A Democrat attack ad, by American Bridge 21st Century, has been pinocchioed by the Washington Post for blatantly lying about Trump and China with respect to the coronavirus. First, here’s the ad:
The ad claims that Trump not only “trusted China”, but then “he shipped 17 tons of American masks and medical supplies. Our masks and supplies. Supplies we need now.”
It ends by saying in big bold letters “Trump trusted China, sent China our supplies and just look at the mess we’re in now.”
A claim like this sounds horrible and it’s seemingly backed up by the big news chyron from Fox 18 stating “U.S. sent 17.8 tons of masks, respirators, other PPE to China in February.” But it’s a big fat lie:
WASHINGTON POST – The ad says that “Trump … shipped 17 tons of American masks and medical supplies. Our masks and supplies.” The impression left by the ad is that these were U.S. government goods, shipped on Trump’s order.
But these were actually donations by private charities and public companies for Project HOPE, an international health-care organization that has been operating in Wuhan for a quarter-century and helped establish a nursing school there. Usually, donors to Project HOPE arrange for charter aircraft to take their donations overseas.
In the case highlighted in the ad, the State Department’s role was providing the aircraft. The department sent charted planes to Wuhan to pick up some 800 consulate workers, their families and other Americans. The planes otherwise were going to be empty on the way to China, so officials decided to fill the jets with goods donated by Samaritan’s Purse, the Boeing Company, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Intermountain Healthcare. Money to help underwrite the effort was provided by Kenneth Griffin, a hedge fund manager who is chief executive of the investment firm Citadel.
Project HOPE said the shipment would have been made with or without the State Department’s help.
It was all donations by private charities and the State Department essentially played the role of UPS or FEDEX, since they were going there anyway.
Trump highlighted the Post’s fact-check earlier saying “Another FALSE ad by the Do Nothing Democrats. Almost all of their ads are False or Misleading, and the Fake News loves it!”
As a reminder, American Bridge 21st Century was founded by David Brock who also founded Media Matters. It’s all funded by George Soros.