President Trump Town Hall Was An 'Ambush,' Fox News Says

Uncommitted Pennsylvania voters pressed President Trump hard on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic during a 90-minute town hall that Fox News characterized as an "ambush."

The ABC News-sponsored appearance at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia gave uncommitted voters a chance to ask questions on a wide range of issues, but the pandemic took the spotlight.

For the night's final question, the president was asked what has been the most difficult part of his presidency and what he learned from it.

"I think I'd have to say the whole COVID, the China virus as I call it -- because it comes from China, I think it's a much more accurate term," Trump said. "But it's been very difficult. It's been so sad."

Trump said he knew six people who died from COVID-19.

"I've learned that life is very fragile because these were strong people and all of a sudden they were dead. They were gone. And it wasn't their fault. It was the fault of a country that could have stopped it," Trump added, continuing to place blame on China.

Trump said he feels his administration doesn’t get the respect it deserves for its COVID-19 response.

“I feel that we’ve done a tremendous job actually, and it’s something that, I don’t think it’s been recognized like it should.”

Trump’s remarks that he downplayed the virus to prevent mass panic during a series of interviews with Bob Woodward for his book, "Rage," also came into question.

“I didn’t downplay it. I actually — in many ways I up-played it in terms of action. My action was very strong,” he said.

With masks at the forefront of political discussion, the president was caught off guard when asked about his views on face coverings.

“There are a lot of people who think that masks are not good. ... I’ll tell you who those people are — waiters. They come over and they serve you, and they have a mask. And I saw it the other day where they were serving me, and they're playing with the mask.”

Fox News, the president's favorite network, criticized the town hall as an ambush, saying, "The DNC may as well have put the whole thing on."

The network then showed some of Trump's interactions with the uncommitted voters.