For He Speaks Not What He Knows

Donald Trump knew from the start how dangerous the coronavirus is. He played down the pandemic for a reason. Voters will be passing judgment soon on the extent to which he is responsible for the suffering of so many Americans.

Donald Trump knew early on how dangerous COVID-19 is. On Jan 28, his security adviser informed him that SARS-nCoV-2 would pose the greatest threat to America’s national security during his term in office. Four days earlier, the Chinese authorities had placed the city of Wuhan in lock down.

When he gave an interview to the renowned journalist Bob Woodward on Feb 7, recorded on tape, he didn’t even relativize the danger of the “deadly stuff” publicly; however, he played down the virus, saying it was simply a flu and invented by the Democratic opposition. It was not out of ignorance that he insisted the restrictions on public life and the economy should be lifted—it was rather out of cold political calculation. After all, he was aiming to use the booming economy as his trump card in the fight for a second term in office.

During his conversations with Woodward, he justified his minimization of the virus: He had not wanted to send the public into panic. His words are the same now as they were then. Yet, in the face of millions of infections and a horrifying death rate, what does this even mean?

The clock cannot be turned back. However, had the president acted responsibly and conscientiously from the beginning of the epidemic — American experts knew the extent of its danger, early on — had he not intentionally downplayed it as he admits himself to have done, then maybe Americans would have been spared some of the suffering they have endured. Other politicians in positions of high responsibility did not leave their citizens in the dark about how serious the situation was. Voters will soon also be passing judgement on the extent to which President Trump bears the responsibility.

The coronavirus and the government’s crisis management are certainly major issues in this election. Yes, character, integrity and the sense of responsibility of the person leading the nation are indeed essential for citizens’ welfare. America shows how important these qualities are — for they are missing.