WASHINGTON The threat of a coronavirus pandemic has not slowed down President Donald Trump s habit of lying to and misleading Americans on any number of topics including that same coronavirus threat.

At a time when many Americans are turning toward the White House for accurate information about the virus, Trump has responded to the new responsibility in a familiar manner: praising himself, promising easy success and, when needed, blaming others.

And mixed into it all are his now familiar lies on a range of issues, including who is paying tariffs he has imposed on Chinese imports, the significance of the updated trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, the status of his wall along the southern border , and which president approved the Veterans Choice Act making even his accurate statements about the virus seem suspect.

When youve lost your credibility, you also lose the benefit of the doubt, said David Jolly, a former Republican congressman. Half the nation simply doesnt believe the president. The other may only be convinced hes lying if they suffer personal disruption or financial losses.

Ned Price, a former CIA analyst and National Security Council spokesman in President Barack Obama s White House, said Americans need to ignore Trump, for their own health and safety.

Tune out the president and listen to the public health experts, Price said. Even President Obama, who certainly didnt have the credibility deficit Trump does, reiterated a single message during the Ebola outbreak: expertise and science will guide the response.

The White House would not respond to HuffPost queries about Trumps handling of the outbreak.