REPORTED IN NEW YORK FROM

REPORTED IN NEW YORK FROM CORONAVIRUS.

CORONAVIRUS. THERE HAS BEEN THAT CASE THAT

THERE HAS BEEN THAT CASE THAT JOE MENTIONED.

JOE MENTIONED. SO CLEARLY THE PRESIDENT IS

SO CLEARLY THE PRESIDENT IS TRYING TO PUT A ROSY SHEEN ON

TRYING TO PUT A ROSY SHEEN ON THINGS, TRYING TO REASSURE THE

THINGS, TRYING TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THE ADMINISTRATION

PUBLIC THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS IT UNDER CONTROL, BUT HE’S

HAS IT UNDER CONTROL, BUT HE’S DOING IT IN A WAY WHERE HE’S

DOING IT IN A WAY WHERE HE’S SPREADING DISINFORMATION.

SPREADING DISINFORMATION. THAT SAID, THOUGH, PUBLIC HEALTH

THAT SAID, THOUGH, PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS DO SAY THE

EXPERTS DO SAY THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING A COUPLE

ADMINISTRATION IS DOING A COUPLE OF THINGS RIGHT, IN PART NAMING

OF THINGS RIGHT, IN PART NAMING DEBBIE BURKS.

DEBBIE BURKS. OBAMA APPOINTEE, STATE

OBAMA APPOINTEE, STATE DEPARTMENT AMBASSADOR AT LARGE

DEPARTMENT AMBASSADOR AT LARGE BRINGS 30-PLUS YEARS AT

BRINGS 30-PLUS YEARS AT REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE.

REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE. SOMEONE WHO IS SERIOUS,

SOMEONE WHO IS SERIOUS, SOBER-MINDED, A REAL

SOBER-MINDED, A REAL PROFESSIONAL NOW COORDINATING

PROFESSIONAL NOW COORDINATING THE DAY-TO-DAY CORONAVIRUS

THE DAY-TO-DAY CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE.

RESPONSE. I’VE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO SAY

I’VE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY HOPE SHE’S FULLY EMPOWERED

THEY HOPE SHE’S FULLY EMPOWERED TO DO THE JOB.

TO DO THE JOB. MIKE PENCE GOING TO THE 3M

MIKE PENCE GOING TO THE 3M HEADQUARTERS TODAY.

HEADQUARTERS TODAY. THIS GOVERNMENT CONTRACTED WITH

THIS GOVERNMENT CONTRACTED WITH 3M TO MAKE MORE OF THOSE MASKS

3M TO MAKE MORE OF THOSE MASKS AND THEN HEAD TO WASHINGTON

AND THEN HEAD TO WASHINGTON STATE GRAPPLING WITH THE

STATE GRAPPLING WITH THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK THERE, TOO.

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK THERE, TOO. >> THANK YOU, GEOFF BENNETT AT

>> THANK YOU, GEOFF BENNETT AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE WHITE HOUSE. MIKA, POINT IS THERE ARE REALLY

MIKA, POINT IS THERE ARE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS.

GOOD PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS. THEY’VE PUT GOOD, SMART,

THEY’VE PUT GOOD, SMART, EXPERIENCED PEOPLE IN PLACE.

EXPERIENCED PEOPLE IN PLACE. WHEN THE PRESIDENT CALLS INTO A

WHEN THE PRESIDENT CALLS INTO A NEWS SHOW, SWAMPS ALL THE DATE

NEWS SHOW, SWAMPS ALL THE DATE AND SCIENCE THAT IS THERE.

AND SCIENCE THAT IS THERE. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >>> STILL AHEAD WE’RE GOING TO

>>> STILL AHEAD WE’RE GOING TO SPEAK --

SPEAK -- >> IF WE CAN SAY THIS ALSO,

>> IF WE CAN SAY THIS ALSO, MIKA.

MIKA. IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT, WE ACTUALLY

IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT, WE ACTUALLY HAVE -- I WON’T AA ROADSAY A ROA

HAVE -- I WON’T AA ROADSAY A ROA HOW TO BETTER CONTAIN THIS

HOW TO BETTER CONTAIN THIS VIRUS, BUT THERE ARE COUNTRIES

VIRUS, BUT THERE ARE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE DEALT WITH THIS.

THAT HAVE DEALT WITH THIS. >> RIGHT.

>> RIGHT. >> CHINA DEALT WITH IT IN A

>> CHINA DEALT WITH IT IN A HEAVY-HANDED WAY, BUT

HEAVY-HANDED WAY, BUT APPARENTLY, IF THE NUMBERS CAN

APPARENTLY, IF THE NUMBERS CAN BE TRUSTED, THE NUMBER OF

BE TRUSTED, THE NUMBER OF INFECTIONS ARE GOING DOWN.

INFECTIONS ARE GOING DOWN. YOU SEE WHAT’S HAPPENED IN

YOU SEE WHAT’S HAPPENED IN SINGAPORE.

SINGAPORE. YOU SEE WHAT’S HAPPENED IN

YOU SEE WHAT’S HAPPENED IN JAPAN.

JAPAN. YOU SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING IN

YOU SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING IN ITALY.

ITALY. THERE IS AN AGGRESSIVENESS WHERE

THERE IS AN AGGRESSIVENESS WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING ISOLATED, WHERE