Appearing Friday on MSNBC, NBC News White House correspondent Peter Alexander insisted that his question to President Donald Trump — suggesting his briefings on the Chinese coronavirus were offering “false hope” to Americans — had no ill intent.

Peter Alexander: “I was trying to provide the president an opportunity to reassure the millions of Americans…this was his opportunity to do that, to provide a sort of positive or uplifting message."pic.twitter.com/UADfX4ufPz — Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) March 20, 2020

A transcript is as follows: