The press secretary of President Donald Trump's re-election campaign assured CNN's Alisyn Camerota that Vice President Mike Pence wasn't in danger from the coronavirus at an upcoming rally -- but that's not what he was asked.
The CNN anchor asked Hogan Gidley whether the campaign was concerned about the pandemic's spread at multiple rallies held by the president and vice president in Wisconsin, which is setting daily records for new cases.
"Hospitals in Wisconsin are near capacity," Camerota said. "Does that give you any pause about going there and holding a big rally?"
Gidley, who previously served as the deputy White House press secretary, said it did not.
“No, it doesn’t," Gidley said. "The vice president has the best doctors in the world around him. They've obviously contract traced and have come to the conclusion that it's fine for him to be out on the campaign trail. The American people have the right under the First Amendment to peaceably assemble, too. The fact is, we're seeing some good news about coronavirus."
Social media users were shocked by the lack of concern for the thousands who might pack into those rallies, which have not typically displayed much social distancing or mask wearing.
@BrianKarem It doesn't even OCCUR to Gidley that she's referring to putting the residents at risk. JHC— Laura Winig (@Laura Winig) 1603897886.0
#Pence has good doctors, so screw everyone else. CNN: "Hospitals in WI are near capacity. Does that give you any pa… https://t.co/GBsz8q8ai0— Steve Provizer (@Steve Provizer) 1603897829.0
@therecount @AlisynCamerota The question wasn’t about the Vice President’s health.— Seth Masket (@Seth Masket) 1603897140.0
The casual, unthinking cruelty is horrifying. https://t.co/qgM1aMljNu— Amanda Carpenter (@Amanda Carpenter) 1603894850.0
@therecount @AlisynCamerota In other words, we don’t care.— Midwin Charles, Esq. (@Midwin Charles, Esq.) 1603891171.0
Trump Campaign Press Sec. Hogan Gidley: “The Vice President has the best doctors in the world around him.” The ave… https://t.co/avyFfYa41O— Justin Gomez (@Justin Gomez) 1603897820.0
Hogan Gidley: screw the public, Pence will be fine. https://t.co/FYOWztBEYK— Ann 🇺🇸☮️ (@Ann 🇺🇸☮️) 1603897796.0
@therecount @AlisynCamerota “No, it doesn’t … the VP has the best doctors in the world around him." I feel like the… https://t.co/mfMFG5mpzR— suki sven (@suki sven) 1603889927.0
@therecount @AlisynCamerota This says it all. Hogan Gidley, like ALL Trump sycophants, doesn’t give a crap about t… https://t.co/iNHMraSOD3— Miss Norma Jeane 🗽🩸 & 🦷 (@Miss Norma Jeane 🗽🩸 & 🦷) 1603897782.0
It doesn't even occur to all-around tool Hogan Gidley that he's being asked about the welfare of people who live in… https://t.co/aT9s2S0LL0— Ron Marz (@Ron Marz) 1603897713.0
@therecount @AlisynCamerota Actual psychopathy right there -- doesn't occur to him that the rally attendees even ex… https://t.co/lUufovvuQu— Felina (@Felina) 1603890066.0
@therecount @AlisynCamerota This is a phenomenon known as 'cult focus'. The followers are irrelevant except for in… https://t.co/kbSKW5VeRk— Monty 🇺🇸Hamilton's Battery🇺🇸 Boa (@Monty 🇺🇸Hamilton's Battery🇺🇸 Boa) 1603892662.0
@therecount @AlisynCamerota Tone deaf. He doesn’t even see that the question had nothing to do with Pence. WOW— Tales from the Midwest (@Tales from the Midwest) 1603889851.0
@TheRealHoarse I hate Hogan Gidley with the heat of a thousand Kayleigh McEnanys.— harleyb💛🐝 (@harleyb💛🐝) 1603897690.0
@therecount @AlisynCamerota The dude would make psychopaths jealous Smh— Exploding Trumpaloompa Singh MD 🌊 (@Exploding Trumpaloompa Singh MD 🌊) 1603897084.0
@therecount @AlisynCamerota Majority of Americans don't have the best doctors in the world on speed dial, let alone… https://t.co/gS05pwAxy6— lawhawk #maskingforafriend (@lawhawk #maskingforafriend) 1603893439.0
@JuddLegum OMG. To Gidley: Yeah, great, We're Not worried about HIM... How about the people you all are supposed to serve?— gargirl Black Lives Matter🇺🇸📖🌈🇺🇸 (@gargirl Black Lives Matter🇺🇸📖🌈🇺🇸) 1603897646.0
@therecount @ryangrim @AlisynCamerota Perfectly encapsulates the malevolence of modern conservatism. Not even capab… https://t.co/1s8XPT2WOW— The Arm (@The Arm) 1603894340.0
@therecount @AlisynCamerota This about sums up this Administration's empathy and concern for millions of Americans… https://t.co/T8YJaXZj7a— Irwin F. Fletch 🏴☠️ (@Irwin F. Fletch 🏴☠️) 1603889959.0
Hogan Gidley has all the sensitivity you expect from a man named Hogan Gidley https://t.co/BZYEyrkPvl— Hermagoras (@Hermagoras) 1603897640.0
ghouls Also, Hogan Gidley of course his name is Hogan Gidley. https://t.co/oOtTaBVH5g— Booger McFar-Left (@Booger McFar-Left) 1603897571.0
@therecount @AlisynCamerota They tell their supporters they don't care about them in so many ways. It doesn't matt… https://t.co/Li83wCutdF— josh T. (@josh T.) 1603896559.0
The people in the crowd don't matter once Trump is done with them. Hogan Gidley is in so far over his head... https://t.co/FfGz6clEZ7— PaJim🇺🇸 (@PaJim🇺🇸) 1603897493.0
