North Carolina’s total unemployment has surpassed 1 million people, and confirmed cases of the coronavirus have now been found in 99 of the state’s 100 counties. The state has more than 11,800 confirmed cases with 498 people currently hospitalized due to the virus. 

Meanwhile, in a televised town hall at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, President Trump continued to portray himself as the real victim of the coronavirus, even asserting that he has been “treated worse” than Abraham Lincoln. 

“Last night’s performance was an embarrassing reminder that this president will never accept responsibility and will always lay blame for his own failures on others,” said NCDP Communications Director Austin Cook. “Instead of trying to paint himself as the real victim of this pandemic, President Trump should be working with Congress to pass new stimulus relief for the one million hardworking North Carolinians who have lost their jobs. While our workforce bears the brunt of his administration’s failed response to this crisis, the president is spending his time looking for a sympathetic ear on Fox News.” 

At the height of the Great Recession, North Carolina saw roughly 100,000 unemployment claims per month; according to the News & Observer, the state “has had 10 times that many, in under two months.” 

Over the course of his Fox News town hall last night, Trump tried to blame the coronavirus’s devastation on China, Democratic Governors and even the U.S. intelligence community. He also continued his feud with the media, calling coverage of the pandemic “disgraceful” while claiming “everybody” wanted him to be able to hold his campaign rallies again.