Inslee urges bipartisanship to combat coronavirus, brushes off Trump criticism: ‘It’s background noise’

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) brushed off criticism from President Trump and urged bipartisanship from lawmakers as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread across the state and the rest of the country. 

“I really don’t care too much what Donald Trump thinks of me, and we just kind of ignore that. It’s background noise because we really do need to work together, Republicans and Democrats. This is a national crisis,” Inslee said Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” 

“I think that [Vice President Pence] has been helpful in that regard,” Inslee added. “We’re focussing on people’s health, not on political games right now.”

.@GovInslee responds to @realDonaldTrump’s criticisms this week: “I don’t really care too much what Donald Trump thinks of me.” Inslee instead urges bipartisanship telling @margbrennan “We really need to work together” WATCH –> pic.twitter.com/sEvzr28458

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) March 8, 2020

Trump called Inslee a “snake” on Friday for criticizing the administration’s response to the disease. 

“I told Mike [Pence] not to be complimentary to the governor because that governor is a snake,” Trump said of Inslee. “I said, ‘If you’re nice to him, he will take advantage.'”

Inslee told CBS the federal government is now being “very diligent” in helping Washington state.{mosads}

“Certainly there were troubles at beginning of this with the testing protocols, but right now I believe the agencies of the federal government are being very diligent in helping our state,” he said, adding that they are restocking Washington’s stockpiles of protective gear.