(CNN) President Donald Trump is dodging responsibility as the coronavirus outbreak morphs into a global pandemic swiftly spreading across America and stock markets tank. He's instead accusing Democrats and the media of inflaming the crisis.

The deflection campaign is a fresh example of Trump deploying his trusted method for winning his battles: flinging disinformation, alternative facts and biting attacks at his enemies. But the President's efforts to create an alternative reality are being badly outpaced by the facts of an emergency that defies political pressure. The total number of cases in the US has soared past 560. His upbeat public rhetoric is also starkly at odds with increasingly dire warnings from inside his own administration about draconian steps that may need to be taken.

Trump's leadership will come under new scrutiny Monday as global stock markets plummet, likely previewing another huge Wall Street selloff. CNN's Kevin Liptak reported there is now growing distrust between public health officials and the White House's political team with the former trying to present a realistic picture to the public while Trump aides seek to minimize the virus.

The outbreak -- which CNN now considers a pandemic -- and signs of a disorganized response also raised questions about the President's apparent lack of concern about the latest developments.

In a series of tweets on Sunday and Monday morning, the President sought to deflect the blame for the situation and downplay its seriousness. He rebuked New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for complaining about "mixed messaging," arguing instead that Democrats and journalists were guilty the virus as "political weaponization."
"The Fake News Media and their partner, the Democrat Party, is doing everything within its semi-considerable power (it used to be greater!) to inflame the CoronaVirus situation, far beyond what the facts would warrant. Surgeon General, 'The risk is low to the average American,'" Trump tweeted.