MSNBC host Ari Melber on Tuesday looked back at the compassion that past presidents displayed during national tragedies to highlight how President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic “is not normal.”
Melber, host of “The Beat” aired footage showing Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and other previous presidents consoling the nation following terror attacks, school mass shootings and assassinations.
“When you listen to these past presidents from both parties, there is more than a history lesson here, more than just a reminder of the way things were,” said Melber.
“Just looking at this when we were putting it together and now as you’re watching it, I think it does something else,” he continued. “It unavoidably, obviously provides a bipartisan contrast to how the current president approaches this part of the job during this mounting death toll.”
“How do you console and grieve with a nation that sorely needs it?” asked Melber, noting that Trump has spoken more in public than most presidents, but uses his time to attack enemies and cast blame rather than offer messages of support.
“While this is not the only thing going on right now, if you do find yourself at home thinking, ‘This is not normal, we should not act like this is normal,’ you’re right. It’s not,” Melber concluded.
Check out the video above.
- Stay up to date with our live blog as we cover the COVID-19 pandemic
- 7 essential pieces of relationship advice for couples in quarantine
- What you need to know about face masks right now
- How to tell if you need to start doing online therapy
- Lost your job due to coronavirus? Here’s what you need to know.
- Parenting during the coronavirus crisis?
- The HuffPost guide to working from home
- What coronavirus questions are on your mind right now? We want to help you find answers.
- Everyone deserves accurate information about COVID-19. Support journalism without a paywall — and keep it free for everyone — by becoming a HuffPost member today.