Trump’s Approach to the Pandemic Is Lying, Denial, and Spin

Maybe look like you care, and tell people to be cautious

Andy Slavitt
Medium Coronavirus Blog

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Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Trump sees nothing but good news in the coronavirus. Unlike other world leaders with better health and economic results, who aim to limit death and economic loss with masks and containment, Trump’s approach is a mix of lying, denial, and spin.

His latest “I’ll say anything” is that we should stop testing to reduce cases (he insists he’s not joking and is actually reducing testing sites) and that the death rate is declining. Don’t celebrate just yet.

We were at the train stop called “abject denial” back in February, as cases went undetected through the community. Then, we didn’t test because Trump wouldn’t prepare and we couldn’t see the deaths about to come. Now it’s willful—he’s telling supporters not to get tested.

I found the incompetence of February slightly better than purposeful negligence of June, but I suppose it’s a matter of taste.

Now, Trump plans to end support of testing sites on June 30. Because, again, if we can’t see it, how could it be happening? And how could people not tested infect others? (People from outside the U.S., please, the laughing is very impolite.)

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