Ahead of Mike Pence’s fundraiser in West Virginia tomorrow, Democratic National Committee spokesperson John Weber released the following statement:

“West Virginians need tests, personal protective equipment, and economic relief — they don’t need Mike Pence parachuting in for a high-dollar fundraiser. Nearly seven months after Donald Trump promised that the virus was ‘totally under control,’ working families are still dealing with the fallout of his incompetent pandemic response. We can’t afford four more years of this chaos.”

BACKGROUND ON TRUMP’S FAILED PANDEMIC RESPONSE

Promise: “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China. We have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.” [CNBC Interview, 1/22/20]

• Reality: After Trump wasted time ignoring his own advisors and downplaying the coronavirus pandemic, the United States leads the world with over 5.2 million cases and more than 167,000 deaths. West Virginia alone has faced over 8,200 cases and more than 150 deaths.

Promise: “We are marshalling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people.” [Oval Office Address, 3/11/20]

• 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 162,000 West Virginians and threatening protections for nearly 800,000 West Virginians with preexisting conditions.

• Reality: Even as experts warned of a coming pandemic, Trump sent record shipments of N95 masks overseas. Months later, Trump has still failed to provide states with adequate testing and PPE, as West Virginians are forced to wait a week or longer for test results.