Ahead of Mike Pence’s trip to Iowa tomorrow, Democratic National Committee spokesperson John Weber released the following statement:

“Donald Trump downplayed the virus, refused to prepare, and allowed this crisis to escalate out of control. Now, hundreds of Iowans have lost their lives and working families are facing a double-digit unemployment rate. Mike Pence can’t spin his boss’s incompetence with another photo op.”

BACKGROUND ON TRUMP’S FAILED CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

Promise: “We’re going to win with health care.” [Trump Campaign Rally, Clear Lake IA, 1/9/2016]

• Reality: After Trump wasted time ignoring his own advisors and downplaying the coronavirus pandemic, the United States leads the world with more than 2 million confirmed cases and 115,000 deaths.

• Reality: Even in the midst of a global pandemic, Trump and the Republican Party are attempting to overturn the Affordable Care Act — endangering health coverage for 187,000 Iowans and threatening protections for as many as 1.29 million Iowans with preexisting conditions.

Promise: “We’ve helped the people of Iowa.” [Oval Office Meeting with Gov. Kim Reynolds, 5/6/20]

• Reality: Trump’s testing “strategy” only aims to provide tests for 2% of Iowans.

• Reality: Iowa’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed to 10.2%.

• Reality: Iowans have been forced to put themselves in harm’s way without adequate personal protective equipment — from nurses to meat plant workers. While experts warned of a coming pandemic, Trump sent record shipments of N95 masks overseas.