I am not celebrating the news of President Trump and many of his inner circle testing positive for Covid-19.
I am angry.
To put it another way, I’m pissed off.
Pissed off at the months and months of blatant disregard for the virus. Reckless doublespeak over how bad it is. The “playing down” and mocking of science. Not wearing masks and taunting protesters to liberate those states with strict lockdown rules.
An unimaginable event in our country’s history and the guy who cares more about ratings than safety is in charge.
A week ago Trump held a gaudy event at the White House Rose Garden showing off his hypocritical selection for the Supreme Court. Hundreds of people packed into an event, shoulder to shoulder, barely anyone wearing a mask.
After that he traveled to a campaign rally where his flock of supporters gleefully cheered with nary a mask to be seen. The next day was an indoor event at the White House for Gold Star families. Again, no masks.
And then the presidential debate. Many of Trump’s family attended and all removed their masks once seated. Trump refused a Covid-19 test. The two major candidates for president on the same stage and no urgency to follow safety protocol from the Trumps.
And now, Donald and Melania Trump, advisor Hope Hicks, GOP Senators Mike Lee and Thom Thillis, Kellyanne Conway, the president of Notre Dame Reverend John Jenkins, at least three White House reporters, and Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien all have tested positive for coronavirus.
At least seven of them were at the rose garden event.
Trump has always misled by example.
So many lives have been lost from Covid-19. So many others damaged. A country thrown into turmoil.
And no, we cannot blame Donald Trump for every life lost. This virus would have most likely come here regardless of who was president. (Though Trump shutting down PREDICT, the pandemic early-warning program aimed at training scientists in China and other countries to detect and respond to such a threat, probably didnt help)
Yet at such a crucial time in our history, Donald Trump refused to take it seriously. He refused to accept that this virus could not be controlled by desire and his will. When all he wanted to do was brag about the economy and how well he was doing, the virus was killing us.
How many lives could have been saved? How many people would still be alive if he had set aside his fear of bad ratings and just led. Led the country how a president is supposed to.
Listened to his scientists, advised states how to fight the virus, evolved the criteria as new evidence came in, stopped calling everything fake that he doesn’t like, and WORN A DAMN MASK!
HOW HARD IS THAT?
WEAR A MASK!
Tell your supporters to stop acting like morons and wear a mask.
Tell protesters to wear a mask.
Stand up to the armed nut jobs storming capital buildings because their “freedoms were being taken away”. Inform them that no, that was not true and to put on their masks and stay the hell home.
Because now look at us.
Twenty six states are seeing a surge in coronavirus cases. 210,000 Americans dead.
And the President of the United States is in the hospital.
I dont like the guy. I never have. But I dont celebrate this.
His total lack of any form of leadership has led us to this point.
And we are paying the price.
There is nothing to celebrate.
