McEnany defends Trump's 99% harmless virus comment

White House is pointing to declining case mortality rates after coronavirus infections in United States to back up President Donald Trump's 4th of July claim about coronavirus cases, that "99% of which are totally harmless.”

" president was ting fact that vast majority of Americans who contract coronavirus will come out on or side of this," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters Monday.

In his Saturday remarks, Trump said U.S. was testing too much and falsely asserted that “by so doing, we show cases, 99% of which are totally harmless.”

Food and Drug ministration commissioner later declined to back up Trump’s claim. Dr. Stephen Hahn told US news networks that government data clearly show re is a serious problem with coronavirus pandemic.

Just a day earlier, South Dakota Gov. Kristi em accompanied president aboard Air Force One, despite having h close contact with Trump’s son’s girlfriend, who h tested positive for coronavirus.

Trump has been in a position all along to encounter a virus that spres from people who don’t feel sick, such as em, who h interacted closely at a campaign fundraiser with Donald Trump Jr.'s girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, who turned out to be infected. em didn't wear a mask on plane and chatted with president as flight returned to Washington, D.C., according to her spokesperson, Maggie Seidel.

em h tested negative for COVID-19 shortly before welcoming Trump to South Dakota on Friday, a day after she h interacted with Guilfoyle.

Asked about Trump’s interaction with em, White House ted frequency with which president is tested.

“ president is tested constantly, has tested negative, and those around him are tested as well,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said.

When asked why em was allowed to travel on Air Force One, McEnany referred question to Secret Service, but ded: “y take president’s health very seriously. y would never put him in a situation that would put him in harm’s way.”