The American president’s COVID-19 infection confronts pro-Trump America with its own vulnerability.
In the bar in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday evening, the atmosphere was festive. Several hundred Donald Trump supporters had gathered amid Halloween decorations to watch their hero debate.
A feeling of invincibility reigned among the pumpkins and witches. The number of people wearing a mask among these Trump supporters could be counted on one hand, in contrast to the conspiracy theories about the pandemic that they shout about at the top of their voices.
Three days later, after Trump’s grotesque debate performance with Joe Biden and the announcement that Trump was infected with COVID-19, pro-Trump America is facing its own vulnerability. The illusion Trump created in an attempt to downplay the seriousness of the pandemic has transformed into a personal nightmare.
On Tuesday night, Trump was still making fun of the size of Biden’s face mask. On Friday, Trump was entrenched in the White House and forced to face the severity of the disease as well as cancel rallies at a time when he is dealing with declining ratings.
With 32 days until the presidential election, Americans who are the most exasperated by Trump’s attitude about the coronavirus are finding it hard to resist mocking him, as they refer to the “No more bullshit” signs brandished by Trump supporters in recent months.
Many others will nod in agreement with the president despite the size of the COVID-19 catastrophe which has now claimed more than 208,000 American lives while the president has acted as if nothing was happening. “I’ve opened every window, but the house is dark,” Leonard Cohen sang in his posthumous album. With the announcement of Trump’s infection Friday morning, America found itself plunged into blackness.
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