The Democratic National Committee has launched a new TV ad in Des Moines ahead of President Donald Trump’s rally tonight, lambasting him for holding indoor events during the pandemic and “turning the White House into a super-spreader.”
After contracting the coronavirus, the ad states, “he claims he’s learned about COVID. He hasn’t learned a thing, putting us and those sworn to protect him at risk. Meanwhile, America pays the price — 215,000 dead, no plan. And now another wave is coming.”
NEW AD: Even after testing positive for COVID, Trump continues to:
– Put lives at risk by ignoring experts
– Hold in-person potential superspreader events
– Lie to the American people about the threat of the virus
– Refuse to act or come up with a plan to contain the pandemic pic.twitter.com/r7QcMJw1x1— DNC War Room (@DNCWarRoom) October 13, 2020
Trump’s Des Moines rally, held tonight at Des Moines International Airport, comes as Iowa surpasses 101,000 positive COVID-19 cases and experiences record-high hospitalizations. Over the last 14 days, more than 100 Iowans have died from the respiratory disease, with a total of 1,491 deaths as of Wednesday morning.
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“Time and again, Donald Trump has knowingly put Iowans at risk,” DNC Chair Tom Perez said in a statement. “He ignored the experts, lied about the severity of COVID-19, and failed to get the pandemic under control. Seven months into this crisis, he is still downplaying the virus and refusing to take action to protect Iowans’ health, lives, and livelihoods. We deserve better than his failed, incompetent leadership.”
Trump’s own coronavirus task force warned against gatherings in Central Iowa of more than 25 people, according to the Des Moines Register.
The Register reported on Tuesday: “The White House coronavirus task force has repeatedly urged Iowa leaders to take stronger steps to rein in the pandemic. The task force’s latest available report carried a dire warning for Iowa: ‘Community transmission has remained high across the state for the past month, with many preventable deaths.’”
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As Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie expressed concern about the rally being a “super-spread event,” Gov. Kim Reynolds on Twitter encouraged Iowans to get tickets.
Make sure to request your free tickets for the upcoming rally w/President @realDonaldTrump. It will be this Wednesday at 6:00 PM in Des Moines! Protect Iowa’s future, and show your support for President Trump! #Trump2020 https://t.co/x7fef4MLMa
— Kim Reynolds (@KimReynoldsIA) October 12, 2020
Sen. Joni Ernst told Starting Line she will not attend the rally because the Judiciary Committee, of which she is a member, is holding confirmation hearings this week for Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Sen. Chuck Grassley also serves on the Judiciary Committee. David Young, the Republican candidate in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, said during a debate Monday he plans to attend.
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Joe Biden forcefully condemned the Iowa rally this morning, telling the Register Trump was coming to Iowa “to spread more lies about the pandemic and distract from his record of failure.”
By Elizabeth Meyer
Posted 10/14/20
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