Trump and COVID
Slate had an interesting article about a new report from the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. The report shows Trump’s response and reaction to Covid-19 was horrendous. The Trump administration deliberately sabotaged the nation’s response to the pandemic. The report documents multiple channels of interference by Trump and his underlings. The report also details other ways in which the White House impeded the public health response.
Trump was directly involved in much of the administration’s malfeasance, as investigations by news organizations have previously revealed. The subcommittee report links to emails, transcripts, and other documents show the president’s anti-mask, anti-testing rhetoric magnified the death toll.
Shutting Down CDC
Trump shut down public briefings by the CDC. On Feb. 25, 2020, the CDC warned Americans that a pandemic was coming and that they should prepare for school and workplace closures. Trump responded by threatening to fire the CDC official. Soon after, Trump refused to allow CDC to participate in press briefings.
Discouraging Masks
Trump rejected the agency’s request to encourage mask wearing despite the scientific case for wearing masks. Trump said: “You don’t have to do it. I’m choosing not to do it.” Dr. Deborah Birx told the subcommittee that she repeatedly circulated internal reports pleading for more promotion of mask use.
Limiting Testing
Trump limited COVID testing in order to hide the extent of the pandemic and keep businesses open. At a political rally on June 20, 2020, Trump said he had told “my people” to “slow the testing down.” On Aug. 24, 2020, the administration changed CDC’s guidance to say that most people who didn’t have COVID symptoms shouldn’t get tested, even if they had been exposed to a known carrier.
Biden
There’s no evidence of such corruption in the Biden administration. Republican politicians constantly undermine him by banning or blocking vaccine mandates. Biden has implored the public to get vaccinated or mask up for their own safety.
