White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany listens to a reporter's question on Thursday. (Image: Washington Post/screenshot)
Jul 16, 2020
President Donald Trump's White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany raised eyebrows Thursday after claiming stating that scientific data "should not stand in the way of" reopening schools and falsely claiming that scientific consensus currently backs a full reopening.
"The science should not stand in the way of this," said McEnany, noting that Trump had expressed his wish that schools reopen, and that "when he says open, he means open and full, kids being able to attend each and every day."
\u201cWhite House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on school reopenings: \n\n"The science should not stand in the way of this.\u201d\u201d— The Washington Post (@The Washington Post) 1594926779
McEnany continued by claiming that a study from the Journal of the American Medical Association of 46 pediatricians proved that "the science is on our side here" on reopening and that the U.S. would be following the example of all other western nations which are planning on reopening schools.
Critics fired back that McEnany was not being entirely truthful.
"As you're misinterpreting the science, you are making the opposite point," tweeted writer Sarah Hutto.
The U.S is nowhere near getting the virus under control--due in large part to the president's handling of the crisis--making the comparison with other industrialized countries a flawed one.
The press secretary is not the first White House official in recent days to claim that reopening schools is a major priority for the president. On Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence declared that the administration does not want Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance "to be a reason why people don't reopen their schools."
As the Washington Postreported, assurances from the White House are not having their intended effect:
Despite the administration's urging, municipalities across the country have delayed or canceled in-person classes for the fall, citing the recent spike in coronavirus cases and the ongoing risk to students, parents, teachers, and other staff.
Safety concerns around reopening schools continue to cause controversy as teachers and concerned parents are increasingly at odds with federal, state, and local leaders who are urging a return to the classroom. As Common Dreams reported, the National Academy of Sciences released a report Wednesday calling for "significant resources" committed by the federal government to reopen schools around the country.
Progressive activist Doug Garrison suggested solidarity between parents and teachers in the face of unsafe reopening plans.
"Teachers should strike," Garrison tweeted. "Parents should stand with them."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
President Donald Trump's White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany raised eyebrows Thursday after claiming stating that scientific data "should not stand in the way of" reopening schools and falsely claiming that scientific consensus currently backs a full reopening.
"The science should not stand in the way of this," said McEnany, noting that Trump had expressed his wish that schools reopen, and that "when he says open, he means open and full, kids being able to attend each and every day."
\u201cWhite House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on school reopenings: \n\n"The science should not stand in the way of this.\u201d\u201d— The Washington Post (@The Washington Post) 1594926779
McEnany continued by claiming that a study from the Journal of the American Medical Association of 46 pediatricians proved that "the science is on our side here" on reopening and that the U.S. would be following the example of all other western nations which are planning on reopening schools.
Critics fired back that McEnany was not being entirely truthful.
"As you're misinterpreting the science, you are making the opposite point," tweeted writer Sarah Hutto.
The U.S is nowhere near getting the virus under control--due in large part to the president's handling of the crisis--making the comparison with other industrialized countries a flawed one.
The press secretary is not the first White House official in recent days to claim that reopening schools is a major priority for the president. On Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence declared that the administration does not want Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance "to be a reason why people don't reopen their schools."
As the Washington Postreported, assurances from the White House are not having their intended effect:
Despite the administration's urging, municipalities across the country have delayed or canceled in-person classes for the fall, citing the recent spike in coronavirus cases and the ongoing risk to students, parents, teachers, and other staff.
Safety concerns around reopening schools continue to cause controversy as teachers and concerned parents are increasingly at odds with federal, state, and local leaders who are urging a return to the classroom. As Common Dreams reported, the National Academy of Sciences released a report Wednesday calling for "significant resources" committed by the federal government to reopen schools around the country.
Progressive activist Doug Garrison suggested solidarity between parents and teachers in the face of unsafe reopening plans.
"Teachers should strike," Garrison tweeted. "Parents should stand with them."
President Donald Trump's White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany raised eyebrows Thursday after claiming stating that scientific data "should not stand in the way of" reopening schools and falsely claiming that scientific consensus currently backs a full reopening.
"The science should not stand in the way of this," said McEnany, noting that Trump had expressed his wish that schools reopen, and that "when he says open, he means open and full, kids being able to attend each and every day."
\u201cWhite House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on school reopenings: \n\n"The science should not stand in the way of this.\u201d\u201d— The Washington Post (@The Washington Post) 1594926779
McEnany continued by claiming that a study from the Journal of the American Medical Association of 46 pediatricians proved that "the science is on our side here" on reopening and that the U.S. would be following the example of all other western nations which are planning on reopening schools.
Critics fired back that McEnany was not being entirely truthful.
"As you're misinterpreting the science, you are making the opposite point," tweeted writer Sarah Hutto.
The U.S is nowhere near getting the virus under control--due in large part to the president's handling of the crisis--making the comparison with other industrialized countries a flawed one.
The press secretary is not the first White House official in recent days to claim that reopening schools is a major priority for the president. On Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence declared that the administration does not want Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance "to be a reason why people don't reopen their schools."
As the Washington Postreported, assurances from the White House are not having their intended effect:
Despite the administration's urging, municipalities across the country have delayed or canceled in-person classes for the fall, citing the recent spike in coronavirus cases and the ongoing risk to students, parents, teachers, and other staff.
Safety concerns around reopening schools continue to cause controversy as teachers and concerned parents are increasingly at odds with federal, state, and local leaders who are urging a return to the classroom. As Common Dreams reported, the National Academy of Sciences released a report Wednesday calling for "significant resources" committed by the federal government to reopen schools around the country.
Progressive activist Doug Garrison suggested solidarity between parents and teachers in the face of unsafe reopening plans.
"Teachers should strike," Garrison tweeted. "Parents should stand with them."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.