A source familiar with the president’s health tells the White House pool: “The president’s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We’re still not on a clear path to a full recovery.”
This anonymous quote was sent to the White House pool reporters. It arrived in my inbox and the inboxes of other reporters who cover this White House. I do not know where this quote came from, and why this anonymous person has the authority to contradict the president’s doctors.
CONTEXT: Behind the scenes, the White House has been fighting with reporters who have shared information from anonymous sources since we learned about Trump’s illness. But as you can see, the White House is sharing information from anonymous sources with us, too.
The press and the public are struggling with this fundamental problem: we do not know who we can trust to receive reliable information about the health of the President of the United States.
UPDATE: Immediately after the press conference ended and before the anonymous statement was sent out, Mark Meadows briefed reporters without cameras—but he was caught on a feed asking to be off the record.
So we have the White House chief of staff on camera, anonymously providing contradictory information to reporters right after the president’s doctors briefed the public.
This clip starts at 1:41:10
The press and the public are not the only people struggling to make sense of conflicting reports about the president’s condition. Asked what it’s like to try to get information about what’s happening, a senior White House official tells @NYMag: “That’s easy. We don’t get any.”
I‘ve said this to several White House officials today privately, and I want to say it here for everyone who works in this government to see: when you spread false information or help keep the truth from being reported, you hurt your own credibility, not just the president’s.
There will be life after Trump (probably). If nothing else, you should cynically consider what you’re doing to your own reputation when you stand in the way of transparency.
Anyway my point is, please continue to leak. Thanks! Xoxoxo
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