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Trump Gives Up On A Crisis He Made Worse
Trump’s failed response made this crisis worse than
it needed to be. Instead of doing more to mitigate coronavirus, Trump has
completely moved on even as infections spike and his administration is
still failing to distribute aid or address supply shortages.
The economy officially entered a
recession in February, and Trump doesn’t have a coherent plan to get it on
track.
New York Times: “The United States economy
officially entered a recession in February 2020, the committee that calls
downturns announced on Monday, bringing the longest expansion on record to
an end as the coronavirus pandemic caused economic activity to slow
sharply.”
Washington Post’s Rampell: “Worse, this
administration seems to have no functional plan for expediting the recovery.
So far the White House brain trust’s best ideas include (you guessed it)
more tax cuts, especially capital gains tax cuts that will help the rich,
hobble future presidents’ budget plans and do nothing to stimulate the
economy today.That’s what they’re calling for in front of TV cameras.
Behind the scenes, they’re trying to pollute the country’s way to
prosperity.
While Trump has moved on from
the crisis, the nation’s death toll has now exceeded even his worst
estimates.
CNN’s Daniel Dale: “The US coronavirus
death toll has now exceeded 110,000, the highest specific estimate
President Donald Trump has offered for the *final* death toll.”
MSNBC: “Exactly seven weeks ago today,
Donald Trump said he believed the overall American death toll from the coronavirus
pandemic would be between 50,000 and 60,000 people. It wasn't long before
the president's forecast was exposed as tragically wrong, but that didn't
stop him from repeating the same mistake, over and over again. … One month
ago today, Trump appeared on Fox News, strained to pat himself on the back,
and predicted that the death toll could go as high as 110,000. That was
wrong, too.”
Trump has moved on from the
public health crisis and plans to restart campaign rallies this month.
Politico: “Trump to restart MAGA rallies
this month despite coronavirus”
Meanwhile, cases continue to
spike in many states across the country before the recent protests began.
Forbes: “Coronavirus Infections Are On The
Rise In 21 U.S. States, With Cases Spiking In California, Arizona And North
Carolina”
Washington Post: “14 states and Puerto
Rico hit highest seven-day average of new coronavirus infections”
Arizona Republic: “State health director
tells Arizona hospitals to 'fully activate' emergency plans”
NBC Miami: “Florida Continues To See Big
Jumps in Coronavirus Case Count; State Total Reaches Nearly 64,000”
NPR: “Texas Reports Record-Breaking
COVID-19 Hospitalizations As State Reopens”
Trump is still failing to
distribute aid to hospitals most in need or maintain supplies of the only
drug known to work against coronavirus.
Wall Street Journal: “The Trump
administration’s distribution of about $175 billion in federal aid to
health-care providers has channeled more of that money to profitable
hospitals and less to struggling facilities that most need the support amid
the coronavirus pandemic, drawing renewed scrutiny and criticism by
lawmakers and industry groups.”
CNN: “The US government's current supply
of remdesivir, the only drug known to work against Covid-19, will run out
at the end of the month, Dr. Robert Kadlec, a US Department of Health and
Human Services official, told CNN.”
Trump’s delayed response made
this crisis worse than it needed to be.
Vox: “There are many reasons the US death
toll is so high, including a national response plagued by delays at the
federal level, wishful thinking by President Trump, the sidelining of
experts, a pointed White House campaign to place the blame for the Trump
administration’s shortcomings on others, and time wasted chasing down false
hopes based on poor science...Throughout the pandemic, however, much of the
Trump administration’s spin — regarding Trump’s own response, China’s role,
and more — has been misleading, if not outright untrue.”
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