Trump admitted to Bob Woodward that he intentionally downplayed the threat of the coronavirus.

[marble falls]

Trump admitted to Bob Woodward that he intentionally downplayed the threat of the coronavirus.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/09/09/us/trump-vs-biden?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20200909&instance_id=0&nl=breaking-news&ref=cta&regi_id=50521885&segment_id=37689&user_id=0f74ba6d31393b994c7e633fbde7c9cb#trump-admitted-to-bob-woodward-that-he-intentionally-downplayed-the-threat-of-the-coronavirus

<snip>

“This is deadly stuff,” Mr. Trump told Mr. Woodward on Feb. 7 in one of a series of interviews he conducted with the president for his upcoming book, “Rage.” The Washington Post and CNN were given advance copies of the book and published details on Wednesday.

“You just breathe the air and that’s how it’s passed,” Trump said. “And so that’s a very tricky one. That’s a very delicate one. It’s also more deadly than even your strenuous flu.”

<snip>

“I wanted to always play it down,” Mr. Trump told Mr. Woodward on March 19. “I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”

In public, Mr. Trump claimed early on that the virus would disappear, predicting in February that by April, “when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.”

— Maggie Haberman

[brush]

1. The dumb ass just lost the election with that admission.

He talked about Kelly not being able to take the pressure of the WH job, and yet the didn't know what to do after being told in early Feb. how serious the virus is. He told the nation nothing for 6 weeks when tens of thousands of lives could've been saved.

[underpants]

2. Jared. The early account that I saw was that Jared advised him

That he should treat it like it was just bad PR. Trump seems to have followed that to the point that he couldn’t turn around. HE couldn’t, anyone else would have.

[marble falls]

8. That strategy always worked when he was eight back in Jersey.

[Zoonart]

3. Narcissistic Sociopath...Serial Killer.

I've said it before... if MF45 had not been born rich, he would have been in jail or dead long before now.

[Baclava]

4. He LIED, he LIHOP! the WAR CRIMINAL is unfit to be president, start another impeachment!

[procon]

5. There's no logic in Trump's thinking.

He might have tried to sugar coat the bad news to reassure the public if he intended to buy himself some time to roll out a national, but he was only trying to protect himself.

He could have mobilized all the powers of the federal government to enforce stringent isolation protocols. He could have had a massive effort to mobilize hospital staffing to areas hardest hit by the virus. He should have ordered manufacturing priorities to push out need hospital supplies and equipment. He should have tied into the WHOs testing regime nation wide to get up and running on day one, while also pressing labs to develop rapid test kits in the US.

This is basic stuff that most people could think up on their own, and the fact that Trump, given all the information and experts he has available, he deliberately chose to do nothing. He was paralyzed by the fear of looking like he wasn't the perfect president, nonplussed, unflappable and in total control.

Instead Trump has failed at everything. Millions of Americans got infected with the Covid virus and many will face lifelong health problems. Almost 200,000 deaths have been logged, a number that is underfunded because red states are trying to hide their actually death counts. It will only get worse... Oh, and don't forget, Trump's lack of leadership is paving the way for the next Recession. Something else Biden will have to fix.

[Boomerproud]

6. Amen Procon.

Will his base care, or even understand what he did?

[underpants]

9. Spot on. He hesitated and any change would signal a correction

which would mean he was wrong. He just can’t be wrong. Does not compute.

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. That Maggot didn't downplay, he arrogantly said it was no worse than the flu when

he knew in fact covid19 was 5x worse. He knew it was airborne yet he mocked and ridiculed those who advocated wearing a mask. He held his hate rallies knowing the risks he was exposing his Deplorables too.

LOCK HIM UP!

[elevator]

10. Very interesting that other world leaders were able to speak

the truth to their people without inducing panic. It was a virus...not an invasion of aliens, although I don't believe that would panic folks either since it might be a good thing.

[elevator]

11. Very interesting that other world leaders were able to speak

the truth to their people without inducing panic. It was a virus...not an invasion of aliens, although I don't believe that would panic folks either since it might be a good thing.