Unfortunately the coronavirus, doesn’t care what it’s called and, like all contagions, will continue to spread regardless of any jingoistic posturing.
But I suppose it is distracting from the facts on the ground in the fight against it.
Crises clarify. The bigger the crisis, the more the clarity, which is why the incompetence, dishonesty, and sheer callousness of the Trump Presidency have been clearer in recent days than ever before.
Trump has spent years devaluing and diminishing facts, experts, institutions, and science—the very things upon which we must rely in a crisis—and his default setting during the coronavirus outbreak has been to deny, delay, deflect, and diminish.
January 22:
Trump: “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China. It’s going to be just fine.”
February 2:
Trump: “We pretty much shut it down coming in from China.”
February 10:
Trump: “A lot of people think that goes away in April with the heat—as the heat comes in.”
February 24:
Trump: “The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. . . . Stock Market starting to look very good to me.”
February 27:
Trump: “It’s going to disappear one day, it’s like a miracle.”
February 28:
Eric Trump: “In my opinion, it’s a great time to buy stocks or into your 401k. I would be all in . . . let’s see if I’m right.”
March 2:
Trump on a coronavirus vaccine: “I’ve heard very quick numbers, that of months.” [Note: Immunologist Anthony Fauci, has repeatedly said that a vaccine will not be available for a year or 1 1/2 years]
March 6:
Trump: "Every one of these doctors said, ‘How do you know so much about this?’ Maybe I have a natural ability. Maybe I should have done that instead of running for president.”
Trump: “I didn’t know people died from the flu.”
Trump on whether or not to bring coronavirus patients on a cruise ship to shore: “I like the numbers being where they are.”
March 10:
Trump: “It will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away.”
March 11: