CONTINUING COVERAGE

Pro-Palestinian protesters at Rutgers New Brunswick given 4 p.m. deadline to remove tents from Voorhees Mall.

'Forget the politics': President Trump faces backlash for stolen masks comments

President Donald Trump is facing backlash among health care workers for the comments he made over the weekend suggesting that people may be stealing masks from hospitals.

News 12 Staff

Mar 30, 2020, 7:54 PM

Updated 1,494 days ago

Share:

President Donald Trump is facing backlash among health care workers for the comments he made over the weekend suggesting that people may be stealing masks from hospitals.

Trump made the comments Sunday during his coronavirus briefing while referring to one unnamed New York hospital that went from requiring 10,000 masks to 300,000.
"Where are the masks going? Are they going out the back door?" Trump said. "We have that in a lot of different places and somebody should look in to it."

During his briefing Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, "Forget the politics. We have a national crisis, we are at war. There is no politics, there is no red and blue, it's red, white and blue so let's get over and lead by example."

The remarks sparked a response from the president of the Greater New York Hospital Association who wrote on Twitter, 'New York's health care workers deserve better than their president suggesting that PPE is 'going out the back door' of New York hospitals.' -Kenneth E. Raske."

Most Long Island hospitals would not comment on Trump's remarks. Northwell Health issued a statement saying, "We have long-established supply controls in place, this is not an issue for us at this time."

Dr. Susan Donelan, the medical director of health care epidemiology at Stony Brook Medicine, also stated the hospital has strict security measures in place.

The White House stated Trump's remarks were based on a news conference held by Cuomo in early March where he spoke about thefts of medical equipment.

State officials across the country and in New York are reporting a shortage of personal protective equipment such as masks for medical workers as they deal with the snowballing coronavirus pandemic.
undefined


More from News 12
Pro-Palestinian protesters at Rutgers given 4 p.m. deadline to remove tents

Pro-Palestinian protesters at Rutgers given 4 p.m. deadline to remove tents

2:09
Summer feeling today in New Jersey with temps in the 80s; cooler weather arrives Friday

Summer feeling today in New Jersey with temps in the 80s; cooler weather arrives Friday

0:46
Car crashes into Hasbrouck Heights apartment building; residents evacuate

Car crashes into Hasbrouck Heights apartment building; residents evacuate

1:47
News 12 beats the heat today at Long Branch beach

News 12 beats the heat today at Long Branch beach

Biden says 'order must prevail' during campus protests over Gaza

Biden says 'order must prevail' during campus protests over Gaza

2:13
Police: Explosion, fire at Old Bridge business kills 73-year-old woman, severely injures 4 others

Police: Explosion, fire at Old Bridge business kills 73-year-old woman, severely injures 4 others

0:47
Learn to make candles at Urban Glo in Union

Learn to make candles at Urban Glo in Union

3:19
Fire officials: Large tractor-trailer fire closes I-95 between exits 15 and 14

Fire officials: Large tractor-trailer fire closes I-95 between exits 15 and 14

0:35
Prosecutors: NJ couple pleads guilty to starting illegal marijuana service and employing their son

Prosecutors: NJ couple pleads guilty to starting illegal marijuana service and employing their son

0:24
Should former inmates be allowed to serve on juries in New Jersey? Gov. Murphy says yes

Should former inmates be allowed to serve on juries in New Jersey? Gov. Murphy says yes

0:29
Unruly passenger ordered to pay over $20,000 for interfering with flight from London to Newark

Unruly passenger ordered to pay over $20,000 for interfering with flight from London to Newark

0:20
Authorities: 2 women, 1 man stabbed in altercation at Newark McDonald's

Authorities: 2 women, 1 man stabbed in altercation at Newark McDonald's

0:19
FBI offering $5,000 reward for info on Paterson bank robbery suspect

FBI offering $5,000 reward for info on Paterson bank robbery suspect

0:24
Cape May County lifeguards file lawsuit against Avalon to get pension

Cape May County lifeguards file lawsuit against Avalon to get pension

2:06
Nutley school uses virtual reality to help children with neurodiversity succeed in the real world

Nutley school uses virtual reality to help children with neurodiversity succeed in the real world

2:22
Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

1:39
Teacher testifies on second day of trial of father accused of fatally abusing son

Teacher testifies on second day of trial of father accused of fatally abusing son

0:30
Police: Boys bring loaded gun to indoor trampoline park, firearm accidentally discharged

Police: Boys bring loaded gun to indoor trampoline park, firearm accidentally discharged

0:43
Jersey Proud: Girl Scouts deliver cookies to 2 NJ veterans hospitals

Jersey Proud: Girl Scouts deliver cookies to 2 NJ veterans hospitals

2:21
Lacey Township officials address residents’ concerns about water quality issues

Lacey Township officials address residents’ concerns about water quality issues