Photos show how Trump and the White House coronavirus task force started taking their own social distancing advice at press conferences

 

March 13 coronavirus press conference
On March 13, President Trump stood shoulder-to-shoulder with 18 people during a White House press conference to discuss the coronavirus.

Shealah Craighead/White House

  • President Donald Trump has been sending mixed messages about the severity of the novel coronavirus since the outbreak began.

  • While he has urged Americans to maintain "social distancing," the president and his coronavirus task force have been seen shaking hands, touching their faces, and gathering in crowds.

  • But as US cases surge over 13,000, the president seems to be taking his own advice.

  • At Thursday's press conference, there were far fewer people on stage.

  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

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From the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, the CDC has been issuing guidelines on the importance of avoiding close contact with others and frequently washing hands. On Monday, President Donald Trump advised Americans to maintain "social distancing" by avoiding gatherings of 10 people or more.

But during his COVID-19 press conferences, he and other officials haven't always followed their own advice.

The president and his coronavirus task force team have gathered in large groups, shaken hands, and been spotted touching their faces. Over time, the White House has limited the number of reporters allowed in the briefing room and is taking temperatures of people present, but there are still a large number of people in the room.

When asked whether they would limit the number of people at the press conferences going forward, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham told Business Insider, "We have limited them."

These photos show what White House press conferences have looked like from February to present, as the novel coronavirus has infected more than 13,000 people and killed 176 in the US, and the CDC guidelines have gotten stricter and stricter.

On February 26, Trump held a crowded press conference to discuss the novel coronavirus and to announce that Vice President Mike Pence would lead his administration's efforts against the disease.

white house coronavirus press briefing
white house coronavirus press briefing

 

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence and members of the Coronavirus Task Force, speaks to members of the press Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House.

Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen

 

 

Trump encouraged Americans to treat the coronavirus like the flu, said he had ordered "a lot" of masks to combat the virus, and that the US was "really prepared" to halt the spread.

white house coronavirus press briefing
white house coronavirus press briefing

 

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence and members of the Coronavirus Task Force, speaks to members of the press Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House.

Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen

Sources: CNN, Business Insider

Pence was captured touching his face — one of the main things the CDC recommends avoiding to prevent the spread of the virus, in addition to washing your hands and staying inside.

Pence touching his face during coronavirus press conference
Pence touching his face during coronavirus press conference

 

Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Source: Business Insider

Two days later, Trump held another closely packed White House press conference. The same day, he attended the Conservative Political Action Conference, where he was seen shaking hands with multiple people. A person who attended CPAC later tested positive for the virus.

Coronavirus press conference February 29
Coronavirus press conference February 29

 

Alex Wong/Getty Images

Source: Business Insider

On March 2, as cases continued to rise and spread throughout multiple states, Pence held another crowded press conference.

March 2 press conference
March 2 press conference

 

Andrea Hanks/White House

Source: White House

By March 5, the coronavirus had infected more than 95,000 people and killed 3,000 worldwide. By this point it had been known for weeks that the virus could spread from person-to-person contact.

Coronavirus press conference March 5
Coronavirus press conference March 5

 

D. Myles Cullen/White House

Sources: Business Insider, WHO

On March 9, 10 other people stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Trump and Pence as they addressed the media on the coronavirus spread. That same day, Trump downplayed the virus by blaming Democrats and saying the flu was more dangerous.

Press conference meeting March 9
Press conference meeting March 9

 

D. Myles Cullen/White House

Sources: Business Insider, Twitter

 

On March 13, Trump held a press conference with 18 people packed closely behind him.

March 13 coronavirus press conference
March 13 coronavirus press conference

 

Shealah Craighead/White House

Source: Business Insider

You can see the full crowd in this wide shot from official White House photographer Tia Dufour.

white house coronavirus
white house coronavirus

 

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, announces a national emergency to further battle the Coronavirus outbreak, at a news conference Friday, March 13, 2020, in the Rose Garden of the White House.

Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour

During that same press conference, Trump shook hands with multiple people, including the president of Walgreens ...

March 13 press conference handshake
March 13 press conference handshake

 

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

... and the executive vice President of CVS ....

March 13 press conference CVS handshake
March 13 press conference CVS handshake

 

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

... and the president and CEO of Walmart.

March 13 handshake walmart CEO
March 13 handshake walmart CEO

 

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

On the morning of March 14, Trump tweeted "SOCIAL DISTANCING", then held another crowded press conference. The White House started taking people's temperatures before they met with Trump or Pence on this day, including reporters'.

March 14 press conference
March 14 press conference

 

Shealah Craighead/White House

Sources: Business Insider, Twitter

 

On March 15, two days after Trump declared the virus a national emergency, the CDC recommended limiting gatherings to 50 or less people. At least 14 people stood behind Trump in front of a crowd of reporters in the White House briefing room.

March 15 press conference
March 15 press conference

 

Andrea Hanks/White House

Sources: Business Insider, Business Insider

On March 16, the Trump administration recommended Americans avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, and the White House cut the number of reporter seats in the briefing room in half. But there were still more than 10 people gathered in the room.

white house press briefing room coronavirus
white house press briefing room coronavirus

 

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, delivers remarks at a coronavirus update briefing Monday, March 16, 2020, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House.

Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead

Sources: Business Insider, New York Post

By March 18, the conferences seemed to become more "socially distant" as fewer people took the stage.

March 18 press conference
March 18 press conference

 

Shealah Craighead/White House

During Thursday's briefing, it seemed like the president had finally started taking his own advice. Reporters were sat in every other seat, and Trump had a buffer of space around him.

Coronavirus press conference social distancing
Coronavirus press conference social distancing

 

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

This time, only four people took the stage with Trump.

trump coronavirus white house press briefing social distancing
trump coronavirus white house press briefing social distancing

 

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

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