President Donald Trump's campaign staff is scrambling to turn the focus on Democratic nominee Joe Biden after a disappointing turnout for what was supposed to be Trump's comeback rally this past weekend.
Campaign spokespeople like Mercedes Schlapp are repeating that Biden is operating his campaign "from his basement," while Trump is holding rallies. Few have acknowledged that Biden's public appearances and emphasis on virtual addresses is compliant with social distancing guidelines in the face of the pandemic that's left millions unemployed and hundreds of thousands of Americans dead.
Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh echoed the standard Biden Basement claims on CNN, but Brianna Keilar was quick to shut it down.
Watch below.
Trump campaign spox Tim Murtaugh: Trump's hitting the campaign trail while Dems are telling Biden to stay in the basement.
CNN anchor Brianna Keilar: "I'm surprised you bring it up. Because there's only one person who sought refuge in a basement recently." pic.twitter.com/pYrmKdMioN
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) June 22, 2020
Murtaugh said:
"We know that key Democrats who support him...They say that Joe Biden should stay in his basement. I mean, that's not the way Americans can get a look at a man who says he wants to be President. Americans deserve a full vetting."
After correcting Murtaugh that Biden has been holding public campaign events, Keiler said:
"I'm surprised you bring it up. Because there's really only one person who sought refuge in a basement recently."
The anchor was referring to recent reports that Trump—unsettled by police brutality protests outside the White House—took refuge in the underground presidential bunker.
For his part, Trump claimed he simply went down there to "inspect" it, though Attorney General William Barr contradicted that assertion.
Murtaugh responded:
"Listen, Joe Biden has been working out of his basement, campaigning from his basement for three months. That speech you mentioned in Philadelphia, he didn't take any questions from reporters. And that speech, it was about 2 o'clock in the afternoon that day and Joe Biden could barely function."
He continued to claim that Biden's Philadelphia speech—which was met with praise—was nothing to brag about. Murtaugh didn't address the reports of Trump taking refuge in the bunker.
People commended Keilar for holding Murtaugh accountable.
That was painful to watch but good on @brikeilarcnn for trying to keep him on point. That look would have shamed decent men but not @TimMurtaugh bc he's a shill grifter for POSpotus
— Mazen🍕🏌️♂️🤷♂️⛳️ (@JustAMazen) June 22, 2020
I laughed so hard at this! Go get em @brikeilarcnn !
— Chad Skiz (@OFFICIALSKIZ) June 22, 2020
Brianna during this interview: pic.twitter.com/rccZIViLEV
— RVA_Kristen (@Kristen_RVA) June 22, 2020
@brikeilarcnn is my new hero.
— Laurie H (@GingerAtwood) June 22, 2020
Great interview, she finished strong, mopped the floor with him.
— Judi Khan (@JudiKhan1) June 22, 2020
But Keilar is far from the only one to make the bunker to basement comparison.
Biden broadcasts from a basement.
trump cowers in an underground bunker.
Only one left his home and flew 1,500 miles to Houston to meet with George Floyd's family.
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) June 13, 2020
Whole lot of talk about basements when Daddy frequents a bunker. What's up with that, Junior? Seems -- I don't know -- hypocritical to keep beating that basement drum, considering...
— Susan Campbell #BlackLivesMatter (@campbellsl) June 20, 2020
Actually, Rudy Colludy is lying. Biden hasn't been in a basement, but do ask @realDonaldTrump if they have board games in the bunker.
— Susan Campbell #BlackLivesMatter (@campbellsl) June 20, 2020
Trump was reportedly enraged when news of his time in the bunker went public.
Ash Stanton/Facebook
Laura Sprinkle/Facebook
Akira Karasu/Facebook
Cevanna Gilbert/Facebook
Troy Adam/Facebook
@GovPressOffice/X
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social