Trump is back to holding coronavirus press briefings, and was once again praised for striking a “new tone” — but it didn’t last long. The same thing happened when Trump first started holding these briefings, and yet we apparently haven’t learned our lesson.

Yesterday, Trump was given credit for striking a “new tone” as he returned to holding press briefings — it didn’t last long.

ABC News: “The president is displaying a new tone and a new level of engagement, after aides and allies have pleaded with him to recognize the gravity of the moment.”

CNN: “But Trump’s new tone, like previous Trump new tones, did not last long.”

On March 16, Trump held his first coronavirus press conference where he was heralded for striking a “new tone.” 

Washington Examiner: “Trump finds new tone as he delivers unvarnished coronavirus message”

Vox: “Trump finally had a competent press conference on the coronavirus”

The very next week, Trump began his push to reopen the country before ensuring it can be done safely, and was back to downplaying the coronavirus and attacking governors for requesting more ventilators.

TRUMP: “America will again, and soon, be open for business — very soon — a lot sooner than three or four months that somebody was suggesting. … We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself.”

TRUMP: “I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You know, you go into major hospitals sometimes they’ll have two ventilators, and now all of a sudden they’re saying, ‘Can we order 30,000 ventilators?’”

And it’s not the first time this has happened. Trump has laughed at how easy it was for him to game the press with a “new tone.”

The Daily Beast: “Trump Literally Laughed at How He Can Game the Press With His ‘New Tone’”