Trump intentionally downplayed COVID-19 dangers to the American people

[essentialsaltes]

Trump says the job of a president is "to keep our country safe." But in early February, Trump told Woodward he knew how deadly the virus was, and in March, admitted he kept that knowledge hidden from the public.

"I wanted to always play it down," Trump told Woodward on March 19, even as he had declared a national emergency over the virus days earlier. "I still like playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic."

Woodward reveals new details on the early warnings Trump received -- and often ignored.

In a January 28 top secret intelligence briefing, national security adviser Robert O'Brien gave Trump a "jarring" warning about the virus, telling the President it would be the "biggest national security threat" of his presidency. Trump's head "popped up," Woodward writes.

Nevertheless, Trump continued to publicly downplay the danger of the virus. February was a lost month. Woodward views this as a damning missed opportunity for Trump to reset "the leadership clock" after he was told this was a "once-in-a-lifetime health emergency."

 

[GoldenBoy89]

“El pez por la boca muere”

 

[quietpraiyze]

Of course Trump knew that's why he put it off on the individual States but none of that is going to matter because white supremacy is still the order of the day. So I wouldn't be a bit surprised it they voted him a second term...

 

[Paulos23]

Oh, good grief.

 

[essentialsaltes]

“El pez por la boca muere”

indeed.

 

[childeye 2]

I feel it's the same with every other "hoax" he's blamed on the Democrats and the media.

 

[Brightmoon]

“El pez por la boca muere”

google translate works well

 

[GoldenBoy89]

google translate works well

I didn't actually think of how it would translate but I'm glad it doesn't totally butcher the meaning.

 

[Fantine]

He had to allow time for all the insiders to sell their stocks before the plummet.

 

[durangodawood]

Who put this idiot/jerk in charge?

 

[Fantine]

I voted for Hillary. Not guilty.

 

[wing2000]

February 7, 2020

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

......

“This is deadly stuff,” the president repeated for emphasis.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...68fe3c-efd2-11ea-b4bc-3a2098fc73d4_story.html

 

[FenderTL5]

That puts an end to the "too busy with impeachment" excuse.

 

[usexpat97]

Who put this idiot/jerk in charge?

Christians.

 

[quietpraiyze]

CF Trump supporters where you at?!!

*Crickets*

 

[KCfromNC]

Who put this idiot/jerk in charge?

Let's get the reality TV guy out of the White House before figuring out what to do with the people who voted for him.

 

[KCfromNC]

That puts an end to the "too busy with impeachment" excuse.

I think this is a bit optimistic. When have the excuses for Donald's behavior had anything but a passing relationship with reality?

 

[jayem]

Trump lied. People died.

What’s most shocking is that isn’t shocking.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I think it's interesting to put this in conjunction with Sharpiegate.

Trump mistakenly mentions Alabama as threatened by Dorian
Alarmed Alabamans start calling the local National Weather Service
Alabama NWS acts to allay misplaced fears
Trump continues to insist he was right, including with the crudely altered map
Trump Administration pressures NOAA to back up the president and reprimand Alabama NWS

I mean I guess it's not actually hypocritical to downplay real threats to American lives while exaggerating imaginary threats to American lives.

But the American people deserve better than this. These are matters of life-and-death.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I mean I guess it's not actually hypocritical to downplay real threats to American lives while exaggerating imaginary threats to American lives.

Seems I'm not the only one to notice this.

Trump's claim he didn't want "panic" is laughable — he wants it focused on imaginary threats
Trump doesn't want "panic" over 190,000 dead — but he's begging voters to panic over antifa invading "the suburbs"