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Praise for Health Care Workers, Barbs for Biden as GOP Convention Opens

Ken Bredemeier

   U.S. President Donald Trump took center stage at the Republican
   National Convention Monday nightand immediately signaled that defending
   his handling of the coronavirus pandemic andtheensuing economic
   crisisis paramount in winning a second term.

   On the first night of the nationally televisedRepublican convention,
   Trumpwas shown greetinghealth careworkersatthe WhiteHouse who --
   against the viewsof many Americans--praised his handling of the
   coronavirus pandemic.

   "You're an incredible group," Trump told several health care workers
   and two COVID-19survivorswho recovered fromtheinfectious diseasethathas
   killed more than 177,000 people in the U.S.,according to Johns Hopkins
   University data,themost of anynation inthe world.

   "We have to make this China virus go away," Trump told the group in the
   East Roomof the White House, an apparent acknowledgement that the
   unrelentingvirus is also a threat to his reelection to a second term.
   Noneofthe group was wearing a face mask or socially distancing from the
   others as health experts have advised.

   Later,in the Diplomatic Room,Trump greeted a half-dozen people whohad
   been held prisoner overseas, all of whom had been released after U.S.
   diplomatic efforts during Trump's presidency.

   Michael White, held for two years in Iran, told Trump, "You were able
   to get me out of that prison. It was amazing."

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