Fox's Martha MacCallum defends Trump holding indoor rallies during COVID pandemic
MacCallum: “Those people went in of their own accord. They were not made to go in there”
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From the September 16, 2020, edition of Fox News' The Story with Martha MacCallum
PETE BUTTIGIEG (GUEST): But look, we've seen the vice president, Vice President Biden, campaigning across the country. There's one key difference, which is he's never going to stuff his supporters into a room without masks in an indoor space over the objections of local public health officials. When you do that, you show a level of fundamental disrespect for your own supporters. I mean, think about how low an opinion the Trump campaign must have of Trump supporters even back to Tulsa where they made people go into the event to sign waivers--
MARTHA MACCALLUM (HOST): Who made someone go in there? Who made someone? Those people went in of their own accord. They were not made to go in there. You can criticize allowing it or hosting it, but to say they were made to go in there and they were stuffed in there I don't think is accurate. If you can find me some people who say that's what happened, I'd be more than happy to hear from them.
BUTTIGIEG: The point is that there is respect for the health and safety of the people attending the event. You set a certain tone when you lead people to a certain place and if you lead people to danger, you bear some responsibility for that. In Tulsa, and more recently Nevada, he led people into danger and you know how you can tell what a dim view he has of the intelligence of his own supporters, something that they were made to do? Sign waivers saying they wouldn't sue him if they got sick and died. Think about what that says for the respect that he has--
MACCALLUM: I think, you know, we're going to see a point in this country that you do that pretty much everywhere you go, any concert, any sporting event, all of those things. I think again, is probably going to be standard. I'll say again --
BUTTIGIEG: I'm sure you don't have to do that for Joe Biden.
MACCALLUM: Just like you won't be forced to go to a football or basketball game. It's something you do of your own volition. People make choices and we'll see how it works out.